Coronavirus deaths exceed 18,000 in USA

According to the latest Johns Hopkins University tally, Italy has registered at least 18,800 deaths, but the number of new patients who have died has decreased, while the US has recorded more than 18,539 fatalities, over 2,000 more than the previous day.

The worldwide death toll from the new coronavirus surpassed 102,000 early on Saturday (00:01 GMT), with the United States expected to overtake Italy in the grim position as the country with the highest number of fatalities.

The number of cases worldwide is now close to 1.7 million, including almost 500,000 in the US. Patients who have recovered also increased to more than 376,000.

As this developed, the World Health Organization urged caution to countries that are considering the easing of restrictions on the coronavirus lockdown in the coming days and weeks.

"The way down could be as dangerous as the way up if not managed properly," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.


Dhaka/Mukul