Shomporko Desk: The number of people who have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus, or COVID-19, has topped 300,000 as the pandemic continues to spread around the world, with the situation in the U.S., Italy and Spain deteriorating even as the pandemic has stabilized in China, where the virus first emerged. At least 303,180 people have tested positive for the virus worldwide as of Saturday at 5:13 pm ET, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The number of cases in the U.S. has surged to at least 24,148, making it one of the worst-hit countries in the world. Only China, Italy and Spain are harder hit than the U.S.
The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has leapt by 793 to 4,825, officials said, by far the largest daily spike in absolute terms since the contagion emerged a month ago. The total number of coronavirus cases in Italy rose to 53,578 from a previous 47,021, an increase of 13.9 percent, the country’s Civil Protection Agency said on Saturday.
US President Donald Trump has written to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un offering help to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Details of the letter came from the North Korean leadership, which welcomed it as a sign of “the special and very firm personal relations” between Mr. Kim and Mr. Trump.
Two of Canada’s largest food retailers have announced a pay increase for staff working through the COVID-19 pandemic. Loblaw Companies Ltd, which includes Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies and Real Canadian Superstores, announced the raise Saturday for its workers’ “outstanding efforts to keep stores open.” “We have made the decision to temporarily increase compensation for our store and distribution centre colleagues by approximately 15 per cent retroactive to March 8,” Galen Weston, executive chairman of Loblaw Companies, said in a company announcement.
As of Saturday, Saskatchewan has 17 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, and one presumptive case, says the Ministry of Health. This brings the province’s total to 44 cases of COVID-19 with 25 cases being confirmed and 19 cases remaining presumptive. The new cases involve people who are 20 years of age or older, with the exception of one case which is still under investigation, says the Ministry of Health.
Sources: Sky News, CNBC, Aljazeera, CTV NEWS, GlobalNews
