Coronavirus Watch

Global Statistics

At least 24 states in the US have rolled back reopening of schools as Covid-19 cases and deaths continue to rise nationwide.

International students in the US may have to leave the country if their universities switch to online-only courses, immigration officials announced.

Arizona now has more than 100,000 coronavirus cases as the virus continue to rise throughout America’s sun belt, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
The state now have 101,441 reported cases. Of this total, about 62,000 patients are below 44 years, the department said in a statement on Monday.
There are 1,810 related deaths statewide, with more than 3,200 patients hospitalized and over 800 ICU patients currently in Arizona hospitals.

5.2% of people in Spain have coronavirus antibodies far from the so-called herd immunity level, a government study found, adding further doubt as to its feasibility.

Mexico’s health ministry reported 480 more Covid-19 deaths on Monday, bringing the country’s death toll to 31,119.

The ministry also recorded 4,902 newly confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total to 261,750 cases. On Saturday, Mexico surpassed France’s death toll from the virus, and now has the 5th highest number of deaths worldwide.

On Monday, Brazil reported 620 new deaths from coronavirus, raising the country’s death toll to 65,487.
Brazil’s health ministry also recorded 20,229 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the country’s total to 1,623,284 cases.

The new figures came as cities around the country start to reopen. Rio de Janeiro, where more than 10,000 people have died of coronavirus, opened its bars and restaurants over the weekend.

Africa also recorded an increase of 2,324 new cases to bring the total number of cases to 496,034; the death toll increased by 46 to bring the total number of deaths to 11,695.

The latest number of cases in South Africa have  breached the 200 000 mark with 205 721 coronavirus cases, 3 310 deaths and 97 848 recoveries.

1 new death has been recorded in Zimbabwe bringing  the total number of deaths to 9 and 734 total cases with 18 new cases recorded.

‘Lack of recognition’

WHO has been criticised in recent weeks and months for its seeming divergence from the scientific community.
The organisation for months declined to recommend mask-wearing, partly out of supply concerns and also continued to describe the transmission of COVID-19 from people without symptoms as “rare”.

The letter was endorsed by 239 scientists in 32 countries from a variety of fields. It stated the issue of whether or not COVID-19 was airborne was of “heightened significance” as many countries stop restrictive lockdown measures.

The authors cited previous studies suggesting germs closely related to COVID-19 were spread via airborne transmission, and “there is every reason to expect” coronavirus behaves similarly.

They also cited a Washington state choir practise and unpublished research about a poorly ventilated restaurant in Guangzhou, China – each of which raised the possibility of infections from airborne droplets.

“We are concerned that the lack of recognition of the risk of airborne transmission of COVID-19 and the lack of clear recommendations on the control measures against the airborne virus will have significant consequences,” the scientists wrote.
“People may think they are fully protected by adhering to the current recommendations, but in fact additional airborne interventions are needed.”

Scientists around the world have been working furiously to understand the new virus. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is thought to mainly jump from person to person through close contact, but added, “We are still learning about how the virus spreads.” (SOURCE-ALJAZEERA)

Metal Prices Asia/Europe/NY markets

07/07/2020

(SOURCE – KITCO)