Global coronavirus death toll tops 5,000
(VOVWORLD) - The worldwide death toll from the coronavirus pandemic surged past 5,000 on Saturday with the total number of cases rising to more than 140,000, as the infection continues to prompt countries to take unprecedented measures to help stave off a global health crisis.
Since the novel virus was first detected in December, more than 156,000 people have been infected in 151 countries and territories, AFP reported.
Italy reported more than 21,000 infections and 175 new deaths, raising the death toll to more than 1,440. Spain declared a state of emergency over coronavirus and said the number of infections climbed past 6,400. France reported 4,500 infections and 91 deaths. Slovenia reported first COVID-19 death on Saturday. The coronavirus death toll in the UK doubled in just 24 hours, with the number of confirmed cases of the disease surging by hundreds overnight. The deaths came as the number of people in the UK testing positive for COVID-19 rose to 1,140 on Saturday with 21 deaths. Another 97 people in Iran infected with the coronavirus died on Saturday, pushing the death toll to 611, state TV reported.
US President Donald Trump tested negative for the coronavirus on Saturday. As of Saturday night, there were more than 2,900 confirmed cases in the US, at least 59 deaths.
The disease has spread to 19 countries in Africa.