COVID-19 pandemic March 1: Thailand, US, Australia have first deaths, South Korea 18 dead

South Korea today, March 1, had 18 deaths from COVID-19, while the total number of infections nationwide has reached 3,736. Meanwhile, Thailand, the US and Australia recorded their first deaths.

Yonhap news agency reported that South Korea has just recorded one more death, bringing the total number of deaths from COVID-19 in the country to 18. This is an 83-year-old male patient in Daegu, South Korea. This person also previously had diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

By the afternoon of March 1, South Korea had 210 more COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of infections to 3,736. The infections were mostly concentrated in the city of Daegu and neighboring North Gyeongsang Province. In the capital Seoul in the North and the city of Busan in the South, the number of infections also increased every day.

Japan has one more death.

A man in his 70s in Hokkaido is the latest victim of the coronavirus in Japan. The Hokkaido city government said the patient was hospitalized on January 17 for another illness, but began showing flu-like symptoms a few weeks later and tested positive for the coronavirus on February 25, Reuters reported.

Public broadcaster NHK and other media in Japan suspect the patient may have contracted the virus while in hospital. He is the sixth COVID-19-related death in Japan, not counting the six deaths among those on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

Thailand has its first death from COVID-19

Reuters news agency quoted Thai health authorities as saying that the country has just recorded a death due to COVID-19. The patient was a 35-year-old man who also had dengue fever.

To date, since the outbreak was detected in the country, Thailand has had 42 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

First Australian dies from COVID-19

A 78-year-old man living in Perth (Western Australia) has just been confirmed to have died from the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), the first patient to die from COVID-19 in Australia.

According to Watoday, the victim died at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, in Perth in the early morning of March 1. He was one of the Australians who returned from the Diamond Princess cruise ship currently anchored in Japan. The Western Australian government said his wife was also infected and is currently in a stable condition.

Australia has so far had 27 cases of COVID-19.

China adds 573 infections, 35 deaths

China announced on March 1 that there were 573 new infections and 35 new deaths, as of the end of February 29. These figures raised the total number of infections and deaths in the COVID-19 epidemic in China to 79,824 and 2,870, respectively.

On the same day, the Hubei provincial government reported 34 more deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 2,761. By the end of February 29, the province also had 570 new infections, bringing the total number of infections to 66,907.

Ecuador, Ireland, Luxembourg and Armenia record first cases

The Irish government said the country's first case was a man who had returned from northern Italy. Armenia also reported its first case.

Luxembourg 's first case is a similar one, according to Luxembourg Health Minister Paulette Lenert. The man in his 40s is believed to have recently traveled to Italy and returned home after landing at Charleloi Airport in Belgium.

Ecuador's Health Minister Catalina Andramuño Zeballos also announced the country's first case of COVID-19. "The patient returned to Ecuador from Spain and upon landing, the woman was asymptomatic. She was taken to the hospital after experiencing fever and general discomfort. Tests came back positive for COVID-19," Zeballos said.

America has first death, fear of outbreak

Washington state health officials on February 29 recorded the first death in the state and the entire US due to COVID-19. According to Reuters, the deceased patient was a man, around 50 years old, with a medical history.

After announcing the case, Washington officials also said two of the three cases in the state were linked to a long-term care facility in Kirkland. More than 50 staff and residents at the facility may have shown symptoms of the virus, according to local officials, according to Seattle and King County public health officer Jeff Duchin.

However, Mr. Duchin said it was still unclear whether the deceased patient had any connection to the facility.

Italy, France, Iraq, Mexico and Brazil announce new cases

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced on February 29 that all flights to Italy, Iraq and South Korea will be suspended due to concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak. According to Mr. Koca, the decision will take effect from 12:00 a.m. on March 1, local time.

In addition, the minister also said that the border between Türkiye and Iraq has been closed.

On February 29, several countries also recorded new infections and deaths in the COVID-19 epidemic:

* The Italian Civil Protection Agency (CPA) announced that the country had 8 more deaths from the virus, bringing the total number of deaths here to 9. At the same time, the CPA said the number of infected people had increased by about 240 within 24 hours, as of February 29.

Thus, the total number of COVID-19 patients here is 1,128. This number includes 50 recovered patients and 29 deaths.

* The head of the French health sector, Mr. Jerome Salomon, confirmed that France has so far had 100 cases of infection . Of these, 2 people have died, 12 have recovered and 86 are still being treated.

* Iraq confirmed five new cases , four in Baghdad and one in Babel province, bringing the total number of infections to 13, according to the Iraqi Ministry of Health.

* Coahuila, a state in Mexico and located near the border with the US, recorded 1 new infection . The state's governor, Mr. Miguel Angel Riquelme, said the patient was a 20-year-old woman who had traveled to Italy. Previously, the Mexican government confirmed on February 28 that the country had 3 infected cases, all men who had also traveled to Italy.

* Brazil's Ministry of Health confirmed the second case of infection , a patient in São Paulo who had previously returned from Italy.

According to Tuoi Tre