COVID-19 Spread to Himalaya and Bhutan... Global Cases Near 100,000

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[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] A confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has been reported in Bhutan, located in the Himalayan mountain region known as the "Roof of the World." COVID-19 is spreading rapidly worldwide, with the total number of confirmed cases approaching 100,000 globally.

According to foreign media such as CNN, Bhutan's Prime Minister Lotay Tshering announced on Facebook on the 6th that the first confirmed case had occurred in Bhutan. The Kingdom of Bhutan is located in the Himalayan mountain region and, except for climbers, it has not been a major destination for large numbers of general tourists, so no COVID-19 cases had been reported until now.

According to Bhutanese authorities, the first confirmed case in Bhutan is a 76-year-old American who entered Bhutan via India on the 2nd. He was hospitalized on the 5th due to fever symptoms and tested positive for the virus. Prime Minister Tshering stated that the confirmed patient, as well as colleagues, guides, and drivers, have been quarantined, and announced, "We will ban the entry of foreigners for the next two weeks." He also ordered the closure of schools in three locations, including the capital Thimphu, for two weeks.

While the number of new confirmed cases in China, the origin of the virus, continues to decline, the spread is intensifying in other regions, bringing the global total of confirmed cases close to 100,000. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of the previous day, there were 97,852 confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide, with 3,300 deaths.

In particular, the spread is increasing in the United States and India, where the number of confirmed cases had been limited until now. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on the 5th (local time) that 227 confirmed cases and 12 deaths had occurred in the United States. Especially in eastern Washington state, more than 70 cases have been reported, raising concerns about rapid community transmission.

India has also seen a rapid increase in confirmed cases. Until the 3rd, India had only about six confirmed COVID-19 cases, but 23 new cases were reported on the 4th, bringing the total to 30 by the 5th. Indian authorities have ordered all elementary schools in the capital New Delhi to close until the 31st of this month and are blocking the entry of foreigners from major COVID-19 risk countries including China, Iran, South Korea, Japan, and Italy.

In Europe, the spread of COVID-19 in Italy continues to grow. On the 5th (local time), Italy reported that the cumulative number of confirmed cases increased by more than 700 from the previous day to 3,858, with deaths rising by 40 to 148. Iran, which has the highest number of confirmed cases in the Middle East, also saw a sharp increase to 3,513 confirmed cases and 107 deaths just two weeks after the outbreak began.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said at a press briefing that day, "This is not a drill, and all countries have been preparing for such a scenario for decades, and now is the time." He emphasized, "Governments must take a comprehensive and systematic approach to eradicate the epidemic."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.