World stares at 500k deaths, 10mn cases

BRAZIL SUFFERS Covid spreads to interiors, patients forced into urban centres

As Covid-19 continues to tighten its grip on the world, the global number of coronavirus infections and deaths from the respiratory disease are inching towards more grim milestones.

In another day’s time or perhaps less, the number of Covid-19 cases worldwide is likely to touch 10 million, while the total number of fatalities is likely to go past the 500,000-mark, going by the rate at which governments around the world are reporting the numbers.

According to the Johns Hopkins University tracker, the global number of cases stood at over 9.8 million, while more than 495,000 lives have been lost.

Brazil continues to be the big hot spot outside the US, registering 46,860 new cases in the last 24 hours and 990 additional deaths. The nation has registered about 1,275,000 confirmed cases of the virus and over 55,950 deaths.

The coronavirus, now spreading through the smaller towns of Brazil’s interiors, risks returning to major cities in a so-called “boomerang effect”, as a lack of specialised medical treatment forces patients into larger urban centres, according to health experts in the country.

The impact of a potential second wave of new cases in urban centres could complicate attempts to reopen businesses and get the economy going again, experts said.

In China, the capital city of Beijing on Saturday issued new containment guidelines as the city reported 17 confirmed cases for Friday, up from 11 for the day before and the most since June 20.

114-YEAR-OLD MONK SURVIVES COVID-19

An Ethiopian Orthodox monk whose family says he is 114 years old has survived Covid-19.

Tilahun Woldemichael was discharged from a hospital on Thursday after almost three weeks.

Woldemichael received oxygen and dexamethasone, a widely available steroid that researchers in England have said reduced deaths by up to one third in severely ill hospitalised patients.