Coronavirus Watch.

Global Statistics

More than 640,000 people have died from COVID-19, while more than 15.7 million infections have been confirmed in at least 188 countries and territories. More than 9 million people have recovered to date.

American medical experts are urging political leaders to shut down the United States to contain the pandemic after the country surpassed 4 million Covid-19 cases.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US’s top infectious disease expert, said the Center for Disease Control has put “a sound set of guidelines” on how to reopen schools safely this fall.

Brazil’s health ministry reported 51,147 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases to 2.39 million.

Saturday marked the fourth day in a row that Brazil has reported more than 50,000 new Covid-19 cases and this week marks a weekly record of 321,623 new cases, according to date from the state Ministry of Health.

The ministry reported 1,211 new Covid-19 deaths, raising the national death toll to 86,449.

The outbreak of the new coronavirus has reached every nation in Africa, a continent of 1.2 billion people. The confirmed coronavirus death toll on the continent are at 17,088, with deaths, 810,008 confirmed infections and 462,374 recoveries, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

South Africa recorded 312 new Covid-19 deaths. According to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, 209 deaths were registered in Gauteng. The cumulative number of deaths now stands at 6 655. 12 204 new infections of Covid-19, which brings the total of confirmed cases to 434 200.

Zimbabwe has 2,434 confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and 34 deaths.

North Korea reports first suspected case of Covid-19.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un convened an emergency meeting after the country’s first suspected case of Covid-19 was reported, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Sunday morning local time.

KCNA reported that the infected individual illegally entered North Korea through Kaesong City on July 19 after defecting to South Korea three years ago.

The country’s Central Military Commission will investigate the unit responsible for the illegal entry of the patient and “administer a severe punishment,” KCNA reported.(CNN).

Infectious disease expert says Brazil’s President sets a “bad example” after unmasked interactions.

The head of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases says President Jair Bolsonaro set a “bad example” by socializing and not wearing a mask right after his negative Covid-19 test announcement.

On Saturday morning Bolsonaro greeted supporters, without a mask and rode his motorcycle after he announced his negative test result.

Dr. Estevão Urbano, president of the infectious diseases society, told CNN that he believes Boslonaro’s behavior sets a “bad example” as more than 1,000 deaths from coronavirus are being reported daily in Brazil.

Metal Prices Asia/Europe/NY markets.

26/07/2020

(Source: Kitco).