Coronavirus cases surge to 400 in Italy, Romania has reported its first case of the virus
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The number of coronavirus cases in Italy has jumped to 400, amid international efforts to contain the spread of the deadly outbreak.
Civil Protection Chief Angelo Borrelli said Wednesday that the number of people with the coronavirus to have died in Italy has climbed to 12 while 400 have contracted the deadly virus.
The rise in Italy, the main focus of infection in Europe, represents a 25% surge in 24 hours.
Several European countries announced new cases traced to Italy.
Romania has reported its first case of the virus.
The patient is a man who was in contact with an Italian visitor to the country last week, AFP reports.
Seven other people who lived at the same address as the patient have all tested negative but emergency department official Raed Arafat said that as a precaution will still be quarantined for two weeks.
Pakistan, Georgia, Norway, Macedonia, Greece and Romania are among countries to report their first case of coronavirus in the last day.
Civil protection and health workers who wear protective suits and health masks deliver the evening meal at the Bel Sit hotel in Alassio where 34 people from Asti are in quarantine for the stay of a person tested positive at Covid-19. Officials said that the number of people which have died due to the COVID-19 coronavirus in Italy has climbed to 12 while more than 400 persons have contracted the virus. EPA-EFE/LUCA ZENNARO
Late on Wednesday, authorities reported a total of 400 cases – a rise of 80 from Tuesday night.
The worst-affected areas are in the industrial north of the country – Lombardy, the region around Milan, and Veneto near Venice. The outbreak has killed 12 people in the country so far.
Government officials have sought to reassure the public, and insisted steps were being taken to prevent the spread of the disease.
Schools, universities and cinemas have been closed and several public events cancelled.
Eleven towns at the centre of the outbreak – home to a total of 55,000 people – have been quarantined.
Also on Wednesday, the World Health Organization said that for the first time the virus was spreading faster outside China, where it originated.
Globally, more than 80,000 people in about 40 countries have been infected with the new coronavirus, which emerged in December. The vast majority remain in China.
