More than 35,000 people have died worldwide from the coronavirus pandemic since it emerged late last year in China, most of them in Europe, according to an AFP tally at 4:14 p.m. GMT yesterday using official figures.
In total, 35,905 people have died, including 26,076 in Europe. Italy has the most deaths with 11,591, following by Spain with 7,340 and China with 3,304.
More than 740,00 cases have been officially detected in 183 countries and territories, including at least 408,203 in Europe, almost 150,000 in the United States and Canada with 2,635 deaths and 106,609 cases in Asia with 3,827 deaths.
Detected cases are likely to reflect only a fraction of the real number of infections as many countries are only testing the most serious cases.
Meanwhile, Bassey Offiong, a US-based 25-year-old graduating Nigerian student has died of Coronavirus. Bassey was expected to graduate with a chemical engineering degree in a few weeks.
Despite having fever, fatigue and breathing difficulties, Bassey reportedly died of the virus at the weekend after allegedly being turned down several times for test in the Kalamazoo area while living off-campus.
Bassey’s sister, Asari wrote on Facebook that she told him (Bassey) to ask them to test him but he said they refused to carry out a Coronavirus test on him, adding that one medical staffer even told him he had bronchitis. “I know God has him in His presence. He loved God,” Asari added.
He was hospitalized at Beaumont in Royal Oak where he spent the last week on a ventilator in their intensive care unit before his death.
President of Western Michigan University Edward Montgomery in a tribute to Bassey said he was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of their students, adding that the deceased was a young man of enormous potentia.
“On behalf of the entire Bronco community, I want to extend my deepest condolences to his entire family, including his sister Asari, who has been generous in communicating with us regularly,” he wrote on Facebook.
“They are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
A statement by the Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department, added, “We are truly saddened to learn of the death of a Western Michigan University student due to COVID-19.
This is coming after Britain’s Prince Charles ended his self-isolation following his positive test for the novel coronavirus. His office said: “Having consulted with his doctor, the Prince of Wales is now out of self-isolation.
“It is not possible to ascertain from whom the prince caught the virus owing to the high number of engagements he carried out in his public role during recent weeks,” it said.
Source: The Guardian Nigeria
