The global Covid-19 confirmed case count passed one million on Thursday, with 181 countries and regions recording cases. According to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus map, as at 2130 hours GMT, there were also more than 51,480 deaths.
The United States, Italy, Spain and Germany are the hardest hit.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) at a briefing on Thursday morning, cautioned that the world would in the next day or two, reach more than one million confirmed cases, with 50,000 deaths.
Dr Ghebreyesus said in his opening remarks at the mission briefing on the respiratory disease, which has disrupted social and economic life across the globe that, this is a new virus, and the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus – two firsts.
He cautioned that gaps in essential care could result in many more deaths than the novel coronavirus itself.
Dr Ghebreyesus said the coronavirus had exposed the weaknesses and inequities in health systems and societies, the lack of preparedness, and the gaps in supply chains and other essential systems across the globe. He urged countries to implement the WHO’s recently published guidance on maintaining essential health services while responding to COVID-19.
Research and development efforts were, however, moving quickly as about 74 countries had joined in the solidarity trial, he said. The trial is assessing potential treatments for COVID-19, with more than 200 patients randomly assigned to one of the study arms.
On experience sharing, he said, the health body planned to hold a session in a few weeks to have more experiences shared from Europe and elsewhere.
The first 100,000 cases of COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the new virus, were reported in around 55 days, and the first 500,000 in 76 days. Cases doubled to one million within the past eight days.
While most cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus have been reported in the U.S. , Europe, and China, the virus is spreading rapidly across the African continent.
Ghana has recorded 204 cases COVID-19 with five (5) deaths. The number of regions reporting cases remain five (5) namely Greater Accra, Ashanti, Northern, Upper West and Eastern. The Greater Accra Region has most of the cases (183) followed by the Northern Region (10), Ashanti Region (9), Upper West Region (1) and Eastern Region (1).
Most of the cases are reported from routine / enhanced surveillance activities. Cases from travellers under mandatory quarantine remain 89.
