World health officials have warned that countries are not taking the coronavirus crisis seriously enough, as outbreaks surged across Europe and in the
United States where medical workers sounded warnings over a "disturbing" lack of hospital preparedness.
Cases soared in
Italy,
France, Greece and
Iran, while a cruise ship was held off the Californian coast to test passengers showing symptoms of the disease -- echoing a harrowing episode in
Japan several weeks ago that saw hundreds infected on a luxury liner.
In
India the world's biggest film industry called off its equivalent of the
Oscars that had been set for the end of the month, with organisers citing the "sensitivity" of the health crisis.