国际英语新闻:COVID-19 cases in Germany rises, int'l travel trade fair canceled

BERLIN, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- There are almost 60 cases of COVID-19 infection in Germany, according to Susanne Wackers, spokesperson of the federal health ministry at a press conference midday Friday.

Since Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases in Germany climbed sharply from 16 to almost 60.

The 16 cases confirmed prior to Tuesday had all been discharged from hospital after recovery, as the discharge of the last of the 16 cases was announced on Thursday.

On Friday evening, the Messe Berlin announced that the ITB Berlin travel trade show is cancelled.

The ITB Berlin show, due to open on March 4, is a world leading travel trade show that drew over 10,000 exhibitors globally last year.

"Due to the increasing spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, the federal health ministry and the federal economics ministry have decided to cancel the ITB Berlin," the Messe Berlin announced.

On Wednesday, German Health Minister Jens Spahn said Germany was at the beginning of a coronavirus epidemic. The federal health ministry has set up a crisis team to contain the epidemic.