Virus Infections Cross 80,000 Globally

South Korea has most COVID-19 cases outside China, with 977 infected and 10 dead; Iran toll rises to 16

Iran’s COVID-19 death toll rose to 16 on Tuesday, the highest outside China, increasing its international isolation as dozens of countries from South Korea to Italy accelerated emergency measures to curb the epidemic’s global spread.

Believed to come from wildlife in Wuhan city late last year, the flu-like disease has infected 80,000 people and killed 2,663 in China. But the World Health Organization (WHO) says the epidemic there has peaked and has been declining since February 2.

Beyond mainland China, however, it has jumped to nearly 40 countries and territories, with some three dozen deaths. Growing outbreaks in Iran, Italy and South Korea are of particular concern.

“We are close to a pandemic but there is still hope,” said Raina MacIntyre, head of a biosecurity programme at the University of New South Wales.

Iran faces isolation