COVID-19 Crisis: Data, Trends, Analysis Of A Global Health Emergency

COVID-19 is now a global health emergency with more than 95 countries hit by the fastest-spreading virus in recent times. Over 1,00,000 COVID-19 positive cases have been reported worldwide and the count continues to rise on a daily basis. The Novel Coronavirus has claimed nearly 3,500 lives.

Here's Hans India's data-driven analysis of how COVID-19 has played out:

• As per figures released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), by Saturday there were more than 100,000 COVID-19 positive cases. The death toll from COVID-19 has gone past 3400.

• China at the epicentre of the COVID-19 crisis, accounts for more than 3,000 deaths. Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan have also seen a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 positive cases and deaths.

• The WHO has declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), with China and other countries under the 'very high' category of WHO's scale of risk evaluation.

• India has not had a very major COVID-19 outbreak in proportion to the density of population and lack of awareness.

• So far, 39 COVID-19 positive cases have been reported countrywide.

• COVID-19 cases in India have been reported from several states—Kerala, Telangana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Ladakh.

The Origin

• The COVID-19 outbreak is believed to have started from the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan in China's Hubei Province, which has become the epicentre of the global health emergency.

• More than 80% of all COVID-19 cases have been reported from the Hubei province. It also accounts for more than 95% of COVID-19 related fatalities.

COVID-19 in countries other than China

• Close to 95 countries have been affected by COVID-19.

• Globally, South Korea with over 6,700 cases accounts for the most cases outside China. Iran has reported more than 4700 cases followed by Italy with more than 4,600 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

• The cruise ship Diamond Princess has close to 700 confirmed cases on board.

• Japan, UK, USA, Germany and Spain are among the several countries impacted by COVID-19.

Worldwide Spike In COVID-19

This chart sourced from the WHO, traces the COVID-19 outbreak and maps the growing number of confirmed cases. February 13 shows a sharp rise in the number of reported COVID-19 cases on account of China's clinical diagnosis and their results being announced.

Funds to Face the COVID-19 Crisis

• The WHO has appealed to the international community to help battle the COVID-19 emergency and has reckoned that the funds needed immediately are in the range of more than $60 million.

• The amount received and the pledged amounts add up to just over 40% of WHO's target.

• When it comes to tackling the COVID-19 challenge, the funding gap is quite wide, as per WHO figures. It has spelt out a requirement of US $675 million.

• WHO has an immediate need to cover preparedness and response activities from April 2020 to April 2020. However, while close to $32 million has been pledged to WHO (by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Japan, Czech Republic, UK and Slovakia), it has received $2.5 million and a yawning funding gap of close to $28 million remains.