Coronavirus Watch

Global statistics

Nearly 16.9 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus globally. Some 10.4 million patients have recovered, and more than 663,000 have died.

Renewed coronavirus restrictions are being implemented as fresh outbreaks of the virus sweep across Europe and Asia.

The United States confirmed that nationwide more than 1,200 lives were lost yesterday, the biggest one-day increase since May. Arkansas, Florida, Montana and Oregon each reported record spikes in fatalities. In California deaths rose by 171, the state’s largest increase of the pandemic. 4,498,343 cases of the virus have been reported in the country and the death toll has climbed to 152,320.

China on Tuesday recorded more than 100 new cases for the first time since April with 98 local transmissions. It’s also the country’s third straight highest daily spike in local infections since early March.

India recorded one of its highest cases with 49,632 being reported yesterday to bring the total number of cases to 1,533,936. 776 new deaths were recorded and the total number of fatalities is now at 34,240.

Africa is now edging towards a million cases of coronavirus, but experts warn far worse lies ahead in a continent struggling with fragile health systems and slender economic resources.

Countries across Africa have recorded more than 870 000 infections and at least 18 500 deaths,

South Africa is now sitting at 459,761confirmed Coronavirus cases, there were 190 new Covid-19 related deaths, taking the death toll to 7 257.  Gauteng remains the epicentre as the province has the highest number of cases with 164 584. In the last two days SA has recorded new infections of under 10,000 per day. In addition, the country has recorded 287 313 recoveries, which translates to a recovery rate of 62.5%.

Nigeria which is Africa’s most populous nation has registered more than 41 000 cases, the second highest tally south of the Sahara, with numbers rising by 500-700 each day. The epicentre is Lagos, the densely-populated commercial hub, which is also Africa’s largest city with a population of 20 million.

Kenya has seen cases triple to 17 975 in the past month. However, as a percentage of its population of 47 million, the numbers remain low.  Earlier this month government lifted restrictions that had cordoned off Nairobi and other hard-hit cities, while announcing that international flights will resume on 1 August.  The country has declared the 2020 school year lost.

In Madagascar, President Andry Rajoelina has been vigorously touting an infusion derived from Artemisia – a plant with proven anti-malarial properties — as a homegrown cure for Covid-19. But Madagascar has seen a surge in infections in recent weeks to more than 9 600 cases and nearly 100 deaths, and hospitals in the capital Antananarivo have said they are running out of beds.

Tanzania has downplayed any threat from Covid-19 and stopped releasing official figures. The last tally – issued in April – stood at 509. By comparison, neighbors such as Kenya and DR Congo have recorded nearly 18 000 and 9 000 cases respectively.

Zambia continues to record a high number of cases in the country with 450 reported yesterday to bring the total number of cases to 5,002, the death toll still remains relatively low with 142 fatalities.

2,817 cases have been reported in Zimbabwe after 113 new cases were confirmed yesterday, with 112 local cases and 1 imported case. Gweru was declared as one of the hotspots of the Coronavirus pandemic in Zimbabwe after Harare and Bulawayo. Government is expediting efforts to put in place rapid result test teams to facilitate localised lockdowns in hotspot suburbs of the three cities.

 4 new deaths were recorded hence the death toll now stands at 40Of the 4 deaths 2 were recorded in Manicaland, 1 in Bulawayo and another death was recorded in Mashonaland East.

Botswana and Lesotho did not record any changes in the statistics.

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29/07/2020

(Source: Kitco)