(Reuters) – The fast-spreading coronavirus has reached some 80 nations with more new cases now reported outside China where the flu-like illness first emerged late last year.
Globally there have been more than 94,000 cases and 3220 deaths according to a Reuters tally.
Mainland China had 119 new confirmed cases as of Tuesday, down slightly from 125 on the previous day. The total number of cases on the mainland touched 80,270, while the death toll rose by 38 to 2,981 by March 3.
South Korea, which announced a $9.8 billion stimulus package on Wednesday, reported hundreds of new cases as many sick people waited for hospital beds in Daegu, the city at the center of the worst outbreak outside China. The new cases bring South Korea’s total to 5,621, with at least 32 deaths.
France has 285 confirmed cases of coronavirus, the head of the public health service, Jerome Salomon, said on Wednesday, which in an increase of 73 compared to a day earlier.
South Korea’s President canceled a planned trip to the UAE, Egypt and Turkey in mid-March.
The total number of dead in Italy rose to 107 on Wednesday after 28 people died of the highly contagious virus over the past 24 hours.
The outbreak has affected almost all of Iran’s provinces, President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday. Iran has more than 2,900 confirmed cases with a death toll of 92.
Hungary on Wednesday confirmed its first two cases of the new coronavirus, both Iranian students in the country.