Europe Faces Red Alert for COVID-19... Italy Surpasses 10,000 Confirmed Cases (Comprehensive)

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) rages across Europe, the number of infected people in Italy has surpassed 10,000. Accordingly, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Europe has exceeded 18,000. In the UK, the virus is rapidly spreading throughout society, with even the Minister of State for Health being infected. The European Union (EU), considering the seriousness of the COVID-19 situation, has urgently prepared a fund worth 34 trillion won and supplies of quarantine materials as part of its countermeasures.

According to foreign media including Bloomberg on the 10th (local time), Italy's cumulative confirmed cases reached 10,149 on that day. The number of deaths increased by 168 from the previous day to 631. The increase in deaths due to COVID-19 recorded the highest on that day. Among European countries reporting cases up to that day, France had 1,784 confirmed cases, the second highest after Italy. In addition, Spain reported 1,674 cases, Switzerland 497, the UK 373, the Netherlands 382, and Austria 182. Including the 27 EU member countries, a total of 39 countries in Europe reported 18,432 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

In the UK, the Ministry of Health was put on alert after the Minister of State for Health tested positive for COVID-19. According to local UK media such as the BBC, Nadine Dorries, the Minister of State for Health, announced in a statement that she had tested positive for COVID-19. Minister Dorries explained, "I took all infection prevention measures and am currently in self-isolation immediately after testing positive for the virus (COVID-19)." Although the route of infection for Minister Dorries has not yet been confirmed, she attended Parliament last week and reportedly also attended a banquet held by Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the Prime Minister's residence, raising concerns about possible transmission among senior government officials.

At the headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland, an employee also tested positive for COVID-19. According to the WTO on that day, one staff member tested positive for COVID-19. This employee had been working at the office until the 28th of last month and is currently staying at home.

In Italy, where the highest number of confirmed cases occurred, the nationwide movement restriction order has been expanded, causing inconvenience to more than 60 million citizens. In Italy, people cannot move from their place of residence to other regions without legitimate reasons such as work or health needs. In Rome and the Vatican, access to major historical sites and tourist attractions has been controlled to prevent the influx of tourists. Austria, which shares a border with Italy, has imposed a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine on all travelers coming from Italy after entry. The Czech Republic has started measuring the body temperature of vehicle occupants at border roads, and Poland has expanded temperature checks, previously conducted at the western border with Germany and the Czech Republic, to the eastern borders with Ukraine, Belarus, and Lithuania as of that day.

School closure orders are also spreading from Italy to the rest of Europe. The Czech Republic has decided to close elementary and middle schools indefinitely until further measures are announced. Austria plans to close all universities nationwide and switch to online classes. Greece will close all schools, kindergartens, and other educational facilities nationwide for two weeks starting from the 11th. Since the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Greece on the 26th of last month, the cumulative number of confirmed cases has reached 89 as of that day.

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