Over 3000 lives lost to coronavirus

Global death toll from the new coronavirus epidemic surpassed 3,000 today after dozens more died at its epicentre in China and cases soared around the world, with a second fatality on US soil. The virus has now infected more than 89,000 people and spread to over 60 countries. South Korea, the biggest nest of infections outside China, reported nearly 500 new cases, raising its total past 4,000. The death toll in China alone rose to 2,912, but it is also rising abroad, with the second-highest tally in Iran, at 54. The United States and Australia had their first fatalities from the disease over the weekend.