Coronavirus Italy Death Toll Update: Casualties Now At 1809, Cases At 3,590

Things seem to be going a downward spiral in Italy, with COVID-19 outbreak branching out like wildfire. Pegged as the pandemic’s epicenter in Europe, the numbers saw its largest jump in the nation on Sunday—the numbers rose from 3,500 (on Saturday) to 3,590 (on Sunday)— triggering panic by leaps and bounds. The number of deaths increased from 368 to 1,609.

The country remains to be in lockdown for the past one week, in a bit to combat the spread of the virus. Universities and schools continue to remain closed, and so do cafes and restaurants. “It’s not a wave. It’s a tsunami,” said Dr. Roberto Rona, who was entrusted with the duty of overseeing intensive care at the Monza hospital in the Lombardy region. On the upside, it is yet to be seen whether Italy has reached its peak and might soon start seeing a decline in the numbers. Residents continue to remain indoors, as the total number of cases stands at 24,700.

On the other hand, several other European countries like Spain, Germany, France, Ireland too are seeing an influx in the number of COVID-19-related deaths. Those above the age of 60 are at a higher risk of contracting the virus, which also puts them at further risk of falling prey to pneumonia and a host of other serious illnesses. The numbers have doubled in France as well, crossing over 4,500 infected cases and 91 deaths. All the bistros and restaurants continue to remain shut. Ireland, on the other hand, has reported over 39 new virus-related deaths and has passed stern laws that prohibit large gatherings and house parties. Britain too has banned mass gathering despite not having restricted daily activities as yet. Spain, on the other hand, faces a similar situation as that of Italy—and has declared a state of emergency in a bid to contain the virus from spreading. Proactive measures have been employed, which include shutting down restaurants, retail shops, and public transportations.

The virus, which is pegged as a “pandemic” has plagued over 156,000 people worldwide and claimed over 5,800 lives. Most of the patients have recovered.