The Latest: Coronavirus watch, March 31 -- WHO expert says COVID-19 outbreak potentially stabilizing in Europe, U.S. Navy ship arrives in NYC to ease pressure on hospitals

Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-31 10:03:36|Editor: huaxia

A boy is seen wearing a mask in Damascus, capital of Syria, on March 28, 2020. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The world is now in a battle against COVID-19, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 200 countries and regions.

The latest updates on the COVID-19 global confirmed cases in hardest-hit countries by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University at 0000 GMT, March 31:

Country Confirmed Cases

World 782,365

U.S. 161,807

Italy 101,739

Spain 87,956

Germany 66,885

France 45,170

Iran 41,495

Britain 22,453

Switzerland 15,922

Belgium 11,899

China 82,198

Photo taken by a mobile phone shows medical workers preparing Chest X-ray check for COVID-19 patients at Ramon y Cajal Hospital in Madrid, Spain, March 26, 2020. (Xinhua)

GENEVA -- Given the latest growth curve of new coronavirus cases amid extensive lockdown measures, European countries, particularly the most affected countries like Italy and Spain, could see potential stabilization of COVID-19 outbreak, a senior World Health Organization (WHO) expert noted here Monday.

In the past 24 hours as of Monday morning, a total of 31,726 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Europe, which marked the lowest growth since last Friday, according to the WHO's daily situation report.

Photo taken on March 27, 2020 shows a drive-thru coronavirus test site in Elysian Park in Los Angeles, the United States. (Xinhua)

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States has tested 1 million people in the country for the novel coronavirus.

"Today we reached a historic milestone in our war against the coronavirus. Over 1 million Americans have been tested -- more than any other country by far," Trump told a White House briefing.

The U.S. Navy Ship (USNS) Comfort docks at Pier 90 in New York, the United States, on March 30, 2020. (Photo by Guang Yu/Xinhua)

NEW YORK -- The U.S. Navy Ship (USNS) Comfort arrived in New York City on Monday, bringing 1,000 hospital beds to help relieve the city's overwhelmed hospital system amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Both New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio went to greet the ship, which docked on Monday morning at Pier 90 in the West Side of Manhattan.

People wearing face masks shop for fruits and vegetables in Bologna, Italy, on March 30, 2020. (Photo by Gianni Schicchi/Xinhua)

ROME -- Italy's top health official said on Monday the nationwide coronavirus lockdown in place since March 10 would be extended until "at least" April 12, nine days beyond its original deadline.

Minister of Health Roberto Speranza told reporters Monday that the decision had been made earlier on Monday during the meeting of the government's high-level Technical and Scientific Committee.

File photo taken on June 10, 2016 shows Britain's Prince Charles (R, front) and his wife Camilla leaving St. Paul's Cathedral after the National Service of Thanksgiving to mark the Queen's 90th birthday in London, Britain. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

LONDON -- Britain's Prince Charles is now out of self-isolation following his diagnosis of COVID-19, the Clarence House said Monday.

"Having consulted with his doctor, the Prince of Wales is now out of self-isolation," said a spokesman of Clarence House, the official residence of Charles and his wife Duchess of Cornwall Camilla.

Medical personnel take a rest during the combat against COVID-19 in Tehran, Iran, March 28, 2020. (IRNA/Handout via Xinhua)

CAIRO -- Iran's confirmed novel coronavirus cases jumped by 3,186 to 41,495 on Monday. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was under quarantine after one of his aides was diagnosed with the virus.

The death toll in Iran from COVID-19 infection rose by 117 to 2,757. So far, 13,911 of the infected people in Iran have recovered, while 3,511 others remained in critical condition.

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