Yahoo Finance Global coronavirus cases reach 100,000
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases around the world has hit more than 100,000.
The unwelcome milestone was reached today, according to data by Johns Hopkins University in the US.
There have also been 55,700 recoveries, the university’s data shows.
The news came as the UK confirmed its number of cases had jumped from 116 to 163.
Mainland China – where the virus originated – is the worst affected region, with more than 80,000 cases recorded.
South Korea is the next worst hit, with more than 5,000 cases confirmed, while Italy has reported more than 3,800 and Iran officially reporting more than 3,500.
All other countries record fewer, with Japan, France, Germany, Spain, Singapore, the US, the UK and Hong Kong all reporting more than 100.
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There are more than 100 cases in the UK, where the government has announced its “battle plan” to take on the virus.
It says that up to one fifth of the workforce could end up being off sick during a coronavirus peak and police may only deal with serious crime.
Non-urgent operations may be cancelled and retired NHS staff could be called back to duty, it states.
The 27-page document, made available on Tuesday, also outlines how the military could be called in to support authorities and businesses with short-term cash flow issues may be helped.
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Boris Johnson said it is “highly likely” the UK would see more infections but added that in many people it would be a “mild disease” they will recover from.
He said police would keep the public safe but may have to “prioritise those things that they have to do”.
He added: “And the army is of course always ready to back-fill as and when, but that is under the reasonable worst case scenario.”
