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Italy's death toll overtakes China's
There have been 220,000 cases of the virus worldwide with more than 9,000 deaths.
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Italy's coronavirus death toll surpasses that of China
Italy's death toll from coronavirus on Thursday overtook that of China, where the virus first emerged, as hospitals said they were being overwhelmed and the government prepared to prolong emergency lockdown measures.
A total 427 deaths were registered in Italy over the past 24 hours, bringing the total nationwide tally to more than 3,400 since the outbreak surfaced on Feb. 21. China has recorded more than 3,200 deaths since early January.
However, Italy has far fewer confirmed cases — 41,035 as of Thursday, against 80,907 in China.
Officials and experts believe the total number of infections in Italy is significantly higher, with testing largely limited to those arriving for hospital care. The country's large, elderly population, who are particularly vulnerable to the virus, is also seen as a factor for the high number of fatalities.
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Hawaii airports planning to mandate 14-day home quarantine for incoming residents and visitors
Hawaii airports will begin mandating a 14-day quarantine for both residents and visitors coming to the islands, according to Lt. Gov. Josh Green.
Green told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Thursday that the Airports Division of the state Department of Transportation is working up a plan to “only allow individuals to come in who will have to home quarantine for 14 days,” with the exception of essential and health care workers.
“This is something now that can no longer be denied. We have to have a plan that is stricter than we have especially when we see the number of sick individuals in Italy,” Green said, adding that the policy should extend at least until April 30. “As the health care coordinator on this matter, we have to be safe for our kupuna. Anything short of that would be negligent.”
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Hokkaido ends state of emergency, schools to reopen as epidemic gets ‘under control’ in Japan
Japan shut schools on March 2 to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido lifted its state of emergency on Friday morning, as the country moves to return to some semblance of normalcy while maintaining restrictions on arriving travellers amid the coronavirus outbreak.
An expert panel guiding Japan’s coronavirus response recommended late on Thursday that schools in some regions could be reopened but that large gatherings and enclosed areas that could reignite the contagion should still be avoided.
The infectious disease experts made no reference to the Tokyo Olympics, expected to start from July 24 but which have been cast into doubt by the coronavirus pandemic and the cancellation of sporting events and qualifiers around the world.
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Experts debate safety of ibuprofen for COVID-19
A spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson, which makes both Motrin and Tylenol, said the company "is taking all possible measures to maximize product availability across our OTC medicine portfolio to ensure broad access in all markets around the world.”
A spokesperson for GlaxoSmithKline, which produces Advil, said: "This is an emerging and rapidly evolving situation, and because consumer safety is our number one priority, we are closely monitoring statements from the public health authorities and medical experts."
Concerns about ibuprofen and other fever reducers may have been kick-started by fake WhatsApp messages circulating online. While normally such claims would be ignored by medical professionals, the online conspiracy fell on the heels of a hypothesis published in a prestigious scientific journal, the Lancet, which said there may be a scientific rationale for COVID-19 patients to avoid ibuprofen.
That theory draws on molecular biology. Because the virus that causes COVID-19 is known to bind to a specific protein in the body called ACE2, any medication that can increase ACE2, like ibuprofen, could theoretically increase the risk for a more severe COVID-19 infection.
Initially, a representative for the World Health Organization reportedly said at a press conference on Tuesday that patients should use paracetamol or acetaminophen in favor of ibuprofen.
Since then, the WHO has effectively retracted that warning statement. A representative from the organization said WHO "is gathering further evidence on this issue before making a formal recommendation, but after a rapid review of the literature, is not aware of published clinical or population-based data on this topic."
However, the WHO clearly announced on Wednesday evening that it does "not recommend against the use of ibuprofen" because it is "not aware of reports of any negative effects, beyond the usual ones that limit its use in certain populations."
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Almost half of coronavirus patients have digestive symptoms, study finds
Diarrhea and other digestive symptoms are the main complaint in nearly half of coronavirus patients, Chinese researchers report. Most patients with the coronavirus have respiratory symptoms, but these findings from the early stages of the outbreak show that digestive problems are prevalent in many patients with COVID-19.
"Clinicians must bear in mind that digestive symptoms, such as diarrhea, may be a presenting feature of COVID-19, and that the index of suspicion may need to be raised earlier in these cases rather than waiting for respiratory symptoms to emerge," wrote the investigators from the Wuhan Medical Treatment Expert Group for COVID-19.
The researchers analyzed data from 204 COVID-19 patients, average age nearly 55, who were admitted to three hospitals in the Hubei province between Jan. 18 and Feb. 28, 2020. The average time from symptom onset to hospital admission was 8.1 days.
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Second Dog in Hong Kong Tests Positive for Covid-19 Virus
A second pet dog in Hong Kong has repeatedly tested positive for the Covid-19 virus after its owner was confirmed as being infected, the government said.
The German Shepherd living in the Pok Fu Lam area on Hong Kong Island was sent for quarantine along with another mixed-breed dog from the same residence, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said in a statement.
“No positive results were obtained from the mixed-breed dog and neither dog has shown any signs of disease,” it said. “The department will continue to closely monitor both dogs and conduct repeated tests on the animals.”
The case comes after a 17-year-old Pomeranian tested weak positive during repeated tests for the virus, according to the statement. That dog died two days after it was released from quarantine. The department said the cause of death couldn’t be determined after the owner, who recently recovered from a coronavirus infection, declined to conduct an autopsy.
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Covid-19 - Mauritius to Go in Two-Week Lockdown As From Tomorrow
Mauritius will go in lockdown for two weeks, as from 06 00 hrs tomorrow morning, as the number of Covid-19 cases rose to seven. Consequently, to tackle to spread of Covid-19, employees will not go to work as from tomorrow, except those who are part of the essential services like the Police Force, medical services, and fire and rescue services, amongst others.
In a televised address to the nation, tonight, Prime Minister Jugnauth recalled that the lockdown decision has been taken after an urgent Cabinet meeting held, today, in an effort to reduce the impact of the coronavirus. With the aim to limit the spread of the virus, the Prime Minister urged the citizens to stay at home. He cautioned that economic activities and transport services will be reduced to the strict minimum. However, businesses like banks, supermarkets, shops, bakeries and pharmacies will operate normally. An additional list of businesses which will be allowed to run will be subsequently communicated to the public.
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