Italy's government announced emergency measures — including quarantines for several northern towns — as it confirmed a spike from three to 132 coronavirus cases in a matter of days, making it the largest outbreak outside of Asia.
The big picture: The coronavirus has spread to more countries, with both South Korea and Italy stepping up emergency measures amid rising case numbers on Sunday. COVID-19 has killed at least 2,467 people and infected almost 79,000 others, mostly in mainland China....
Last 48 hours
- Warning: About 150 prescription drugs — including antibiotics, generics and some branded drugs without alternatives — are at risk of a shortage if the coronavirus outbreak in China worsens, according to two sources familiar with a list of at-risk drugs compiled by the FDA. Read Axios' scoop here.
- South Korea: This country increased the infectious disease alert to red, the highest possible, as its case numbers jumped to 602 and the death toll to five.
- Italy: Its government announced emergency measures as it confirmed a spike from three to 132 cases in a matter of days, making it the largest outbreak outside of Asia. Venice canceled its famed carnival festival on Sunday amid fears of the disease spreading, and a number of northern towns have been quarantined.
- China: The National Health Commission reported 97 more people died of coronavirus and 648 new infections on Saturday.
- Iran: A sudden increase in cases here is a concern, WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Friday. Iranian authorities on Sunday confirmed eight deaths from coronavirus and 43 cases.
- U.S. cases: There are 35 confirmed cases — 18 from Diamond Princess, 3 evacuated from Wuhan, 12 travel-related, and 2 are person-to-person infections, the CDC said Friday. Most were repatriated citizens; the CDC emphasizes there's no "community spread" yet in the United States.
- 43 U.S. states and territories report 464 patients under investigation (cumulative total), of whom 50 have a pending status, CDC said Friday. These numbers do not including repatriated citizens.
- Economic impact: The IMF chief said Saturday she sees a negative global economic impact, even if the epidemic is contained. Meanwhile, several firms are announcing significant expected hits to their sales, including medical device companies in China as surgeries get delayed. And tech conferences are getting clobbered by companies pulling out.
- Travel advisories: The State Department raised its travel advisory for South Korea and