GENEVA (AFP): The World Health Organization on Sunday urged all countries to prepare for caring for patients severely sickened by the deadly new coronavirus by stocking up on ventilators. The UN health agency stressed in its latest situation report on COVID-19 that "oxygen therapy is a major treatment intervention for patients with severe COVID-19." "All countries should work to optimise the availability of pulse oximeters and medical oxygen systems," it said. Worldwide, nearly 3,000 people have been killed and more than 88,000 infected across some 60 countries since the virus was first detected late last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. But WHO noted that the virus appears to particularly hit those over the age of 60 and people already weakened by other illness.

Source: The Star March 01, 2020 22:18 UTC