SHARES
Big Jump of COVID-19 cases and deaths
Feb 13 2020 – Hubei reported big surge of Covid-19 new cases of nearly 15,000 yesterday and 232 deaths. The big jump is because of a change in the diagnosis methodology. Overall new cases in China jumped by more than 15,000 cases and 254 deaths.
Before the change, doctors made diagnosis from lab tests on nucleic acid for the RNA virus. Now the new methodology includes clinical diagnosis (medical history, symptoms, signs, CT scans) and not on lab tests alone.
Therefore the expanded diagnostic criteria is the reason for the huge increase in the latest daily report of cases and deaths. They now include cases that were not from test kits, which are in short supply. The new cases include 13,332 that were diagnosed via imaging scans. This new diagnostic guideline allows for earlier treatment as tests can take days.
What the Expert Says
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that the number of new confirmed cases in China appeared to have stabilised but warned extreme caution to the view of a slowdown as “this outbreak could still go in any direction”.
Another expert said that while the coronavirus may be peaking in China, this was not the case elsewhere.
“It has spread to other places where it’s the beginning of the outbreak,” Prof Dale Fisher, head of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network coordinated by the WHO, said in an interview in Singapore. “In Singapore, we are at the beginning.”
COVID-19 in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand
Singapore has the most cases (50) outside of China, in 3rd place is Thailand with 33 cases. Malaysia has 19 cases.
Singapore and Malaysia will set up a joint working group to strengthen cooperation in tackling the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.
Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Malaysia Minister of Health and Singapore’s counterpart Mr Gan Kim Yong announced a working group on Monday after a video conference meeting between the two countries. A big number of people move between the countries on a daily basis.
Temperature Scans at JB Immigration
Ongoing Clinical Trials in China
Results from China’s clinical trials on regimen of antiviral HIV agents to treat COVID-19 are expected in weeks. However a vaccine could be months away.
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by Wong Mei Chan
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