A man wearing a face mask stands at Roma Termini railway station in Rome, Italy, on March 23, 2020. (Photo by Augusto Casasoli/Xinhua)
- Over 41,000 test positive for COVID-19 in U.S.
- Trump confirms first lady tests negative for coronavirus
- Global economy to contract 1.5 pct in 2020 amid COVID-19 outbreak: IIF
- Italy registers 63,927 coronavirus cases
BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The world is now in a battle against the common threat of COVID-19, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 180 countries and regions.
The following are the updates on the contagious illness (all times Beijing).
3:51 p.m., March 24
Trump signs executive order prohibiting price gouging, hoarding of medical goods amid COVID-19
WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday prohibiting price gouging and hoarding of medical supplies deemed critical amid the ongoing spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Trump said the presidential decree would "prohibit the hoarding of vital medical equipment and supplies, such as hand sanitizers, face masks, and personal protective equipment." He was speaking at a White House press briefing later in the day.
1:40 p.m.
COVID-19 cases rise to 492 in India
NEW DELHI -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India Tuesday rose to 492, India's health ministry said.
"Total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across India is 492," a statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at 8:45 a.m. (local time) said. "Of these, 451 cases are Indian nationals and 41 foreign nationals."
U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump attend the ceremonial reception at the Indian Presidential Palace in New Delhi, India, Feb. 25, 2020. (Str/Xinhua)
1:16 p.m.
Trump confirms first lady tests negative for coronavirus
WASHINGTON -- U.S. first lady Melania Trump has tested for the coronavirus and the result is negative, President Donald Trump told reporters Monday at the White House.
"She's fine," Trump said when asked at a news briefing about the first lady's condition, "negative, yes."
1:14 p.m.
NYC becomes new COVID-19 epicenter with caseload of 13,119
NEW YORK -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York City has reached 13,119 as of Monday night local time, according to data of the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
A total of 124 deaths have been reported in the city, according to the CSSE.
Photo taken on March 23, 2020 shows a Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games countdown clock in Ginza district, Tokyo, Japan. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)
12:45 p.m.
COVID-19 infections in Japan rise to 1,141 confirmed cases
TOKYO -- Japan's health ministry and local governments said Tuesday the total number of people infected with COVID-19 in Japan stood at 1,141 as of 11:00 a.m. local time here.
The death toll in Japan from the pneumonia-causing virus currently stands at a total of 52 people, according to the health ministry, with the figure including those from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama, close to Tokyo.
Pedestrians walk along a side street near Times Square in New York, the United States, March 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)
11:52 a.m.
Over 41,000 test positive for COVID-19 in U.S.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Monday that 313,000 coronavirus tests have been completed in the United States, and more than 41,000 tests were positive.
During a White House press briefing, Pence said all state and hospital labs are now required to report their coronavirus test numbers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A staff member conducts disinfection inside a judo gym which is closed temporarily in Seoul, South Korea, March 23, 2020. (Newsis/Handout via Xinhua)
11:38 a.m.
S.Korea reports 76 more COVID-19 cases, 9,037 in total
SEOUL -- South Korea reported 76 more cases of COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of midnight Tuesday local time, raising the total number of infections to 9,037.
The newly confirmed cases stayed below 100 for the third straight day. Of the new cases, 20 were imported from abroad.
A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York, the United States, March 18, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)
11:31 a.m.
Global economy to contract 1.5 pct in 2020 amid COVID-19 outbreak: IIF
WASHINGTON -- The global economy is expected to contract 1.5 percent in 2020 amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, according to the forecast released by the Institute of International Finance (IIF) on Monday.
"We cut our global growth forecast from 2.6 to 0.4 percent in the last two weeks, but the building COVID-19 pandemic, the OPEC price war and mounting credit stress in advanced and emerging markets continue to reshape the picture in fundamental ways," the IIF said in a report.
5:51 a.m.
Iran's COVID-19 death toll rises to 1,812
CAIRO -- Iran's death toll from COVID-19 climbed to 1,812 on Monday, after 127 new deaths were reported. Meanwhile, more countries in the Middle East decided to impose curfew to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The total number of COVID-19 infections in Iran, the worst-hit country in the region, climbed to 23,049, up by 1,411 from a day ago. A total of 8,376 of the infected have recovered.
6:06 a.m.
Italy registers 63,927 coronavirus cases, day-to-day slowdown of deaths
ROME -- A total of 63,927 coronavirus cases have been assessed in Italy since the pandemic broke out in its northern regions on Feb. 21, the Civil Protection Department managing the COVID-19 emergency said on Monday.
The number of total infections grew by 4,789, or 8 percent from 59,138 cases recorded on Sunday. Further 601 fatalities were also registered on Monday, with the death toll reaching 6,077. The daily fatality figure dropped from Sunday's 651 and Saturday's 793. ■
