Coronavirus Scare: Death toll in Italy touches 197

Some 3,916 people are now infected with the coronavirus in Italy, 620 more than yesterday, and 197 dead, 49 up, emergency commissioner and civil protection chief Angelo Borrelli was quoted as saying by ANSA news agency.

He informed that 523 people have recovered from the disease.

The percentage of recovered is 11.28% of the total and the dead 4.25% of total, he said.

Meanwhile, in his daily briefing to the press on Friday, World Health Organization (WHO) chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned that supplies of medicine are at risk of disruption due to the epidemic, given that China - the worst hit nation so far - is a major producer of pharmaceutical ingredients.

So far, no imminent specific shortages have been identified, and manufacturing has resumed in most parts of China, but the private sector needs to be involved, to ensure that countries can access life-saving products, said Tedros.

“You’ve heard me talk about the market failure for personal protective equipment. We look forward to businesses stepping up to play their part. We need you”.

The WHO chief announced that the agency is working with the World Economic Forum to engage companies around the world. Earlier this week, he spoke to more than 200 CEOs, to discuss ways that they can protect their staff and customers, ensure business continuity, and contribute to the response.

Although some sources are reporting that there are now more than 100,000 global cases, Tedros announced a global total of 98,023 during his Friday briefing.

During the latest 24-hour reporting period, the WHO has noted 2,736 new cases of COVID-19, present in a total of 47 countries and territories.