Global coronavirus spread gains fresh momentum; deaths surpass half a million
The coronavirus spread has gained fresh momentum over the past few days with global infections already surpassing 10.27 million and the number of deaths over half a million.
According to latest figures by worldometers. info at 1138 GMT on Monday, the novel coronavirus has killed at least 504,974 people since the outbreak emerged in China last December.
At least over 10.27 million cases of coronavirus have been registered in 196 countries and territories, of these, at least 5.57 million are now considered recovered.
The tallies probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections.
Many countries are testing only symptomatic or the most serious cases, according to AFP.
Table topper
The US continues to be the worst-hit country with 128,438 deaths from over 2.63 million cases. At least over one million people have been declared recovered.
Texas tragedy
The spread of coronavirus infections has taken a “swift and very dangerous turn” in the US state of Texas, Governor Greg Abbott warned on Sunday.
“Over just the past few weeks, the daily number of cases have gone from an average of about 2,000, to more than 5,000,” Abbott said on Sunday.
Several southern and western states have recorded a surge in cases after lockdown restrictions were eased, according to BBC.
The spike has led officials in Texas, Florida and other states to tighten restrictions on business again, with warnings that hospitals may soon be overwhelmed.
On Sunday, Abbott said that as many as 5,000 people a day were being admitted to hospital for treatment.
US Vice President Mike Pence said that Texas would be issued additional
COVID-19 testing kits for as long was necessary.
Pence also urged Texans to wear masks “wherever it’s indicated”, saying “we know from experience, it will slow the spread of the coronavirus”.
‘Real men wear masks’
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was speaking at a joint news conference with Governor Abbott on Sunday, said that a nationwide mandate to wear face coverings was “definitely long overdue”.
“My understanding is that the Centers for Disease Control has recommended the use of masks but not required it, because they don’t want to offend the president.” Pelosi said Sunday on ABC’S ‘This Week’.
She urged US President Donald Trump to wear a face mask in public.
“Real men wear masks,” Pelosi said, ABC News reported. “It’s not about protecting yourself, it’s about protecting others.” In the Texas state capital of Austin, a requirement to wear face coverings in some circumstances in order to help mitigate the spread of the virus led to demonstrations on the city’s streets by people objecting to the measure.
On Sunday, Arizona also recorded a record daily increase of more than 3,800 cases. Hundreds of people reportedly traveled to rivers in the state to escape the hot weather, BBC wrote.
The reported increases in infections in southern and western states come after moves in recent weeks to reopen businesses, resulting in people from other areas pouring in.
After the US, the hardest-hit countries are Brazil with 57,658 deaths from over 1.34 million cases, the UK with 43,550 deaths from 311,151 cases, Italy with 34,738 deaths from 240,310 cases, and France with 29,778 deaths from 199,343 cases, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT on Monday.
China – excluding Hong Kong and Macau – has to date declared 83,512 cases (12 new since Sunday), including 4,634 deaths, and 78,460 recoveries.
Europe overall has 196,273 deaths from over 2.65 million cases, the US and Canada over 136,000 deaths from over 2.7 million infections, Latin America and the Caribbean 112,162 deaths from over 2.48 million cases, Asia 33,594 deaths from more than 1.24 million cases, the Middle East 15,668 deaths from 733,753 cases, Africa 9,646 deaths from 384,144 cases and Oceania 133 deaths from 9,244 cases.
Good news
Russia on Monday, however, reported 6,719 new cases of the novel coronavirus, the lowest one-day reported increase since April 29, pushing its nationwide tally to 641,156, Reuters reported.
The national coronavirus taskforce said 93 people had died in the last 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 9,166.
Tokyo tally
This came as, Tokyo, on the same day, recorded 58 new cases of coronavirus infection, marking the fourth straight day that infections had exceeded 50, broadcaster TV Asahi reported.
The Japanese capital had reported 60 cases the previous day, which was the highest daily tally since early May.
The total number of infections in Japan stands at 18,390, of which 971 have died.