Republican Sen. Marco Rubio warns of the risk posed by China’s control of the drug market and explains what can be done on ‘Fox & Friends.’

Now that the number of new people infected IN CHINA is slowing down, the country’s Communist Party is ratcheting up threats against the West, with a particularly nasty warning about access to DRUGS aimed at the United States.

 the state-run media agency that’s largely considered the mouthpiece of the party, Beijing bragged about its handling of COVID-19, a virus that originated in the city of WUHAN and has spread quickly around the world, killing nearly 5,000 people and infecting thousands more. The article also claimed that China could impose pharmaceutical export controls which would plunge America into “the mighty sea of coronavirus.”

 

The disturbing threats made during a global pandemic as well as the scary consequences if that threat becomes real highlight just how tight China’s grip is on the global supply chain. Already, the Food and Drug Administration has announced the first drug shortage related to the coronavirus. Though it did not disclose which drug was in short supply, the FDA did say it could not access enough raw components needed because they are made in China.

Fox News on Thursday that America is “dangerously reliant” on China for the production of critical goods, including parts for technologies needed to fight COVID-19.

 

President Trump comments on coronavirus travel bans, administration response to pandemic

Though the United States is a global leader in research, much of the manufacturing of life-saving drugs has moved overseas. The last American manufacturing plant to make a key component in penicillin shuttered in 2004. Since then, Chinese pharmaceuticals companies have moved in and taken over, supplying between 80 percent and 90 percent of U.S. antibiotics, 70 percent of acetaminophen and about 40 percent of heparin, according to Yanzhong Huang

If China makes good on its threat to cut off the United States, Rubio believes the results could be crippling.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide on Thursday went up to 124,518, up from 118,162 cases the day before. In China, there are 80,980 confirmed cases. Italy saw a 22.7 percent jump to 12,462 from 10,149. Iran is hovering close to a 12 percent increase while cases in Qatar jumped 991 percent to 262 cases from 24. In the United States, there are more than 1,300 confirmed cases spread across 44 states and the District of Columbia.

People wearing protective face masks wait in a queue to get temperature check before entering a bank in Beijing, Wednesday, March 11, 2020. For most, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for a few, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illnesses, including pneumonia. 

People wearing protective face masks wait in a queue to get temperature check before entering a bank in Beijing, Wednesday, March 11, 2020. For most, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for a few, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illnesses, including pneumonia.  (AP)

Rubio said Beijing’s comments should concern all Americans and that China is keenly aware that in a moment of crisis “they can threaten to cut us off from our pharmaceutical supplies, they could trigger a domestic problem here that would make it difficult or us to confront them.”

“It’s a tremendous amount of leverage,” Rubio said.

Situation update worldwide, as of 13 March 2020 08:00

Epidemiological update

Since 31 December 2019 and as of 13 March 2020, 133 860 cases of COVID-19 (in accordance with the applied case definitions in the affected countries) have been reported, including 4 967 deaths. The deaths have been reported from China (3 179), Italy (1 016), Iran (429), Spain (84), South Korea (67), France (61), United States (40), Japan (19), United Kingdom (10), Iraq (8), International conveyance in Japan (7), Germany (5), Netherlands (5), San Marino (5), Switzerland (4), Australia (3), Belgium (3), Egypt (2), Philippines (2), Albania (1), Algeria (1), Argentina (1), Austria (1), Bulgaria (1), Canada (1), Greece (1), Guyana (1), India (1), Indonesia (1), Ireland (1), Morocco (1), Norway (1), Panama (1), Poland (1), Sweden (1), Taiwan (1) and Thailand (1).

Cases have been reported on the following continents:

Africa: Egypt (80), Algeria (24), South Africa (17), Tunisia (13), Morocco (6), Senegal (6), Burkina Faso (2), Cameroon (2), Ghana (2), Nigeria (2), Cote Divoire (1), Democratic Republic Of The Congo (1), Gabon (1) and Togo (1).

Asia: China (80 954), Iran (10 075), South Korea (7 979), Japan (675), Qatar (262), Singapore (187), Bahrain (162), Malaysia (158), Israel (96), United Arab Emirates (85), Kuwait (80), India (75), Iraq (74), Thailand (70), Lebanon (66), Saudi Arabia (62), Philippines (52), Taiwan (49), Vietnam (44), Indonesia (34), Palestine* (30), Brunei Darussalam (25), Pakistan (21), Oman (18), Maldives (8), Afghanistan (7), Cambodia (5), Bangladesh (3), Sri Lanka (3), Bhutan (1), Jordan (1), Mongolia (1) and Nepal (1).

America: United States (1 663), Canada (138), Brazil (77), Chile (33), Argentina (31), Panama (27), Costa Rica (23), Peru (22), Ecuador (17), Mexico (16), Colombia (9), Jamaica (6), Paraguay (6), Dominican Republic (5), Bolivia (3), Cuba (3), Honduras (2), Guyana (1), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1) and, Trinidad and Tobago (1).

Europe: Italy (15 113), Spain (3 004), France (2 876), Germany (2 369), Switzerland (854), Denmark (676), Norway (621), Sweden (620), Netherlands (614), United Kingdom (590), Belgium (399), Austria (361), Finland (155), Greece (133), Iceland (117), Czech Republic (116), Slovenia (96), Portugal (78), Ireland (70), San Marino (67), Romania (64), Poland (49), Russia (34), Estonia (27), Luxembourg (26), Croatia (25), Georgia (25), Serbia (24), Albania (23), Bulgaria (23), Belarus (21), Slovakia (21), Hungary (16), Latvia (16), Azerbaijan (13), Bosnia and Herzegovina (11), Malta (9), North Macedonia (9), Armenia (6), Cyprus (6), Moldova (6), Liechtenstein (4), Lithuania (3), Ukraine (3), Turkey (2), Andorra (1), Holy See (1) and Monaco (1).

Oceania: Australia (156) and New Zealand (5).

Other: International conveyance in Japan (696).

* This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue.

Download today’s data on the geographic distribution of COVID-19 cases worldwide

The downloadable data file is updated daily and contains the latest available public data on COVID-19. Public-use data files allows users to manipulate the data in a format appropriate for their analyses. Users of ECDC public-use data files must comply with data use restrictions to ensure that the information will be used solely for statistical analysis or reporting purposes.

Situation dashboard – COVID-19 cases worldwide

The interactive situation dashboard shows the latest available data on COVID-19.

The interface allows users to explore, interact with data and switch chart to tables view for details. The number of cases and deaths can be shown within a specific date range and by country. Please note that the boundaries and names shown on this dashboard do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

The data shown are updated on daily basis (see the date of the latest update in the footnote). Some features might not work in Internet Explorer, so please use another browser.

Epidemiological curves

These histograms are based on the available information at the time of publication, originating from several sources. Data completeness depends on the availability of information from the affected areas. All data should be interpreted with caution as the outbreak is evolving rapidly. In addition, due to the unavailability of date-of-onset data and different testing policies per country, this figure might not be reflective of the evolution of the epidemic.

Distribution of COVID-19 cases worldwide, as of 13 March 2020

Distribution of COVID-19 cases worldwide, as of 13 March 2020
 Distribution of cases of COVID-19 by continent (according to the applied case definition in the countries) as of 07 March 2020

Cases reported in accordance to the applied case definition in the countries. The case definition in China (Hubei province) was updated on 13 and 20 February 2020

Distribution of COVID-19 cases by continent (except China), as of 13 March 2020 (according to the applied case definition in the countries)

Distribution of COVID-19 cases by continent (except China), as of 13 March 202
 Distribution of cases of COVID-19 by continent (according to the applied case definition in the countries)

Geographic distribution of COVID-19

Geographic distribution of COVID-19 cases worldwide, as of 13 March 2020

Geographic distribution of COVID-19 cases worldwide, as of 13 March 2020
 Geographical distribution of COVID-19 cases – worldwide

The boundaries and names indicated on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

 

Geographic distribution of cumulative number of reported COVID-19 cases per 100 000 population, worldwide, as of 13 March 2020

Geographic distribution of cumulative number of reported COVID-19 cases per 100 000 population, worldwide, as of 13 March 2020
 Geographic distribution of cumulative number of reported COVID-19 cases per 100 000 population, worldwide
Region Places reporting cases Confirmed cases Deaths Confirmed cases in the last 15 days
Asia China 80954 3179 2356
Asia Iran 10075 429 9936
Asia South Korea 7979 67 6384
Asia Japan 675 19 489
Asia Qatar 262 0 262
Asia Singapore 187 0 94
Asia Bahrain 162 0 156
Asia Malaysia 158 0 136
Asia Israel 96 0 94
Asia United Arab Emirates 85 0 72
Asia Kuwait 80 0 54
Asia India 75 1 72
Asia Iraq 74 8 69
Asia Thailand 70 1 30
Asia Lebanon 66 0 64
Asia Saudi Arabia 62 0 62
Asia Philippines 52 2 51
Asia Taiwan 49 1 17
Asia Vietnam 44 0 28
Asia Indonesia 34 1 34
Asia Palestine 30 0 30
Asia Brunei Darussalam 25 0 25
Asia Pakistan 21 0 19
Asia Oman 18 0 14
Asia Maldives 8 0 8
Asia Afghanistan 7 0 6
Asia Cambodia 5 0 4
Asia Bangladesh 3 0 3
Asia Sri Lanka 3 0 2
Asia Mongolia 1 0 1
Asia Jordan 1 0 1
Asia Bhutan 1 0 1
Asia Nepal 1 0 0
Europe Italy 15113 1016 14713
Europe Spain 3004 84 2992
Europe France 2876 61 2859
Europe Germany 2369 5 2348
Europe Switzerland 854 4 853
Europe Denmark 676 0 675
Europe Norway 621 1 620
Europe Sweden 620 1 618
Europe Netherlands 614 5 614
Europe United Kingdom 590 10 577
Europe Belgium 399 3 398
Europe Austria 361 1 359
Europe Finland 155 0 153
Europe Greece 133 1 132
Europe Iceland 117 0 117
Europe Czech Republic 116 0 116
Europe Slovenia 96 0 96
Europe Portugal 78 0 78
Europe Ireland 70 1 70
Europe San Marino 67 5 67
Europe Romania 64 0 63
Europe Poland 49 1 49
Europe Russia 34 0 32
Europe Estonia 27 0 27
Europe Luxembourg 26 0 26
Europe Croatia 25 0 23
Europe Georgia 25 0 24
Europe Serbia 24 0 24
Europe Albania 23 1 23
Europe Bulgaria 23 1 23
Europe Slovakia 21 0 21
Europe Belarus 21 0 21
Europe Hungary 16 0 16
Europe Latvia 16 0 16
Europe Azerbaijan 13 0 13
Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina 11 0 11
Europe Malta 9 0 9
Europe North Macedonia 9 0 8
Europe Cyprus 6 0 6
Europe Moldova 6 0 6
Europe Armenia 6 0 6
Europe Liechtenstein 4 0 4
Europe Lithuania 3 0 3
Europe Ukraine 3 0 3
Europe Turkey 2 0 2
Europe Holy See 1 0 1
Europe Monaco 1 0 1
Europe Andorra 1 0 1
America United States of America 1663 40 1604
America Canada 138 1 126
America Brazil 77 0 76
America Chile 33 0 33
America Argentina 31 1 31
America Panama 27 1 27
America Costa Rica 23 0 23
America Peru 22 0 22
America Ecuador 17 0 17
America Mexico 16 0 16
America Colombia 9 0 9
America Paraguay 6 0 6
America Jamaica 6 0 6
America Dominican Republic 5 0 5
America Cuba 3 0 3
America Bolivia 3 0 3
America Honduras 2 0 2
America Guyana 1 1 1
America Trinidad and Tobago 1 0 1
America Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1 0 1
Other Cases on an international conveyance Japan 696 7 0
Oceania Australia 156 3 133
Oceania New Zealand 5 0 5
Africa Egypt 80 2 79
Africa Algeria 24 1 23
Africa South Africa 17 0 17
Africa Tunisia 13 0 13
Africa Senegal 6 0 6
Africa Morocco 6 1 6
Africa Ghana 2 0 2
Africa Burkina Faso 2 0 2
Africa Nigeria 2 0 2
Africa Cameroon 2 0 2
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo 1 0 1
Africa Gabon 1 0 1
Africa Cote dIvoire 1 0 1
Africa Togo 1 0 1
Total 133860 4967 0