Global health

The death toll of the coronavirus globally has exceeded 15,000, according to recent AFP calculations.

More than 1 billion people are quarantined in more than 50 countries and territories around the world as governments attempt to curb the pandemic.

It is normal for the coronavirus to start to appear and disappear again in the next two years, said the head of the group of Chinese experts on COVID-19.

South China Morning Post published information on prospects for European countries in the fight against the new type of coronavirus.

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The COVID-19 pandemic death toll has exceeded 10,000, AFP reported, citing government official data at 12:30 Bulgarian time, BNR reported.

Of the 10,080 coronavirus casualties reported, the largest number are in Europe (4932), followed by Asia 3431.

The Minister of Health issued an order banning the export of quinine-based medicines until a second order. The aim is to meet the needs of the Bulgarian market in connection with the WHO declared pandemic and the complicated epidemic situation related to the spread of COVID-19 on the territory of Bulgaria.

Turkey's Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has proposed an individually-declared emergency rule for Turkish citizens as the coronavirus is infecting more people across the country, urging a strictly implemented self-containment for at least three weeks during which the pandemic could make its peak.

The coronavirus pandemic is a collective public health emergency unprecedented in recent history. It is an unbearable human tragedy played out across the world and our thanks go to the dedicated health workers on the frontline of our health systems.

Greece's public healthcare system has so far responded well to the challenge of the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic. The only exception, albeit an important one, seems to be the testing, which has been neither as widespread nor as quick as conditions require.

The notorious traffic congestion in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city by population, has eased over the past week amid the global coronavirus pandemic that is keeping residents away from the streets. 

The World Health Organization called on all countries on March 16 to ramp up their testing programs as the best way to slow the advance of the coronavirus pandemic, and also urged companies to boost production of vital equipment to overcome acute shortages.