Coronavirus Watch

Global Statistics

Global cases of the virus are now at 41, 4 million. Deaths recorded are sitting at over 1,13 million.

Four US states reported a record one-day increase in COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday including Wisconsin, according to a Reuter’s analysis, as infections kept rising across the Midwest and beyond. Coronavirus deaths hit daily records in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana and Wisconsin, according to a Reuter’s analysis. Wisconsin also reported a record daily increase in new cases together with Illinois and Ohio, the analysis showed.

Nationally, cases have been trending higher for five weeks, rising to 60 000 on average over the past seven days from a recent low of 35 000 a day in mid-September. The United States has averaged 734 daily coronavirus deaths over the past seven days, still well below the 2 333 average at the height of the pandemic in April. The national seven-day case average has increased at least 18% since the previous week and is now a staggering 61% higher than what it was five weeks ago.

According to a report, US Covid-19 cases will begin to rapidly accelerate in a week as the country topped 60,000 new infections Tuesday — triple what the daily average was back in June, when restrictions had begun to ease.

France is extending a red-alert status to more regions across the country as coronavirus cases surge and ICUs fill up. Under a heightened level – one below the maximum level – curfews will be imposed, government spokesperson Gabriel Attal said in a news conference Wednesday. He said the government is also proposing to extend a state of emergency to mid-February — three months longer than initially planned. 

The Premier of the German region of Bavaria, Markus Soder, believes the region is “much closer to a lockdown than many think,” as cases continue to increase. “We’re much closer to a lockdown than many think, or at least a ‘partial-lockdown’,” Soder said during a press conference on Wednesday, as he announced new restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. Gatherings will be limited to no more than 50 in areas where new infections are above 100 per 100,000 people, and a bars and restaurants will have to abide by a new 9 pm curfew.

South Africa recorded 2 055 new coronavirus cases bringing the total number to 708 359. The Gauteng province accounts for 31% of the total number of cases, followed by KwaZulu-Natal at 17.2%. In a statement, the Department of Health also confirmed 85 more deaths.  This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths to 18 741. South Africa’s recoveries now stand at 641 706, which translates to a recovery rate of 90%. There has been an increase of 9.1% in new cases in the last 7 days and 10.7% in the past 14 days.

Coronavirus cases in South Africa’s Western Cape Province have risen by 42% in the past seven days. Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize warned that the country remains at a risk of a resurgence.  He says the number of new cases in provinces such as the Western Cape is alarming as the province has 114 964 cases which is 16.2% of the total number of cases.

There were 28 new cases that were recorded in Zimbabwe yesterday and this brings the total number of cases to 8,215. 3 new deaths were recorded in Bulawayo Province and now the death toll is at 236. Recoveries recorded are at 7,725 the national recovery rate still stands 94% recovery rate.

CDC redefines close contact

The CDC has updated its definition of close contact with someone with Covid-19 to include multiple, brief exposures, Director Dr. Robert Redfield said.

The new definition includes exposures adding up to a total of 15 minutes spent six feet or closer to an infected person. Previously, the CDC defined close contact as 15 minutes of continuous exposure to an infected individual. The agency changed the definition after a report from Vermont of a corrections officer who became infected after several brief interactions with coronavirus-positive inmates — none of them lasting 15 minutes, but adding up over time. CNN

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22/10/2020

(Source: Kitco)