Coronavirus Watch

Global Statistics

Coronavirus has killed more than 776,000 people and infected over 21.9 million and more than 14,7 million people have recovered world over.

The total number of coronavirus deaths in the United States stands at 173,605 and the total number of positive cases in the country has exceeded 5.6 million. The country has been recording more than 1,000 coronavirus deaths nearly every day for the past 30 days.

Brazil has reported at least 19,373 new Covid-19 cases and 684 deaths in the past 24 hours and the total number of confirmed coronavirus infections now stands at 3,359,570. At least 108,536 have died from Covid-19 in the country.

São Paulo State, the hotspot of the pandemic in Brazil, reported 3,022 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the state’s total to 702,665 confirmed infections, according to data presented today by the state government at its daily news conference.

India reported a daily jump of 54,288 infections, taking its total to nearly 2.70 million, third only behind the US and Brazil, while the death toll jumped by 880, to 51,925.

The confirmed coronavirus death toll in Africa stood at 25,931 and cases of the pandemic are now over 1, 13 million. 849,293 cases have been recorded to have recovered.

In South Africa, the Covid-19 death toll reached 11,982 after 143 deaths were recorded. The total number of recoveries is at 477, 671 which translates to a 80% recovery rate. Despite the rising death toll, the country’s mortality rate is 1, 92% and is one of the lowest globally.

Nigeria’s aviation minister has said the country will reopen its airports for international flights from August 29, introducing protocols to minimise the risk of coronavirus infection. Nigeria resumed domestic flights on July 8, and Sirika said there had been no confirmed coronavirus transmissions on flights. With more than 16,500 infections, Lagos remains Nigeria’s hardest-hit area. It is followed by the Federal Capital Territory – which includes Abuja – with more than 4,700 cases and the southwestern Oyo state with almost 3,000 infections.

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo has indicated that the country’s Kotoka International Airport may reopen next month after measures are set in place to test arriving passengers for coronavirus. The country has 42, 653 cases of the pandemic and has so far registered 239 deaths.

Zimbabwe recorded 47 new cases of the virus to bring the total number of cases to 5,308. Fatalities now stand at 135 after 3 new deaths were recorded yesterday. 3,848 recoveries have been recorded which translates to a recovery rate of 72.49%

Novavax begins mid-stage study of COVID-19 vaccine in South Africa

US drug developer Novavax Inc. said it is starting a mid-stage study of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine in South Africa, which is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases. The Phase 2b trial study of NVX-CoV2373 will be conducted on about 2,665 healthy adults and will evaluate safety and immunogenicity in about 240 medically stable, HIV-positive adults, the company said.

“Because South Africa is experiencing a winter surge of COVID-19 disease, this important Phase 2b clinical trial has the potential to provide an early indication of efficacy, along with additional safety and immunogenicity data for NVX-CoV2373,” said Novavax research chief Gregory Glenn.

The Phase 2 NVX-CoV2373 study in South Africa will enroll up to 2 904 volunteers aged 18-65-years-old. The trial will evaluate the vaccine candidate’s safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy [protection against Covid-19]. The South African study is part of a larger, global clinical programme to evaluate NVX-CoV2373, including larger Phase 3 studies with approximately 30 000 participants, to be launched throughout the world. Reuters

Metal Prices Asia/Europe/NY market

18/08/2020

 (Source: Kitco)