Global COVID-19 Cases Surpass 700,000... Over 100,000 New Cases Every Two Days (Comprehensive)

It Takes Over 2 Months for COVID-19 Cases to Exceed 100,000 Worldwide
Recently, 100,000 Cases Increase Every Two Days... Concerns Over Healthcare System Collapse

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) worldwide surged by more than 100,000 over the weekend, surpassing 700,000 in cumulative cases. Until early this month, it took over two months for the global confirmed cases to exceed 100,000, but now more than 100,000 additional cases have occurred in just two days. In particular, in Italy and Spain, which have been severely affected, thousands of medical personnel have been infected, raising concerns about the collapse of the healthcare system becoming a reality.

According to COVID-19 statistics from Johns Hopkins University in the United States on the 29th (local time), the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide reached 716,101 by that day. After surpassing 509,164 cases on the 26th and 600,000 on the 27th, the number increased by more than 100,000 over the weekend. By country, the United States had the highest number with 133,039 cases, followed by Italy (97,689), China (81,439), Spain (78,799), and Germany (50,659).

The global number of confirmed COVID-19 cases exceeded 100,000 on the 6th of this month. It took more than two months since the Chinese government reported the first confirmed case to the World Health Organization (WHO) at the end of December last year. The number surpassed 200,000 on the 18th, just 12 days later, and on the 22nd, it recorded 332,930 cases, exceeding 300,000.

In Europe, the region most severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis, Spain is experiencing particularly heavy damage. Since the number of confirmed cases in Spain exceeded 10,000 on the 17th, it has approached 80,000 in two weeks, and the total number of deaths reached 6,528, which is twice that of China (3,304). The UK health authorities warned that lockdown measures due to COVID-19 could last up to six months. On that day, Jenny Harris, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the UK Department of Health, stated at a regular briefing, "The movement restrictions imposed for three weeks on the 23rd could be extended for more than six months." In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson tested positive for COVID-19 last weekend and entered self-isolation.

In Europe, concerns about the collapse of the healthcare system are growing, especially in Italy and Spain, which have been severely affected. According to Bloomberg News, the number of medical personnel deaths in Italy is 39, and the number of confirmed cases among medical staff is estimated to exceed 10,000. The British daily The Guardian estimated that more than 5,000 medical personnel in Spain have been confirmed infected. In Spain, the number of severe patients has increased to 4,907, exceeding the capacity limit of 4,404 beds for severe patients in Spain. Fernando Simon, Director of the Spanish Center for Disease Control, stated, "Six of the 17 autonomous communities in Spain have intensive care units that are fully occupied."

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