Concerning developments in COVID-19 outbreak around the world as number of Canadian cases rises to 13

TORONTO (NEWS 1130) – The number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise worldwide, including here in Canada.

Ontario’s medical health officer has confirmed the husband of the latest woman in Toronto to be diagnosed with the virus has also tested positive, raising the number of infected in this country to 13.

On Wednesday, Ontario’s Ministry of Health said a woman in her 60s, who had recently travelled to Iran, was the fifth person in that province to contract the new coronavirus strain. The couple is currently in self-isolation at home.

This new case in Canada comes after a concerning development in California. Health officials in the U.S. confirmed on Wednesday another person had been infected — but they apparently hadn’t travelled abroad or been in contact with another patient, as has been the case with others who have tested positive for the virus.

It would mark a first for the U.S. if it’s confirmed this person’s case didn’t involve those usual risk factors, and would also point to a sign that efforts to contain the novel coronavirus haven’t been as successful as thought.

“It’s possible this could be an instance of community spread of COVID-19,” the CDC said in a statement.

The total number of people infected in the U.S. has now risen to 60 — but the majority of those sick were brought back to the U.S. from outbreak zones.

COVID-19 has now reached 50 countries and infected more than 81,000 people so far. Upwards of 2,800 people have been killed by the virus.

As the outbreak continues, many countries are taking steps to try and contain the virus.

In Japan, where close to 900 cases have been recorded, schools were closed across the country in an effort to control the new coronavirus. The country’s prime minister has asked all elementary, middle, and high schools remain closed until April.

In South Korea, the country’s National Assembly has resorted to passing a law, strengthening the punishment for those violating self-isolation. The punishment sees fines more than triple, as well as the possibility of a year in prison. The country is currently experiencing the worst outbreak outside of China.

More than 250 people are sick and 26 are dead in Iran, which has also been hard-hit by COVID-19. The country has loosened import rules that once barred a number of foreign products to be shipped in. The move allowed in sanitizers, face masks, and other necessities in an effort to contain the virus.

Meanwhile, a number of towns in northern Italy remain on lockdown as the number of cases in that country rose to more than 440.