Coronavirus Global Updates, Oct 24: Rally crosses 42 million mark, says John Hopkins

Sat Oct 24 14:39:04 CAT 2020

Global coronavirus update: Rally crosses 42 million mark, says John Hopkins

The worldwide number of confirmed cases of coronavirus has surpassed 42 million, according to the latest update by the Johns Hopkins University

Zimbabwe COVID19 Update

COVID-19 update: As at 23 October 2020, Zimbabwe had 8 257 confirmed cases, including 7 771 recoveries and 236 deaths.

The worldwide number of confirmed cases of coronavirus has surpassed 42 million, according to the latest update by the Johns Hopkins University on Friday (local time).

Till now, as many as 42,024,647 people have been tested COVID-19 positive and 1,140,978 deaths have been reported so far.

The United States has witnessed the highest numbers of deaths due to COVID-19 -- more than 223,750 - followed by Brazil, India, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

The respiratory disease was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan last year. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak a 'pandemic' in March.

Merkel Sees Virus Worsening; Italy Mulls Curfew: Virus Update

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Chancellor Angela Merkel said the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened in Germany over the past week and renewed calls for people to reduce contact with others, avoid travel and follow hygiene rules. Germany exceeded 10,000 deaths on Saturday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Spain’s Prime Minister plans to hold an extraordinary cabinet meeting to declare a national state of alarm, which would enable the government to impose greater restrictions on movement. Italy is considering further curfews from Sunday.

Polish President Andrzej Duda  <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-24/polish-president-andrzej-duda-tests-positive-for-coronavirus> tested positive for Covid-19, the latest in a line of global leaders to have caught the virus, including U.S. President Donald Trump, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Jair Bolsonaro, the Brazilian president. The mayor of Istanbul  <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/terminal/QIP8VLDWRGG0> also has Covid-19.

Italy Mulls Curfew  

The Italian government is expected to approve further virus containment measures as soon as Sunday and is mulling additional economic support even as the threat of tighter restrictions prompts protests. New infections soared above 19,000 cases Friday, just a day after Naples -- Italy’s hardest-hit city -- imposed a night-time curfew in a bid to contain the spread that contributed to violent protests.

Switzerland Considers Stricter Measures  

Switzerland’s health minister has sent a draft proposal for stronger coronavirus measures, the country’s Blick newspaper reported. These include the requirement to use masks outdoors in residential areas as well as in offices; a limit of family gatherings to 15 people and the closure of restaurants and bars between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Spain Could Declare State of Alarm  

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is planning to hold an extraordinary cabinet meeting on Sunday to declare a national state of alarm, according to El Pais. The Spanish newspaper cited unnamed people in the government. The declaration would allow the national government to impose greater restrictions on citizens’ movement in an effort to control the spread of Covid-19. Sanchez and his ministers have battled with the regional administration in Madrid about what limitations to put in place.

Slovenia’s Deadliest Day  

Slovenia reported a record 1,963 daily Covid-19 infections with an all-time high positivity rate of 27.9%. The Alpine state with a population 2.1 million suffered the worst day since the beginning of the epidemic with 19 patients dying, bringing the death toll to 235.

Istanbul Mayor Tests Positive  

Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, tested positive for coronavirus and has started treatment in hospital, municipality spokesman Murat Ongun said on Twitter.

Merkel Said Covid-19 Worsening  

Chancellor Angela Merkel said the pandemic has worsened in Germany. There’s increasing urgency because in a growing number of regions health authorities are struggling to track down infection chains, Merkel said. “We’re not powerless against the virus,” she said. “Our behavior decides how strong and how fast it spreads.”

Poland Records Deadliest Day  

Poland registered 13,628 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, slightly less than Friday’s record. The number of deaths was 179, the highest since the beginning of the pandemic, and almost 479,000 people are now in quarantine in the country.

Belgian Hospital Admissions Near First-Wave Peak  

Belgium reported 585 new hospital admissions, the second-highest number on record. There are now 4,061 Covid-19 patients in Belgian hospitals, compared with a first-wave peak of 5,759 on April 6. Belgium’s 14-day incidence rate rose to 1,119 per 100,000 inhabitants, up from 1,013 per 100,000 the day before.

Germany Passes 10,000 Deaths  

Germany exceeded 10,000 deaths on Saturday, according to Johns Hopkins University. Another 48 deaths brought the total to total of 10,008, up from 9,960 a day earlier. The number of coronavirus cases rose to 426,110 from 403,874 the previous day.

Polish President Duda Tests Positive  

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda tested positive for coronavirus, a spokesman tweeted. Poland had a record number of infections on four of the last seven days, prompting authorities to announce new anti-virus measures.

Some Demand Returning: Singapore Air 

Singapore Airlines Ltd.  <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/terminal/QIOYIAT0AFBH> said there were some signs of returning passenger demand as governments reopen borders for business travel and create corridors. The city-state and Asian financial hub Hong Kong this month announced a travel bubble that’s expected to start in “weeks.”

Singapore’s flag carrier has restored some flights recently anticipating demand, said Lee Lik Hsin, the company’s executive vice president of commercial.

Sri Lanka Shuts Harbors Amid Spike  

Sri Lanka closed at least two fishery harbors and a number of stalls after a surge in hundreds of cases tied to the main fish market in the South Asian nation, the AP reported. Authorities also widened curfew in parts of Colombo, AP said.

The fish market was temporarily closed on Wednesday after 49 traders tested positive for Covid-19, AP said, and the number of cases had spiked to 609 by Saturday.

Virus Worsens Emerging Nations’ Debt Repayment Burden: Zhou  

The Covid-19 pandemic will hamper emerging nations’ ability to deal with their debt burdens and raise funds in the future, former People’s Bank of China governor Zhou Xiaochuan  <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/terminal/QIOMFLT0G1LC> told a forum in Shanghai. Should defaults occur, the financial health of creditors such as Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank will be undermined, Zhou said.

Mexico States Raise Alert as Cases Rise  

Mexico raised its alert in several states -- including the border state of Chihuahua -- amid a resurgence of Covid-19 cases. The northern states of Durango, Coahuila and Nuevo Leon are also at risk of moving to the highest risk level, Health Ministry official Ricardo Cortes Alcala said.

The Health Ministry reported 418 new deaths Friday night, bringing the toll to 88,312.

South Korea Cases Drop  

South Korea recorded 77 news cases, dropping almost half from the previous day’s tally of 155. The Asian nation now has 25,775 total infections, as it’s worked to contain a surge following early success in stopping the spread of Covid-19.

New South Wales Says No Local Transmissions  

The state of New South Wales -- home to Sydney -- recorded no new locally transmitted virus cases for a second day. Five cases from overseas travelers in hotel quarantine were reported in in the 24 hours through 8 p.m. Friday, the regional health department said, bringing its overall tally to 4,186.

Philippines to Pay Red Cross Amid Wait for Tests  

The state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. said it will pay 930 million pesos ($19 million) it owes the Red Cross after the agency stopped virus tests -- leaving thousands of quarantined people waiting to be screened.

The agency accounts for a quarter of the Southeast Asian nation’s testing and said last week it had stopped Covid-19 tests charged to PhilHealth. The tests are mostly administered to medical personnel and workers returning from overseas.

Fauci Raises Concerns About U.S. Surge  

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN he’s worried the U.S. is headed for a massive surge in cases if smart public health measures aren’t ratcheted up. He also said he’s hopeful at least two vaccines will emerge by the end of November or early December that are “safe and effective.”

Earlier in the day, the top U.S. infectious disease expert told MSNBC that Friday’s data puts the U.S. in a “a precarious place” as the cases would lead to an increase in hospitalizations and eventually deaths as the colder weather keeps people indoors.

“We don’t want to shut down the country,” he said. “We’re talking about doubling down on some of the fundamental public health measures,” pointing to universal mask-wearing, social-distancing and avoiding crowds, especially indoors.

It’s been “several months” since President Donald Trump met with the White House coronavirus task force, said Fauci, who’s faced repeated criticism from the U.S. leader. Fauci said the task force now meets about once a week, versus its daily gatherings early in the pandemic.

Australia Explores Lifting State Border Closures by Christmas  

Australia is considering reopening state borders in time for Christmas and is also weighing plans to create alternative options to hotel quarantine so that more of its citizens can return from abroad.

All states and territories except for Western Australia agreed to a framework that would end regional border closures before Dec. 25, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

Victoria state -- the country’s worst hit -- reported seven new coronavirus cases and no deaths.

JNJ, AstraZeneca Trials to Resume  

AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson plan to resume Covid-19 vaccine clinical trials that had been halted by U.S. regulators, putting research into two of the leading candidates for a coronavirus inoculation back on track.

Johnson & Johnson said Friday it’s preparing to resume recruitment in a late-stage trial of its vaccine after consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. An independent data safety monitoring board recommended the trial continue. The study was paused earlier this month after a patient became sick, but the company said no clear cause of the illness had been identified.

New York’s Covid Hospitalizations Top 1,000  

New York hospitalizations for Covid-19 topped 1,000 for the first time since June, as the state battles clusters of rising cases.

Nearly half of all new daily hospital admissions in the state have been from Brooklyn, Queens, Rockland, Orange and counties along the Pennsylvania border that New York have identified as “micro-cluster focus zone areas.” The positive testing rate in the hot spots was 2.31% on Oct. 22, compared with 0.98% outside those areas, according to data from the governor’s office.

Argentina Extends Virus Measures for 14 Days  

Argentina extended its virus prevention measures for 14 days, President Alberto Fernandez said. The country reported 15,718 new cases, bringing the total to 1,069,368.

France Posts Record Number of Cases  

France reported a record 42,032 new cases, the health agency said, taking the total to 1.041 million. Deaths increased by 298 to 34,508, the most since May, while hospitalizations jumped by almost 1,000 patients, rising above 15,000 for the first time in about five months.

President Emmanuel Macron, speaking a day after the government announced an extension of a nightly curfew to a vast part of the country, said authorities will have a clearer view of its impact in the middle of next week, and will have to keep adjusting measures in coming weeks.

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