Today Japan reported the first two deaths from coronavirus among passengers quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise liner, South Korea reported its first fatality, and new cases in Iran sparked fears that the disease is spreading in the Middle East.
China tallied a total of 394 new infections and 136 deaths through the end of Wednesday. That’s the lowest in weeks. The total now stands at 74,546 infections and 2,118 deaths, most in central Hubei province.
In South Korea, cases soared by nearly two-thirds, mostly in the southern part of the peninsula, to 104.
Iran reported three new cases Thursday, a day after two people died from the virus, in the holy city of Qom.
Researchers say they still do not know for sure how contagious the virus is.
