Kabul, May 5 (RHC)-- In Afghanistan, health officials warn the new coronavirus could be spreading at an alarming rate, after a small study suggested about a third of residents in the capital Kabul could be infected. 

So far, Afghanistan has not been among countries most severely affected by the virus.  At least 2,700 cases and 85 deaths have been confirmed, but the true numbers are expected to be much higher as testing has remained limited.

This comes as a new report by Save the Children finds that over 7 million children in Afghanistan are at risk of hunger.  Millions were already facing food shortages, but the coronavirus caused food prices to soar and stripped many day laborers of their livelihoods. 

Save the Children said: “We are deeply concerned that this pandemic will lead to a perfect storm of hunger, disease and death in Afghanistan unless the world takes action now.”