Geneva, March 16, 2020, SPA -- The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the number of new people infected by the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world reached 153,517 cases, adding that the number of deaths worldwide reached 5,735 deaths, including 72,469 cases outside China and 2و531 deaths outside China in 143 countries. In a statement, the WHO pointed out that nine new countries have confirmed infections during the past 24 hours, seven counties in Africa, one in Europe and one in The Americas. --SPA 19:33 LOCAL TIME 16:33 GMT 0027 www.spa.gov.sa/w1289355