ECDC: COVID-19 In Europe - March 4th

 ECDC- Geographic distribution of COVID-19 in the EU and the UK

#15,023

Although the numbers change by the hour, and any list is out of date almost immediately, the ECDC's updated list of European nations struck by COVID-19 gives us some sense of how rapidly the virus is spreading in that part of the world. 

Twenty-eight countries are reporting a combined 3,351 cases and 85 deaths, representing a sharp increase across the board over the past two weeks.  

Situation update for the EU/EEA, the UK, San Marino, Monaco, Switzerland and Andorra, 4 March 2020

Epidemiological update

EU/EEA, the UK, San Marino, Monaco, Switzerland and Andorra
As of 4 March 2020, 3 351 cases have been reported in the EU/EEA, the UK, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland: 

• Italy (2 502)
• France (212)
• Germany (196)
• Spain (151)
• United Kingdom (51)
• Switzerland (37)
• Norway (33)
• Netherlands (28)
• Austria (24)
• Sweden (24)
• Iceland (16)
• Belgium (13)
• San Marino (10)
• Croatia (9)
• Denmark (8)
• Finland (7)
• Greece (7)
• Czech Republic (5)
• Portugal (4)
• Romania (4)
• Estonia (2)
• Ireland (2)
• Andorra (1)
• Latvia (1)
• Lithuania (1)
• Luxembourg (1)
• Monaco (1) 
• and Poland (1).

As of 4 March 2020, 85 deaths have been reported in the EU/EEA, the UK, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland: Italy (80), France (4) and San Marino (1).

Two days ago, in ECDC Rapid Risk Assessment #5 - COVID-19, we saw the ECDC upgrade their risk assessment. 

Rapid risk assessment: Outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): increased transmission globally – fifth update

Risk assessment
2 Mar 2020
The risk associated with COVID-19 infection for people in the EU/EEA and UK is currently considered to be moderate to high, based on the probability of transmission and the impact of the disease.

The concern being that - while most EU nations are reporting only a handful of cases - they may be experiencing undetected community spread of the virus, and could find themselves facing the same kind of situation a few weeks from now that Italy is currently battling.