Wuhan, Origin of Coronavirus, Reports No New Cases For First Time

• There are over 219,000 reported cases and just under 9,000 deaths as of 9am (Pakistan Time)
• Wuhan Province for the first time since the beginning of the outbreak has not reported a new case.
• Majority of the cases belong to European countries: Italy, Germany, Spain and France.

COVID-19 is spreading fast and over 219,000 people have been infected globally. Out of the 219,000 cases, over 160,000 of them belong to 5 countries: China, Italy, Iran, Spain and Germany.

China, where the outbreak reportedly started, has gone from over 5000 cases in a day at a time, to less than 100 a day. Today, that number in Wuhan is Zero.

Other countries have not been successful in containment however. America, Iran, Italy, and most of Europe's numbers continue to surge.

Yesterday, after a few days of constant numbers, Italy reported a surge in deaths - 475 in one day, a new record since the beginning of the outbreak.

The country’s health ministry said on Thursday that 34 cases were detected over the last 24 hours — but all of the positive results came from people arriving to the country from abroad.

It is worth noting that the fact that there were no new infections in the virus hotbed city of Wuhan signals an end to the outbreak in China could be in sight.

Experts have stated that for the outbreak to be considered "over", 14 consecutive days without new cases must be recorded.

A growing number of experts predict that once lockdowns are lifted, a second wave of infections could begin. China has begun loosening travel restrictions, but has stepped up 14-day quarantines on those coming into Beijing, Shanghai and elsewhere from overseas.

Pakistan and Coronavirus

The outbreak has also taken Pakistan by surprise with over 300 cases being reported since the first on 26th February. Unfortunately, there have been 2 deaths reported as well, both from KPK. The number is set to rise exponentially with Punjab beginning tests of suspected cases.

With Wuhan not reporting new cases, the world sees a light at the end of the tunnel, but is the world ready to take the strict measures adopted by China to rid itself of the virus?