The COVID-19 coronavirus flu is infecting the world more and more. There are Friday, March 6, more than 100,000 people infected, and 3,411 dead in 91 countries and territories around the world. All the continents are affected, in particular Asia, obviously, the first center from which the epidemic started. Europe is then the second most affected continent.
In Asia, China remains the main country affected, with more than 80,000 people infected and more than 3,000 dead, ahead of South Korea (6,593 people infected and 42 dead) and Iran (4,747 people and 124 dead). In Europe, Italy is the first affected household, with 3,858 infected people and 148 dead, then comes Germany (578 people, no deaths) and France (577 infected people, 9 dead).
Africa, the Americas and Oceania remain secondary centers for the time being, but the epidemic is progressing globally. It mainly affects people with the most fragile health, especially the elderly.
The economic consequences – in our globalized and highly connected societies – will be significant in the months to come. The millions of people who cannot work due to containment and quarantine will see their incomes fall dramatically and will need help, especially the most financially vulnerable. The global economy will also be affected for a time.
However, we have to put things into perspective, because the seasonal flu, which is also highly contagious, kills around 650,000 people each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
