Global death toll from coronavirus over 800, surpassing previous SARS outbreak

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The global death toll from the coronavirus has risen to more than 800 fatalities, surpassing the number of people who died from the SARS outbreak in 2003, CNN reported.

SARS, formally known as severe acute respiratory syndrome, also originated in China, infecting more than 8,000 people and killing 774.

Both SARS and the coronavirus come from the same family of viruses that are commonly found in animals.

The coronavirus outbreak began in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has since spread across 28 countries and territories.

The disease has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization, and President Trump has restricted travel into the U.S. from China.

On Saturday, the first American death from the virus was confirmed in Wuhan. In the U.S., there have been 12 confirmed cases of the virus but no deaths.

Tags China Coronavirus Donald Trump SARS United States Wuhan

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