Coronavirus Global Updates, Dec 27: Global coronavirus cases surpass 80 million

[Bulls n Bears]

Zimbabwe COVID19 Update


 


COVID-19 update: As at 26 December 2020, Zimbabwe had 12 963 confirmed cases, including 10 519 recoveries and 341 deaths.








 


Global coronavirus cases surpass 80 million


The number of known cases of the novel coronavirus globally surpassed 80 million on Saturday at 12:20 pm ET, according to data held by the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.

JHU reports the current number of known cases around the world is now at least 80,027,056. At least 1,753,313 have died globally.

The United States leads with the most deaths and the most confirmed cases worldwide. There are at least 18,771,885 coronavirus cases in the US and at least 330,345 have died. 

India, Brazil, and Russia following the US have the highest number of recorded coronavirus cases in the world.  

In terms of deaths, the US, Brazil, India, and Mexico have the highest Covid -19 related mortality rates.  


 


Biden urges Trump to sign Covid-19 relief bill: "This abdication of responsibility has devastating consequences"


President-elect Joe Biden released a statement calling on President Trump to sign the Covid-19 relief bill that was passed by Congress, saying that any further delay has “devastating consequences.”


“It is the day after Christmas, and millions of families don’t know if they’ll be able to make ends meet because of President Donald Trump’s refusal to sign an economic relief bill approved by Congress with an overwhelming and bipartisan majority,” Biden said in the statement. "This abdication of responsibility has devastating consequences."

Biden continued: "And while there is hope with the vaccines, we need funding to be able to distribute and administer them to millions of Americans, including frontline health care workers. This bill is critical. It needs to be signed into law now."

The President-elect said the latest Covid-19 bill is a "first step and down payment on more action that we’ll need to take early in the new year to revive the economy and contain the pandemic  — including meeting the dire need for funding to distribute and administer the vaccine and to increase our testing capacity."

Some context: Though Congress has passed a $900 billion Covid relief package, millions of Americans are in danger of losing important benefits just after the holidays if Trump continues to refuse to sign the bill.

The legislation would extend two pandemic unemployment programs and provide the jobless with a $300 weekly federal boost through mid-March. It would send direct payments of up $600 per person. It would reopen the Paycheck Protection Program so that some of the hardest-hit small businesses can apply for a second loan.

The package, which would be the second-largest relief deal after the $2 trillion CARES Act that Congress approved in March, also would extend eviction protection and enhance food stamp benefits.


 


South Carolina reports over 3,100 new Covid-19 cases


Over 3,100 new cases of Covid-19 are being reported in South Carolina today.

The numbers released by the South Carolina Department of Health are through 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the state's website. The 3,111 new cases reported today bring the state's total to 266,678. 

The department of health is also reporting 74 new deaths related to Covid-19 for a total of 4,763. 

South Carolina reported over 3,000 new cases six times in the month of December so far.

Prior to December, the highest daily reported new case total was 2,321 on July 18, according to the state's dashboard. 

Note: These numbers were released by the South Carolina Department of Health and may not line up exactly in real time with CNN’s database drawn from Johns Hopkins University and the Covid Tracking Project


 


Even with vaccine, individual prevention is critical in fighting Covid-19, public health specialist says


Even though vaccines are being administered across the United States, personal Covid-19 prevention measures are still important, Dr. Saju Mathew, a public health specialist, told CNN on Saturday.

“This is the most difficult part. You could have all the vaccines in the world and all of the wonderful therapeutics against this deadly virus. But what you have the least impact is on human behavior,” he said. “People are going to do what they want to do so what I’ve done is sort of change my messaging as a primary care physician to do more talking to people about risk reduction.”

Mathew said that those vaccines in use should still be effective against reported new variants of the Covid-19 virus, as the vaccines target a consistent physical part of the virus.

“Ultimately, the good news is even though there are 50 to 20 mutations, it hasn’t really affected the entire anatomy,” said Mathew. “I think the vaccines should work.”


 


Here's where things stand on the new Covid-19 relief checks


A second round of stimulus payments that was included in a coronavirus relief package passed by Congress Monday night is now at risk if President Trump doesn't sign the bill.

The deal provided for $600 checks but the President indicated on Tuesday he would like that amount increased to $2,000 per person.

House Republicans, however, on Thursday blocked Democrats from increasing the amount — leaving the entire package in jeopardy. Democrats have seized on Trump's surprise objections to the bill in a bid to push Republicans to accept a higher amount for the stimulus checks — and Republican lawmakers are now in a difficult spot where they will be forced to decide whether or not they will defy the President.

Democrats vowed their effort isn't over, promising to move to pass a bill to increase the stimulus checks to $2,000 with a full up-or-down vote on the House floor on Dec. 28.

Here are key things to know about the Covid-19 stimulus checks:

Who gets the money fastest: The payments do not go all out at once. Those whose bank information is on file with the IRS will likely get the money first because it will be directly deposited into their account. Others will receive paper checks or prepaid debit cards in the mail.

About 90 million people — more than half of those eligible — received their payments within the first three weeks of April after the March deal was signed. Most people had their money  <https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/28/politics/stimulus-check-waiting-what-to-do/index.html> within two months.

Still, about 12 million eligible Americans were at risk of not getting the money at all because the IRS had no way to reach them. While most people received the money automatically, very low-income people who don't normally file tax returns had to register online before November 21 to provide their address or bank account number.

IRS under pressure: If Congress keeps the eligibility requirements the same as they were for the first round of checks, the process may be nearly as easy as hitting a button. But it could complicate things if the parameters are changed —especially if Congress adds restrictions aside from income.

Additional checks may delay the start of the 2020 tax filing season. A second stimulus check means the agency will have to make changes to the tax return forms, some of which have already been sent to the printers.

Some background: In March, Congress provided individuals with $1,200 direct payments and couples with $2,400 plus $500 per child under the $2 trillion CARES Act.

As with that first round, the $600 payments included in the current legislation would start phasing out for individuals with adjusted gross incomes of more than $75,000, and those making more than $99,000 won't receive anything. The income thresholds would be doubled for couples.

 

At least 1,008,025 vaccine doses have been administered in the US

At least 9,465,725 vaccine doses have been distributed in the US and at least 1,008,025 doses of the vaccine have been administered throughout the country, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

In terms of cases and deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally, there have been at least 18,765,469 cases of coronavirus in the country and at least 330,302 people have died.

So far today, Johns Hopkins has reported 9,109 new cases and 56 reported deaths. 

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases. 

 

Japan will ban entry to foreign nationals after Covid-19 variant detected in country

Travelers are pictured in a departure lobby at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on December 26. Kyodo News via Getty Images

Japan will ban foreign nationals from entering the country starting Monday through the end of January after several cases of the Covid-19 variant were recorded in the country, according to Japan's public broadcaster, NHK.  

Japanese citizens and foreign residents can still enter, but they're required to self-quarantine for 14 days, NHK reported.  

The move came after a new case of Covid-19 variant was confirmed on Saturday on a person who recently returned from the UK, NHK said.  

Five other travelers from Britain were also detected with the variant the previous day. 

 

New Covid-19 variant detected in Sweden

Swedish health authorities have diagnosed a case of the new coronavirus variant in region of Sörmland, on the outskirts of Stockholm, according to a news release from the country’s Public Health Agency on Saturday. 

The person in question, who has tested for the new variant of the novel coronavirus, had traveled to Sweden over Christmas from the UK, where the new variant has been circulating. 

The person is not in need of hospital treatment at this stage and is following all necessary guidelines in order not to infect any others, the physician in charge of contact tracing, and infection control in the region of Sörmland, Signar Mäkitalo, explained, according to the statement.

Sweden has extended its travel ban on passengers arriving from the UK until Jan. 21, 2021. The restrictions were first announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ann Linde, in a tweet last week.


 


Millions are in danger of losing key benefits soon if Trump doesn't sign the Covid-19 relief bill


Though Congress has passed a $900 billion Covid-19 relief package, millions of Americans are in danger of losing important benefits just after the holidays if President Trump continues to  <https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/23/politics/donald-trump-covid-relief-capitol-hill/index.html> refuse to sign the bill.

The legislation would extend two pandemic unemployment programs and provide the jobless with a $300 weekly federal boost through mid-March. It would send direct payments of up $600 per person. It would reopen the  <https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/23/success/covid-relief-bill-small-businesses-ppp-loan/index.html> Paycheck Protection Program so that some of the hardest-hit small businesses can apply for a second loan.

The package, which would be the second-largest relief deal after the $2 trillion CARES Act that Congress approved in March, also would extend eviction protection and enhance food stamp benefits.

These are some of the programs that are at risk if the bill isn't signed:

*         Expanded unemployment benefits: More than 12 million laid-off Americans could lose their unemployment benefits after this weekend if Trump doesn't sign the bill. And even if he does, they would likely suffer a break in payments of several weeks. As part of the historic broadening of jobless benefits under the CARES Act, lawmakers created three programs to help out-of-work Americans. While the $600 payment enhancement lasted only through July, the other two expire just after Christmas.

*         Eviction protection: A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order that went into effect in September temporarily halted evictions through the end of the year. The order, which was spurred by an executive measure Trump signed over the summer, applies to renters  <https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/02/success/cdc-control-eviction-moratorium/index.html> who meet certain income requirements, have experienced significant losses of income and have made their best efforts to find rental assistance and pay their rent. Since the order does not cancel or freeze rent, all of a tenant's back rent will be due January 1 if the moratorium is allowed to expire. Without rent relief or an extension of the protection, many struggling renters will again face eviction.

*         Coronavirus relief funds for states: Congress provided $150 billion to state and local governments to help them cover coronavirus-related expenses. But states have to use those funds by Dec. 30. States are on track to expend all the funds by the deadline, according to a National Governors Association survey of 42 states and territories. Most of the money has been used for health-related expenses, economic relief, education and child care, and government expenses. The package would give states and localities an additional year to spend the money.


 


Key factors that will help determine when you get a Covid-19 vaccine in the US


With two Covid-19 vaccines approved for emergency use and politicians, health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities rolling up their sleeves, but when will you be able to get the vaccine?

The answer depends on each person's health, what they do for a living and where they live.

Dr. Vivek Murthy, Biden's nominee for surgeon general, said he believes it may take until late spring to finish vaccinating high-risk populations, if all goes according to plan. That means mid-summer may be a "realistic" timeline for the general public to begin vaccinations, he told NBC.

Here's what you need to know about getting a Covid-19 vaccine:

Who is getting vaccinated first?

*         Health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities are first in line, followed by adults ages 75 and older and frontline essential workers such as first responders.

*         The next phase will be adults between 65 and 75, those between 16 and 64 with high-risk medical conditions and "other essential workers," according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

When will the general public get the vaccine?

*         This is a moving target that will be dictated by numerous variables. Dr. Vivek Murthy, Biden's nominee for surgeon general, said he believes it may take until late spring to finish vaccinating high-risk populations, if all goes according to plan.

*         That means mid-summer may be a "realistic" timeline for the general public to begin vaccinations, he told NBC.

*         A recent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices chart indicated the general public may start getting the vaccine in about 20 weeks -- putting the target in May — which is "kind of in line with what I was thinking, too," Hannan said.

*         Because states will handle rollouts differently, Hannan says it's a good idea for people to monitor state health department websites for specifics.

*         Some states are setting up "public-facing dashboards," she said, and the New Mexico Department of Health on Wednesday announced a website that will allow residents to register for notifications on when they qualify to receive the vaccine.

Who is an essential worker?

*         The ACIP defines frontline essential workers as anyone employed in "sectors essential to the functioning of society (who) are at substantially higher risk of exposure" to the coronavirus.

*         Besides first responders, that includes those working in education and child care, food and agriculture, manufacturing, corrections, the US Postal Service, public transit and grocery stores. There are roughly 30 million people in this category.

Who is making decisions at the state level?

*         It will ultimately fall on state governors to make calls on who gets the vaccinations and when, Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers, said. However, most states have advisory committees or tasks forces in their health and preparedness agencies that will provide recommendations to governors.

*         While the ACIP issues guidelines of who gets the first doses, states are free to make their own decisions.

*          

*         The TSA says more than 616,000 people were screened on Christmas Day

Despite warnings from health officials to not travel this holiday season due to the pandemic, the Transportation Security Administration says it screened at least 616,469 people at security checkpoints across the United States on Christmas Day.

That’s just 23% of the people screened on the same day a year ago and half of the pandemic air travel record set on Wednesday.

This is a lull before numbers are expected to tick up again this weekend.

Travel experts tell CNN to expect that Sunday will be another big day for air travel, especially after several days of about a million people being screened daily in the lead-up to Christmas.


 


Here's why some communities in the US may have trouble receiving the Covid-19 vaccine


Chicago is among the cities across the country that could face roadblocks to vaccine access due to a lack of major pharmacy and grocery chains in their poorest Black and brown neighborhoods.

Public health experts identify these communities as "pharmacy deserts" — areas where a substantial number of residents have limited access to retail or independent pharmacies. The problem is largely found in areas with low income residents who have barriers to transportation.

Civil rights leaders and health advocates fear the disparity could leave underserved communities scrambling to figure out how to vaccinate everyone as the federal government says pharmacies will play a key role in vaccine distribution.

"It's going to be a mad scramble particularly if this vaccine is seen as safe and effective," said Rev. Marshall Elijah Hatch Sr., of New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church on Chicago's west side. "It's very difficult to imagine that there's going to be some kind of egalitarian distribution. We are going to have to fight."

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Nov. 12 that the US government was partnering with large chain pharmacies and networks that represent independent pharmacies and regional chains to expand access to future Covid-19 vaccines.

The list of pharmacies included CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and large grocery chains with pharmacies such as Walmart, Kroger, Costco and Publix.

"Pharmacy vaccinators are crucial public health partners for increasing access and convenience of Covid-19 vaccines," HHS said in a news release. "By working with these partners, the federal government will rapidly expand access to Covid-19 vaccines."

But relying on pharmacies to expand vaccine access could be challenging.

A study from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2014 showed that pharmacy deserts — which were defined as a low-income community that either has low-vehicle access and is more than half a mile from a pharmacy or is more than a mile from a pharmacy regardless of vehicle access — were more prevalent in predominately Black neighborhoods in Chicago than in White ones.

Between 2000 and 2010, there was a 20% increase in the number of pharmacies in White communities, with no expansion in minority communities, the study found.


 


Australian golf legend Greg Norman has been hospitalized in the US with coronavirus


Greg Norman competes during the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando on December 20. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Australian golfer Greg Norman has been diagnosed with Covid-19, according to a post on his Instagram account.

The 65-year-old posted a photo of himself with medical equipment in the background, wearing a facemask with the logo of the NFL team Pittsburgh Steelers.

Norman won the 1986 and 1993 British Opens, spent over 300 weeks at the top of the world golf rankings and is nicknamed the "Great White Shark."

This sums it all up. My Christmas Day," he wrote.

In a post peppered with expletives, Norman said he wanted to "get this [virus] behind us never to experience it again."

He had been quarantining at his home in Jupiter, Florida after developing mild symptoms earlier in the week although an earlier Covid-19 test taken on Tuesday had proved negative.


 


Travelers from South Africa face additional virus test in South Korea


South Korea will require additional coronavirus tests for travelers from South Africa before they can be released from 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival in the country, the government said in a press release Saturday.

If a traveler from South Africa tests positive for the coronavirus, the government will conduct additional testing for the new variant spreading in the UK, the Disease Control and Prevention Agency added in the statement.

A similar variant to the one identified in the UK has been discovered in South Africa, where scientists say it is spreading quickly along coastal areas.

On Wednesday, South Korea suspended flights from the UK until December 31 due to concerns over the new variant. It also suspended the issuance of quarantine exemptions at South Korean consulates in the UK.

All travelers from the UK must undergo 14 days of quarantine and take an extra coronavirus test.

 

Four people diagnosed with UK Covid-19 variant in Spain
Four people in Madrid have been diagnosed with the Covid-19 variant detected in the UK earlier in the month, the health advisor for the region, Antonio Zapatero, said during a press conference on Saturday. 

According to Zapatero, one of the infected people arrived from the UK and was diagnosed on Thursday.

The three others are members of their family, who went to the hospital after exhibiting symptoms. 

“The situation of the confirmed patients is [not] serious,” Zapatero said, urging caution but also asking people to remain calm. 
“We know this variant is more transmissible, but it does not cause a more severe reaction.”
“There are other three suspected cases whose test results should be ready Tuesday or Wednesday,” Zapatero added.

The UK variant has an unusually large number of mutations -- 14 changes and 3 deletions in its genetic code that impact the building blocks of its proteins, according to the US CDC.

Scientists advising the UK government have made a preliminary estimate that this variant could be up to 70% more effective at spreading than others. 

 

Beyoncé will donate $500,000 to people affected by eviction crisis

Beyoncé will offer $5,000 in grants to help people facing foreclosures or evictions due to the housing crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

People can apply for the grants beginning January 7, 2021, the singer announced on her website Tuesday. Grants will be sent out to the 100 people selected in late January.

"Beyoncé is continuing her heart of support and helping where needed most. Phase Two of the BeyGOOD Impact Fund will now help those impacted by the housing crisis," a  <https://www.beyonce.com/article/beygood-housing-assistance/> news release on the singer's website reads.

"The housing moratorium is set to end on December 26th, resulting in mortgage foreclosures and rental evictions. Many families are impacted, due to the pandemic that resulted in job loss, sickness and overall economy downturn," the release said.

An estimated 9.2 million renters who have lost income during the pandemic are behind on rent, according to an analysis of Census data by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.


 


The best-laid plans were ruined by the pandemic — even for Vladimir Putin


Russian President Vladimir Putin began 2020 with a surprise, sweeping his entire government aside on January 15 after unveiling a raft of constitutional reforms.

Observers were quick to read the fine print: The constitutional overhaul would reset the clock on presidential term limits, potentially extending Putin's hold on power until 2036. A referendum was set for April, and Putin seemed to be coasting toward a presidency-for-life.

What followed instead was an annus horribilis for Russia, and perhaps Putin's most challenging year to date.

As Covid-19 started to spread around the globe, Russia briefly appeared to be on the front foot. The country sealed its border with China, and Putin boasted that the virus was "under control," thanks to what he described as robust early measures to halt the spread of the disease.

But that approach was little more than bluster and spin. Not long after the government announced a nationwide lockdown that began on March 28, it became clear the country was in the grip of a major public health crisis.


 


Turkey to require coronavirus PCR test result upon arrival


Turkey will require a negative coronavirus test from air passengers entering the country from December 28, according to the Turkish health minister. 

Travelers entering via sea and land borders will also be required to present a negative PCR test result from December 30.

The test must be carried out within 72 hours of boarding, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said in a statement Friday.

The measures will be in effect until March 1, the statement said. 

In addition to the coronavirus test, Turkey will also require a mandatory home quarantine for people who have been in the UK, Denmark or South Africa in the previous 10 days, the statement said.

Those passengers will be required to get a coronavirus test on day 7 of their quarantine, and will be allowed to conclude their quarantine if they receive a negative result.  

Turkey has finalized a deal to obtain the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, Koca said in a tweet. The deal includes 550,000 doses to be delivered by early January and 4.5 million doses by the end of March, the tweet added.

 

Norway extends ban on direct flights from UK until December 29

Norway has extended its ban on direct flights from the United Kingdom until December 29, amid concerns about the new coronavirus variant spreading in Britain, according to a Ministry of Health spokesperson. 

Norway first imposed the flight ban on December 21. It also imposed additional coronavirus testing and tracing measures for travelers arriving from the UK, which will be in effect until January 10, according to a Ministry of Health statement.

"We must ensure that the strain of the virus that has been detected in the United Kingdom is prevented from spreading to Norway insofar as this is possible," Health and Care Services Minister Bent Høie said in the December 21 statement. "This is in line with the advice we have received the Norwegian Directorate of Health."

 

 

Japan reports new high in daily infections for third straight day

Japan detected 3,823 new coronavirus cases on Friday -- setting a new daily record in the country for the third day in a row, the Ministry of Health said Saturday.

Japan also recorded 50 virus-related deaths Friday.

The country's total Covid-19 caseload now stands at 214,259, with 3,165 fatalities.

On Friday, Tokyo also recorded its second-highest number of daily infections so far in the pandemic with 884 cases.

 

US testing requirements for UK travelers are like "putting up a chain link fence to keep out a mosquito," experts say

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced testing requirements for travelers arriving from the UK, but research by the agency's own scientists shows the rule may only have a small impact on the spread of the new coronavirus strain. 

Starting Monday in the UK, passengers must have a negative Covid-19 test within three days of boarding a flight to the United States. 

A CDC press release Thursday hailed the new changes. "Today, President Trump is taking another step to protect the health of the American people," the statement said.

But according to researchers on the CDC's Covid-19 response team, testing three days before a flight might not accomplish very much -- only reducing the risk of spreading the virus by 5-9%.

Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Pennsylvania, said the new requirement "is like putting up a chain link fence to keep out a mosquito." 

The CDC's order acknowledges that "testing does not eliminate all risk," but when combined with other measures like self-monitoring for symptoms, masks and distancing, "it can make travel safer." 

 

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