The death count for those infected with coronavirus spiked to 170 after 38 additional people died from the virus in one day.
According to the latest global reports, there are now 7,711 confirmed cases of the virus worldwide, which is a 1,737-case increase in the past 24 hours. Two new countries also confirmed their first cases of the illness, India and the Philippines. Both victims had been in Wuhan, China, before returning to their home countries. The city of Wuhan, which is believed to be the epicenter of the outbreak, has been quarantined by the Chinese government.
The spread of the virus has concerned many, but Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton claimed the disease is “much worse” than China has been reporting. In a Thursday morning tweet, Cotton, 42, wrote, “Good morning. There was a 28% increase in coronavirus cases overnight in China. Make no mistake, though: these aren’t ‘new’ cases. Just what China is willing to admit. It’s much worse.”
Good morning. There was a 28% increase in coronavirus cases overnight in China. Make no mistake, though: these aren’t “new” cases. Just what China is willing to admit. It’s much worse.
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) January 30, 2020
Cotton, a Republican, has been railing against China for its handling of coronavirus recently and has suggested that the country face “serious consequences” for the outbreak. He also proposed a “targeted travel ban” in parts of China to help contain the SARS-like virus.
Wu Chungeng, a spokesman for China’s Transport Ministry, said the Chinese government is taking “severe measures” to screen people traveling out of the country for the infection, adding, “It’s definitely very challenging, but we’re confident we can exert effective control.”
