WHO reported that the coronavirus mortality rate is higher than expected

WHO reported that the coronavirus mortality rate is higher than expected

The agency placed lethality at 3.4%, well above the 2.3% initially thought. Seasonal flu, meanwhile, is fatal for about 1% of those infectedThe mortality rate of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, is 3.4%, above what was previously thought, around 2%. This was reported on Tuesday by the authorities of the Health Organization (WHO).

"Worldwide, about 3.4% of reported cases of COVID-19 have died," said the agency's Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during a press conference at the Geneva headquarters and cited by CNBC. In addition, he added that seasonal flu generally kills much less than 1% of those infected.

The World Health Organization had said last week that the mortality rate of COVID-19 could vary from 0.7% to 4% , depending on the quality of the health care system. At the beginning of the outbreak, the scientists had concluded that the mortality rate was around 2.3%.

On Monday, during a press conference, the authorities of the agency had said they did not know how COVID-19 behaves, and added that in comparison to the seasonal flu, which is known how it is transmitted and what treatments work against it, That information is still being studied for the coronavirus.

"It is a unique virus, with unique characteristics. This virus is not influenza," Tedros said Monday. "We are in unknown territory , " he added.

On Tuesday, the agency reported that it has a record of 90,870 confirmed cases worldwide, of which 1,922 correspond to the last 24 hours. 80% of the latter are concentrated in Italy, Iran and North Korea.

In China, the cases rise to 80,304, of which 130 are new, which represents the lowest daily figure recorded since last January 20, and speaks of the stabilization of contagion in the Asian giant.

Those killed by COVID-19 in China rise to 2,946 and 166 in the rest of the world , according to the daily data reported by WHO.

Andorra, Jordan, Latvia, Morocco, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Tunisia announced cases on the last day, which has led the organization to highlight that “the increase in cases in the Eastern Mediterranean region is a matter of great concern” . Argentina and Chile confirmed on Tuesday the first cases of coronavirus, extending the presence of this disease to the Southern Cone after appearing in other countries in the region.

In addition, the WHO warned of a sharp break in the global supply of protective material for medical personnel attending to patients with coronavirus, a situation that is a consequence of the increase in demand, impulse purchases by panic, hoarding and the improper use ”of these equipments.

What is scarce are mainly medical masks, gloves and goggles.