AFP, ROMEGovernments worldwide yesterday were scrambling to prevent the spread of COVID-19 after fresh infections emerged linked to European hotspot Italy amid dire warnings that countries are not ready to contain the outbreak. Nineteen people have died and 44 further infections were reported across the country in the past 24 hours, including Iranian Deputy Minister of Health Iraj Harirchi. Italy has become the latest major cause for concern after France, Austria, Croatia and Switzerland all reported infections in people who had recently been to its worst-hit Lombardy region. France reported a second death — this time of one of its nationals after a Chinese tourist died earlier this month. However, he told reporters on Tuesday that other nations were “simply not ready” to contain the outbreak.

Source: Taipei Times February 26, 2020 15:56 UTC