A coronavirus tracker map from John Hopkins University showed there were more than 150,000 confirmed cases worldwide on Saturday, with the death toll topping 5,600. If coronavirus expanded in poor countries, the economic impact on individuals would likely be greater as economic losses would be a bigger share of gross domestic product, she added. Crash courseThe slower spread of the virus to Africa, however, may have bought the continent valuable time to take preventive measures. "Hopefully the lessons that are rapidly being learned in other countries where it has happened earlier will prevent that this becomes a serious situation in less-developed countries," Mizutori said. But they have yet to implement the joined-up measures needed to head off serious outbreaks like coronavirus, Mizutori said.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 15, 2020 04:52 UTC