COVID-19 Death Toll Tops 3,000

The death toll from the new coronavirus epidemic surpassed 3,000 on Monday as more people died in China, Iran and the US and Europe raised its state of alert.

The virus has now infected more than 89,000, spread to over 60 countries and threatens to cause a global economic slowdown -- after first emerging in China late last year.

With fears of a pandemic on the rise, the World Health Organization urged all countries to stock up on critical care ventilators to treat patients with severe symptoms.

What is happening around the world:

• The WHO says the virus is "unique" but stresses it can be contained
• US President Donald Trump urges pharmaceutical companies to develop a vaccine quickly
• Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Morocco and Senegal confirm their first cases
• South Korea has reported 477 new cases and three more deaths
• Quarantined foreign diplomats will be allowed to leave Pyongyang
• Australia's central bank cuts interest rates in response to the outbreak
• Twitter tells staff in Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea to work from home
• Hong Kong to fly 533 residents back from Wuhan

Source: BBC