Virus surges in India, Philippines; curfew imposed in Melbourne
NEW DELHI — Surges of new coronavirus cases continued Sunday in India and the Philippines, which recorded another daily high to surpass 100,000 total infections, as officials across the globe considered stricter measures to stymie the spread of the pandemic.
A curfew was imposed on Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne, following a spike in infections.
The U.S., India and South Africa are struggling to rein in their first wave of infections, while South Korea and others where the disease abated are trying to avert a second wave as curbs on travel and trade ease.
Governments worldwide have reported 684,075 deaths and 17.8 million cases, according to data gathered by Johns Hopkins University.
India’s 54,735 new cases were down from the previous day’s record 57,118 but raised the total to 1.75 million. The month of July accounted for more than 1.1 million of those cases.
The major cities of New Delhi and Mumbai might have passed their peaks, said government expert Randeep Guleria. Subways, cinemas and other public facilities are closed until Aug. 31.
The Philippines reported 5,032 new cases, raising its total to 103,185, with 2,059 deaths.
On Saturday, leaders of Philippine medical organizations appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to reimpose a lockdown on the capital, Manila. They said the health system was in danger as personnel fall ill or quit due to fear or fatigue.
In Japan, the government reported 1,540 new cases, close to Friday’s record of 1,579.
The spike in infections, most of them in their 20s and 30s, prompted warnings that young people were letting their guard down. Gov. Yuriko Koike of Tokyo, which has about one-third of the new infections, said she might declare an emergency to contain the outbreak.
The United States has the world’s biggest number of confirmed cases at 4.6 million, or one-quarter of the total, and 154,361 deaths. White House coronavirus task force leader Dr. Deborah Birx said Sunday that the virus had entered a “new phase” in the U.S. as it has rapidly spread in rural and urban America.
“What we are seeing today is different from March and April. It is extraordinarily widespread,” Dr. Birx told CNN’s “State of the Union.” She urged Americans to wear face masks and observe social distancing measures.
In Australia, Premier Daniel Andrews of the southern state of Victoria announced a 8 p.m.-to-5 a.m. curfew on Melbourne, a city of 5 million. Schools statewide are to return to homebased teaching, and day care centers were closed.
Mr. Andrews said there were seven deaths and 671 new cases since Saturday.
China and South Korea reported more infections, but spikes in both countries appeared to be tailing off.
China had 49 new confirmed cases, up from the previous day’s 45. Thirty were in Xinjiang in the northwest, where authorities are trying to contain an outbreak focused on the regional capital, Urumqi.
Three cases were found in students who returned from Russia to Wuhan, the Chinese city where the pandemic was first identified in December.
Hong Kong reported 125 new infections as authorities tried to find the source of its latest outbreak. The Chinese government said a team of experts had been sent to the city to help.
South Korea reported 30 new cases, raising its total to 14,366, including 301 deaths.