The novel coronavirus has infected at least 222,643 people and killed almost 9,000 worldwide as of March 19. The World Health Organization declared it a pandemic on March 11, since which time it has spread further and faster than ever before. Europe is the new epicenter of the disease. It is also infecting increasing numbers of people in the US and other nations. At least 160 countries and territories have reported cases.
China — where the virus first began to spread in late 2019 — has seen a sharp drop-off in its rate of new cases. The virus has now taken a heavier toll outside China than inside it, in overall infections and deaths. More than 84,000 people known to be infected have since recovered, mostly in China. Many countries have declared nationwide lockdowns and states of emergency to slow the spread of the virus, including the US.
The US, the EU, and many other nations have closed their borders or otherwise, dramatically cut the amount of international travel. Governments worldwide have committed more than one trillion dollars to mitigate the economic fallout of the virus and widespread quarantining, which is expected to bring about a global recession.
