Throughout Wednesday (March 18), China witnessed no new domestic cases of Covid-19 infection. This is no small feat for the Asian nation, where the disease first originated in late December and reported 80,894 cases along with 3,237 fatalities. According to the WHO, the epicenter of the disease outbreak has shifted from Asia to Europe, with the continent reporting about 15,000 cases, in a day.
China reports no domestic Covid-19 case
On Wednesday, China reported 34 new cases of Covid-19 infection, all overseas. Thus, no domestic case was reported in the country, for the first time. The number of deaths has also reduced to a single-digit, with 8 deaths being reported on Wednesday.
Also, for the first time, its Hubei province, which has served as the epicenter of the virus outbreak, witnessed no new cases -- either domestically or abroad, South China Morning Post reported.
Although China has been successful in dealing with the outbreak, critics have raised questions, regarding the accuracy of Chinese data. The country has often modified the diagnostic criteria, that raises serious concerns whether the virus threat is over in China.
Virus epicenter moves to Europe
Several European nations are being hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. On Wednesday, the number of new Covid-19 cases, reported by European nations stands at: 4,207 in Italy, 2,943 in Spain, 2,960 in Germany, 1,404 in France, 676 in UK, 373 in Switzerland.
The number of fatalities reported by European nations, in a single day stands at: 475 in Italy, 105 in Spain, 89 in France and 33 in UK. Italy is the hardest-hit European nation, with 35,713 cases and 2,978 fatalities. It's followed by Spain, with 14,769 cases and 638 fatalities.
China, Donald Trump stuck over 'Chinese virus'
As the United States reported 2,848 new cases and 41 new fatalities, in a day, the US President Donald Trump is being accused of taking a racist stance towards the pandemic. On multiple occasions, he has called Covid-19, the 'Chinese virus'. This has irked the Chinese establishment.
I only signed the Defense Production Act to combat the Chinese Virus should we need to invoke it in a worst case scenario in the future. Hopefully there will be no need, but we are all in this TOGETHER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020
I always treated the Chinese Virus very seriously, and have done a very good job from the beginning, including my very early decision to close the “borders†from China - against the wishes of almost all. Many lives were saved. The Fake News new narrative is disgraceful & false!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020
I will be having a news conference today to discuss very important news from the FDA concerning the Chinese Virus!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020
For the people that are now out of work because of the important and necessary containment policies, for instance the shutting down of hotels, bars and restaurants, money will soon be coming to you. The onslaught of the Chinese Virus is not your fault! Will be stronger than ever!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020
Cuomo wants “all states to be treated the same.†But all states aren’t the same. Some are being hit hard by the Chinese Virus, some are being hit practically not at all. New York is a very big “hotspotâ€, West Virginia has, thus far, zero cases. Andrew, keep politics out of it....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2020
The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2020
The Chinese state media has accused the US President of using China as a 'scapegoat' to 'cover up his incompetent crisis handling'.
Trump's appalling and repeated use of "Chinese virus" shows he is willing to sacrifice China-US relations to cover up his incompetent crisis handling. US could have been cooperating with China in many ways to fight the virus. It’s a pity Trump continues to look for a scapegoat. https://t.co/9xElRWKgDD
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) March 19, 2020
It shared the clip of Dr. Mike Ryan, a WHO official, who said "the pandemic of influenza in 2009 originated in North America, we didn't call it North American flu".
"The pandemic of influenza in 2009 originated in North America, we didn't call it North American flu," @DrMikeRyan said in response to @realDonaldTrump's stigmatized term of "#Chinesevirus", adding that this is a time for solidarity, instead of blaming. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/18y54hQWBd
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) March 19, 2020
