Restrictions ease in China but tighten elsewhere across the globe - Today's coronavirus news and analysis

Mar 21, 2020

Indonesian Red Cross Society personnel walk in protective suits during an operation to spray disinfectant at the Kemayoran Athletes Village, to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 21, 2020 Image: REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana - RC24OF909C60

Linda Lacina

As coronavirus continues to spread across the globe, here are some of the latest headlines, resources and stories to help you arm yourself with the best information.

COVID-19’s impact around the globe

Globally, confirmed cases top 275,434. (The total number of those who have recovered is 88,256).
Around 20% of Americans have been told to stay at home.
New cases in China continue to slow as shops and bars re-open.
No new cases in Hubei for third day in a row.
France issues fines to those who violate certain containment orders
China, the United States and Europe race to develop a vaccine.

This is just intermission, we'll see you soon Image: REUTERS/Jason Redmond

Most see COVID-19 as an economic crisis first, health risk second: survey

The public sees coronavirus as a greater threat to the economy than to their health, new research suggests. Economic rescue measures announced by governments do not appear to be calming concern. The Ipsos poll of 10,000 adults in 12 countries, conducted 12-14 March, highlights rising anxiety about personal financial exposure, including over risks to employment. The perception of threat to health increases with proximity to hotspots, despite social distancing measures and travel bans in place across large areas of the world.

Response to the question: What level of threat do you think the coronavirus poses to you personally? Image: IPSOS data provided for the World Economic Forum

Coronavirus origins: genome analysis suggests two viruses may have combined

Scientists have been trying to understand the origin of COVID-19 coronavirus and the virus that causes it: SARS-CoV-2. Originally, scientists believed the virus could have developed in bats, but genomic comparisons suggest that the SARS-Cov-2 virus is the result of a recombination between two different viruses, meaning the exact origin of the virus is still unclear. Read more here.

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What is the World Economic Forum doing about the coronavirus outbreak?

WHO launches COVID-19 health alert service with Facebook and WhatsApp

At a briefing yesterday, the World Health Organization announced the launch of a messaging service in conjunction with partners WhatsApp and Facebook. The service, available only in English for now, has the potential to reach 2 billion people and help get reliable information to those who need it.

The service can be accessed through a link that opens a conversation on WhatsApp or by sending "hi" to the number +41798931892. Once a conversation is activated, users can access a menu of options that can help answer their questions about COVID-19. Read more here.

Image: WHO

World Economic Forum launches podcast: World Versus Virus
A new weekly podcast from the World Economic Forum has launched to put the ever-evolving news on coronavirus in context. Hosted by digital editor Robin Pomeroy, the podcast will offer insights and analysis from top global experts in economics, technology, health and culture, as well as input from the World Economic Forum’s digital team, to help listeners understand how the pandemic is reshaping society, business and the economy.

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