Global Statistics
| Country | Total Cases | New Cases | Total Deaths | New Deaths | Total Recovered | Active Cases |
| World | 4,804,846 | +82,257 | 316,711 | +3,618 | 1,858,806 | 2,629,329 |
| USA | 1,527,664 | +19,891 | 90,978 | +865 | 346,389 | 1,090,297 |
| Russia | 281,752 | +9,709 | 2,631 | +94 | 67,373 | 211,748 |
| Spain | 277,719 | +1,214 | 27,650 | +87 | 195,945 | 54,124 |
| UK | 243,695 | +3,534 | 34,636 | +170 | N/A | N/A |
| Brazil | 241,080 | +7,938 | 16,122 | +485 | 94,122 | 130,836 |
| South Africa | 15,515 | +1,160 | 264 | +3 | 7,006 | 8,245 |
| Egypt | 12,229 | +510 | 630 | +18 | 3,172 | 8,427 |
| Nigeria | 5,959 | +338 | 182 | +6 | 1,594 | 4,183 |
| Zambia | 753 | +74 | 7 | 188 | 558 | |
| Tanzania | 509 | 21 | 183 | 305 | ||
| Eswatini | 203 | +1 | 2 | 73 | 128 | |
| Mozambique | 137 | +8 | 44 | 93 | ||
| Malawi | 70 | +5 | 3 | 27 | 40 | |
| Zimbabwe | 46 | +2 | 4 | 18 | 24 | |
| Botswana | 25 | +1 | 1 | 17 | 7 | |
| Lesotho | 1 | 1 |
Cases of the Covid-19 pandemic are now over the 4, 8 million mark with 82,257 new cases recorded yesterday. Active cases are at 2,629,329 globally.
The United States still has the highest cases reported of 1,527,664 and the highest number of deaths with 90,978. Russia now has the second highest number of cases with 281,752 and 9,709 new cases reported yesterday.
The city of Sao Paulo, considered the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil, has recorded 38,605 cases of Covid-19 — 16% of the total confirmed cases in the country.
South Africa saw its highest single-day jump of reported coronavirus cases on Sunday with an increase of 1,160 infections, according to the country’s National Department of Health.
That brings the total number of cases to 15,515, with the Western Cape Province accounting for nearly 60% of the national figures.
Zimbabwe recorded 2 new cases to bring the total number of cases to 46, 18 recoveries have been reported whilst the number of active cases stands at 24.
Tanzania President Magufuli says hospital numbers reducing. According to the president, Dar es Salaam’s Amana Hospital, which at one point was treating 198 Covid-19 patients, today has only 12 patients with the virus. Other hospitals in Dar es Salaam have experienced similar decreases, he added.
Call for inquiry into virus origins gains support
A growing number of countries are backing Australia in calling for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak.
More than 100 countries will co-sponsor the motion, boosting its chances of passing through at the virtual meeting of the World Health Assembly later on today, said a report by the Sydney Morning Herald.
The motion does not mention the location in which the outbreak is believed to have emerged, but calls on the WHO to “identify the zoonotic source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population”.
The international support is likely to isolate China, which has previously dismissed calls for an inquiry saying it was “political manipulation”.
Metal Prices Asia/Europe/NY markets
18/05/2020
| METAL | BID | ASK | CHANGE | LOW | HIGH |
| GOLD | 1759.4 | 1760.40 | +17.20 | 1756.70 | 1761.10 |
| SILVER | 17.15 | 17.25 | +0.54 | 17.08 | 17.25 |
| PLATINUM | 811.00 | 816.00 | +29.00 | 809.00 | 817.00 |
| PALLADIUM | 1894.00 | 2044.00 | +74.00 | 1815.00 | 2150.00 |
| RHODIUM | 4500.00 | 7500.00 | 0.00 | – | – |
