Fresh coronavirus cases in Europe raise concerns

By Baris Seckin, Mesut Zeyrek, Askin Kiyagan, and Davut Colak

ROME/COLOGNE, Germany (AA) - Fresh cases of coronavirus were reported Friday across Europe raising concerns about public health.

At least 21 people have died in Italy from the virus officially known as COVID-19, with 821 cases confirmed there.

Germany confirmed 53 cases in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bayern, Baden-Württem­berg, Hessen and Hamburg.

A doctor at Elisabeth Hospital in Monchengladbach was diagnosed with COVID-19, according to the Robert Koch Institute.

More than 1,000 people are under quarantine in Germany.

Austria confirmed six cases, Romania three and Denmark two.

The death toll in China, where the virus originated, is nearing 2,800 and the country has almost 79,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Outside mainland China, the virus has spread to more than 45 countries, claiming more than 50 lives and infecting more than 3,000 people.

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak an international health emergency.

* Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur