Coronavirus Global Updates, Oct 22: New Records Across Europe; Spike in South Africa

Thu Oct 22 12:28:43 CAT 2020

New Records Across Europe; Spike in South Africa: Virus Update 

(Bloomberg) -- Poland joined Germany and Hungary in reporting another record gain in coronavirus infections, while Spain and France became the first countries in Western Europe to pass 1 million cases. South Africa is concerned over a sharp resurgence after thecountry eased movement curbs at the beginning of the month. AstraZeneca Plc and Johnson & Johnson may resume U.S. trials as soon as this week for vaccines that are backed by the government’s Operation Warp Speed program. The companies previously halted testing for the shots because participants fell ill.

Hospitalizations in the U.S. have reached a two-month high, led by the Midwest. New York state’s new cases exceeded 2,000 for the first time since May.

Key Developments: 

*         Global Tracker: Cases pass 41 million; deaths exceed 1.1 million 

*         Europe facing dearth of medical staff in test of virus readiness 

*         Doctors fight ‘infodemic’ with Americans seeing virus as a hoax

*          Half of Europe’s smaller businesses risk bankruptcy within year 

*         High-end products are back in vogue after lockdown

Poland Has Record Number of New Cases and Deaths 

Poland registered 12,107 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, a 21% jump from the previous record set a day ago, according to data published by the Health Ministry on Thursday. The death toll in the country of 38 million rose by a record 168 to 4,019. The government is due to announce further restrictions on Thursday in its battle against the pandemic.

Spain Warns Pandemic Out of Control 

The spread of coronavirus is out of control in certain parts of Spain, according to Health Minister Salvador Illa. “We are in the middle of a second wave, it’s no longer a threat but rather a reality,” Illa said in an interview on Madrid-based Onda Cero radio. ““In some parts of our country the epidemic isn’t under control, so we need to take more drastic measures.” Spain on Wednesday became the first country in Western Europe to surpass 1 million coronavirus infections, as authorities struggle to control fresh outbreaks and contemplate a curfew for the capital Madrid and its surrounding area.

Zimbabwe COVID19 Update

COVID-19 update: As at 21 October 2020, Zimbabwe had 8 215 confirmed cases, including 7 725 recoveries and 236 deaths.

India Restores Most Traveler Visas 

The Indian government will relax visa and travel restrictions for more categories of citizens and foreign nationals who wish to enter or leave the country, the home ministry said in a statement. Earlier, India added 55,839 new daily cases, bringing the country’s total infections to 7.7 million, while deaths from the virus topped 116,000. A government panel of scientists said earlier this week that India has seen a peak in new infections.

British Airways Owner Cuts Flights 

IAG SA, the owner of British Airways, slashed its capacity for the current quarter and no longer expects to break even during the period as fresh travel restrictions and virus infections keep would-be travelers at home. The airline group, which also includes Spain’s Iberia and Irish carrier Aer Lingus, now plans to operate no more than 30% of its usual schedule in the three months, according to a statement Thursday. The company had expected to gradually rebuild services and operate at more than half of its capacity.

Hungary Reports Record Daily Infections 

Hungary reported a daily record 2,032 new coronavirus cases on Thursday as the country began to ramp up testing. The number of tests performed rose to over 16,000 from just over 9,000 a day earlier after virologists advising the government warned that the nation was losing track of the pandemic due to insufficient detection. Data showed 46 people died from the virus on Wednesday, two less than the day before.

South Africa Reports Resurgence in Cases 

South Africa is recording a worrying increase in infections, especially in the Western Cape province, which saw a 42% spike in new cases in the past week, according to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize. Nationwide, new cases increased 9.1% in the last seven days, prompting the health department to urge South Africa’s nine provinces to “quickly mount a response, including contact tracing and quarantine,” Mkhize said in a statement Wednesday.

Roche Buys Covid Treatment Rights 

Roche Holding AG agreed to pay $350 million in an alliance with Atea Pharmaceuticals Inc. to develop a potential treatment for Covid-19. The Swiss drugmaker will get the rights to distribute Atea’s AT-527 drug outside of the U.S. under the agreement, Atea said Thursday. Roche may also pay milestone payments and royalties.

Germany’s New Cases Jump to Record 

Germany reported 12,331 new infections in the 24 hours through Thursday morning, the first time since the outbreak started that the daily increase exceeded 10,000. The number of new cases was up from 8,523 a day earlier, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. That took the total to 397,922. Germany has added the U.K., Ireland, Switzerland and Poland to a list of coronavirus risk areas, the country’s RKI public health institute said Thursday. Twelve Italian regions and five Austrian regions were also added to the list, which determines who must quarantine upon arrival.

Bolsonaro Slams Chinese Vaccine 

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro blasted a Chinese coronavirus vaccine being tested in the country just a day after his health minister said it would be distributed nationwide. “The Brazilian people won’t be anyone’s guinea pig,” he wrote on his Facebook and Twitter pages, adding that billions can’t be spent on medication that is still being tested, “My decision is to not acquire the aforementioned vaccine.” The health ministry had announced a deal to purchase the Coronavac vaccine that’s being developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. in partnership with Sao Paulo’s Butantan Institute -- under the watch of Governor Joao Doria, one of Bolsonaro’s main political enemies. The agreement prompted a flurry of negative comments from Bolsonaro’s more ideological supporters who oppose the purchase of a vaccine from China.

South Korea’s 121 New Cases Is Most in Month 

South Korea reported 121 more coronavirus cases on Thursday, up from 91 cases a day earlier. The number of new infections is the biggest in a month, with 62 cases in Gyeonggi and 18 in Seoul. Cluster infections in nursing hospitals and senior-care centers have continued, Yonhap News reported, citing Vice Minister of Interior and Safety Kim Gye-jo.

Uruguay Tightens Controls in Province 

Uruguay’s government issued a 30-day ban on public events and private parties in the province of Rivera that borders Brazil amid a recent surge in Covid-19 cases. It also suspended non-life threatening surgical procedures and made school attendance optional. Businesses that don’t observe the preventive measures could be fined as much as 1.2 million pesos ($28,000). Rivera accounted for 27% of Uruguay’s active cases as of Wednesday, following Montevideo with 49%.

Czech Cases Hit Another Record 

The Czech Republic registered a daily record of 14,968 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, Health Ministry data show early on Thursday, confirming the worst current outbreak of the disease in Europe adjusted for population. The government on Wednesday approved a series of measures to minimize social contacts, shutting down non-essential shops and limiting movement of people to commuting to and from work and several other exceptions.

United Tries Virus-Test App on Trans-Atlantic Flight 

A United Airlines Holdings Inc. flight from London to Newark, New Jersey, performed the first U.S. trial of a new digital health app designed to share travelers’ coronavirus test results. The CommonPass mobile app, created by the Commons Project Foundation and the World Economic Forum, is seen as a tool to help governments reopen borders by providing test data. The approach offers a common standard while avoiding paper documents and the risk of identity fraud, Paul Meyer, the foundation’s chief executive officer, said at a news conference in Newark.

U.S. Hospital Use Reaches Two-Month High 

U.S. hospitalizations for Covid-19 hit the highest point since Aug. 22, with New York doubling its count from early September and at least 10 other states reporting records. Texas virus hospitalizations jumped to almost 5,000 on Wednesday, the third straight daily increase. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meanwhile, cited four national studies that predicted a probable in-patient increase of as much as 6,200 daily over the next four weeks.

N.J. Governor Quarantines After Staffer Tests Positive 

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy placed himself in quarantine after coming into contact over the weekend with a senior staff member who tested positive for Covid-19. Murphy said he had no symptoms of the virus, which has killed more than 14,000 people in the state.

Spain Passes 1 Million Cases 

Spain became the first country in Western Europe to surpass 1 million coronavirus infections, as authorities struggle to control fresh outbreaks and contemplate a curfew for the capital Madrid. Some 6,114 new cases were detected in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 1,005,295, according to Health Ministry data published Wednesday.

A curfew in Madrid would be the latest move by European governments to tighten restrictions amid an unrelenting spread of the disease. The capital was already hit with new restrictions this month when Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared a state of emergency for the Madrid region, which has a population of almost 7 million.

N.Y. Hits 2,000 Cases for First Time Since May 

New York state posted more than 2,000 new Covid-19 cases for the first time since May, a surge that officials are desperate to head off as they prepare to distribute vaccines in the new year. Of the nearly 125,000 tests conducted statewide on Tuesday, 1.6% were positive, Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday during a briefing in Albany. Excluding hot spots resulted in a 1.4% positive average. “Though we made a lot of progress, the numbers are still not acceptable,” he said.

Greece Posts Record Rise 

Greece saw a second straight record day for new cases. The country reported 865 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 27,334. It recorded six more deaths in the past 24 hours with the total number of dead at 534. The northwestern city of Kastoria is being raised to level four, the ighest risk, with local lockdown measures to be introduced from 6 a.m. on Oct. 24, Deputy Citizen Protection Nikos Hardalias said Wednesday. Four areas, including the second-largest city of Thessaloniki, are being moved to level three from two, which means stricter measures including the compulsory wearing of face masks in indoor workplaces and outdoors where crowds gather.

NYC Readies Vaccine Rollout 

New York City officials are beginning to plan for wide-scal distribution of a Covid-19 virus vaccine next year, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Acting on state recommendations presented by Governor Andrew Cuomo, the mayor said the city would prioritize delivery of the vaccine to health-care workers, front line and essential workers and those whose medical conditions or age makes them most vulnerable to the virus, the mayor said. Pharmacies, urgent-care clinics, public and private hospitals and current Covid testing sites will be used as inoculation centers for the general population in a second phase of distribution, the mayor said. 

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