At least 278,000 people worldwide, including nearly 20,000 people in the United States, have been infected with the new coronavirus, and the death toll from the outbreak continues to rise.

Officials are struggling to contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country as schools, businesses and public events are closed or canceled.

Responses to the outbreak have included prohibitions and cancellation of large-scale gatherings, including the closure of schools and other educational institutions, the cancellation of trade shows, conventions, music festivals, and the cancellation and suspension of sporting events and leagues—measures which intensified on March 11 after the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak to be a pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that widespread transmission may force large numbers of people to seek hospitalization and other healthcare, which may overload healthcare systems, and the U.S. government has advised against any gathering of more than 10 people.

As of 22 March, more than 308,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in over 180 countries and territories, resulting in more than 13,000 deaths and 95,000 recoveries. (ILKHA)