Solace Global – COVID-19 Weekly Update – 03/06/2020
COVID-19 Weekly Update
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Current Statistics (Numbers vary between sources) Current Total Cases 6,474,760 Total Confirmed Recoveries 3,083,700 Total Confirmed Deaths 382,921
Region Specific Updates and New Restrictions – Be aware these are fluid and subject to change, check for any updates prior to travel. New cases in Asia this week 10,000
8,000 India Pakistan 6,000 China 4,000 Japan
2,000 Indonesia Singapore 0 27-May 28-May 29-May 30-May 31-May 1-Jun 2-Jun
India became the seventh worst-hit country on Tuesday when total cases doubled from the previous two weeks, with the current total surpassing 200,000. Despite the alarming surge in cases, health officials have warned that the peak is yet to come. High infection rates have been reported Asia among India’s substantial population of migrant workers, who upon the loosening of travel restrictions have spread the infection to their rural home regions. The country’s government has approved the use of remdesivir to treat patients in emergency cases, after it became the first drug to show positive results in formal clinical trials. The drug was also granted emergency authorisation to be used by the US Food and Drug Administration in May and has received approval by Japanese regulatory bodies.
Pakistan is predicting a surge in cases that may potentially overwhelm health officials after restrictions were relaxed according to the country’s health authorities, especially considering that much of the population has gathered for Eid celebrations. Further cause for concern emerged after the Punjab government conducted random testing on the population, the result of which indicated that official national figures may have underreported the true extent of the outbreak. The study, which conducted in early May, found that six per cent of people tested positive and estimated that the city of Lahore had 670,000 cases alone. Until now the whole province has only reported approximately 28,000 cases.
China has welcomed an international review of the origins of the pandemic that is “independent” and “free of politicisation” according to Beijing’s ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming. Ambassador Liu rejected criticism of the Chinese response to the virus, claiming the country had "wasted no time in sharing information" with the international community, though recent polls indicate that China’s global standing has been weekend since the start of the crisis. Meanwhile, authorities in the city of Wuhan reported no new cases after conducting a rigorous testing regimen that reached 9.9 million of the city's 11 million inhabitants. Around 300 asymptomatic carriers of the virus were identified, but Chinese health authorities do not count the asymptomatic as new cases.
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New Cases in Europe this week 10000 9000 8000 France 7000 Italy 6000 5000 Spain 4000 Germany 3000 United Kingdom 2000 Russia 1000 0 27-May 28-May 29-May 30-May 31-May 1-Jun 2-Jun
France entered a second phase of easing lockdown measures as of 2 June as statistics suggest the country’s outbreak is continuing to diminish following a previous loosening of restrictions on 11 May. Daily increases in hospital coronavirus-related deaths have remained below 100 for 12 consecutive days while the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care has returned to levels similar to those last seen on 20 March. Under the new measure, cafes, restaurants, gyms, theatres and concert halls in so-called green zones will be allowed to reopen along with parks and restaurant terraces in Paris – currently designated an orange zone. The French government is also hoping to open borders from the 15 June; however, this depends on “the health situation permit doing so, without a quarantine period for travellers arriving from European countries".
Italy reopened its borders and lifted domestic travel restrictions from 3 June, allowing travellers from within Europe to enter Italy without the need to quarantine. Italy is continuing to emerge from one of the world’s most stringent lockdowns having suffered a devastating outbreak earlier in the Europe year. In May, bars, restaurants and gyms were allowed to reopen while theatres and cinemas are expected to open their doors later in June. Despite the optimism, on the country’s 2 June national day, President Sergio Mattarella warned, "The crisis is not over, and institutions and citizens alike will still have to face its consequences and trauma".
A local spike of COVID-19 cases in the north-western city of Gottingen has highlighted the need for people to adhere to social distancing rules as Germany slowly emerges from its lockdown restrictions. As of 2 June, 68 people had tested positive for the virus following gatherings that took place in the city on 23-24 May. Although the numbers appear relatively low, the ramifications are significant; 300 people have been identified as been in close proximity to those who have tested positive and 13 schools, only recently reopened, have been forced to implement stricter measures. Germany’s initial handling of the pandemic garnered international praise; however, recent disagreements between the 16 state Minister Presidents has resulted in a faster lifting of measures than Chancellor Angela Merkel had proposed and varying rules between states.
The UK’s death toll continues to be higher than the other worst-affected European countries, with only the United States surpassing the UK’s grim tally. In order to avoid a second wave of COVID-19 infections, the UK government has confirmed plans that all international arrivals, including returning Britons, will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days and provide details of where they intend to stay, starting from 8 June. The plans have come under fire from airlines, business groups and politicians who have “serious reservations” about a “blanket approach”.
Russia, now the third worst-affected nation globally in terms of total cases, reported an increase of 8,536 COVID-19 cases on 3 June, bringing its nationwide total to over 432,000. Russia will begin rolling out a drug to treat coronavirus patients from 11 June according to the head of its state financial backer, RDIF sovereign wealth fund. The antiviral drug, Avifavir, known generically as Favipiravir, was first developed in the late 1990s by a Japanese company although Russian scientists claim to have enhanced it. The drug, trialled on 330 patients, was said to have successfully treated the virus in most cases within four days. In Moscow, after nine weeks of strict lockdown measures, the capital city entered the second stage of easing of restrictions from 1 June, allowing almost all non-essential retailers and some service sector businesses to reopen while people are now allowed outside for walks and limited exercise. However, despite Vladimir Putin claiming the country had passed the peak of its outbreak, coronavirus infections continue to rise, raising concerns that the lifting of measures is premature.
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New cases in the Americas this week 35,000 30,000 Mexico 25,000 Argentina 20,000 Brazil 15,000 Peru 10,000 Chile 5,000 USA Canada 0 27-May 28-May 29-May 30-May 31-May 1-Jun 2-Jun
The United States is currently gripped by two converging crises, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and widespread civil unrest triggered by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis over a week ago. Despite the fact that most US states have entered phased reopening plans and began easing social distancing rules, governors, city mayors and health officials across the country have expressed concern that the protests could result in a surge of new infections. On 1 June, New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo, expressed concern about so-called “super spreaders” amongst the crowds of protesters that continue to demonstrate across the state, particularly in New York City. The ongoing pandemic has also taken a huge toll on the country’s economy; thus far roughly 40 million Americans have lost their jobs while unemployment was teetering around 20 per cent in May, Americas levels last seen during the Great Depression in the 1930s.
Mexico surpassed the 10,000 milestone for total COVID-19 deaths on 1 June, the same day that restrictions implemented to curb the spread of the virus were lifted, despite rising infections. Indeed, the number of coronavirus patients continues to rise sharply with thousands of new cases per day and hundreds of deaths while most states remain under the highest risk “red zone” under the government’s traffic light scale. In addition to the alarming number of cases, experts have warned that testing remains relatively low and that the true figures could be substantially higher. From 1 June, the construction and auto industries were permitted to resume operations while parks in Mexico City are open to a third of their capacity. President Obrador has been heavily criticized for both his slow response to the crisis and his eagerness to lift restrictions. Speaking on 1 June he explained, “We have to move towards the new normal because it's necessary for our national economy, our people's wellbeing; we need to, little by little, return production, economic, social and cultural activity to normal.".
Two years into a recession, the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown has brought increased suffering to a country already struggling with a troubled economy. It is estimated that a third of the population are now living in poverty as many businesses have been forced to close, resulting in widespread job losses and a rise in the number of people relying on food banks. Late last month, officials extended a mandatory lockdown in Buenos Aires until at least 7 June and increased restrictions on movement due to a steady rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases. Under the lockdown, commercial activity and public transportation in densely populated areas has been scaled back.
Brazil reported yet another record number of new coronavirus cases on 2 June, 28,936 in 24 hours, as the outbreak in Latin America’s worst- affected country shows no signs of abating. The shocking statistics come as several Brazilian leaders, including President Bolsonaro, continue to belittle the virus and flaunt social distancing guidelines. The record figure was also announced on the same day that state and city authorities across the country had begun to reopen shopping malls and offices, including Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro – the worst-affected state thus far.
New cases in Africa this week 2,000 1,800 1,600 1,400 South Africa 1,200 Nigeria 1,000 Africa Egypt 800 600 Ghana 400 Sudan 200 0 27-May 28-May 29-May 30-May 31-May 1-Jun 2-Jun
Despite a promising start, South Africa is now struggling to fulfil its testing objectives. A backlog of tens of thousands of test samples have been reported in many laboratories, essentially undermining the validity of the testing process as results that cannot be produced within 24 hours are of
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little use. It is feared that people will spread the infection whilst believing themselves to be COVID-free as they face lengthy waits for test results that may last as long as two weeks. Meanwhile, the country has lifted its restrictions on the sale of alcohol. During the ban, a drop in alcohol-fuelled violence was said to have caused significantly decrease in casualty admissions, though the Government was said to have lost a fortune in sales tax revenues.
Nigerian authorities this week announced the easing of a number of COVID-19 restrictions. The financial sector has been fully reopened, with banks now allowed to operate with more working hours five days a week. Controlled access to markets and places of economic activity has been permitted. However, certain restrictions remain in place, including the 14-day quarantine period for international arrivals into the country, a ban on gatherings of more than 20 people outside a place of work or worship, and the closure of schools.
New cases in the Middle East this week 3500
3000 Afghanistan 2500 Saudi Arabia 2000 Iran 1500 Qatar 1000 UAE 500 Kuwait Middle 0 East 27-May 28-May 29-May 30-May 31-May 1-Jun 2-Jun
The latest infection figures in Iran have ignited concerns about the prospect of a second wave of the pandemic, with the Health Ministry reporting 3,000 new cases recorded within a 24-hour period. The Government is currently responding to criticisms that it had reopened the country too early, with shops, offices and around 40,000 mosques resuming services last week. Health Minister Saeed Namaki has issued stern warnings against complacency, expressing his shock at the lack of social distancing on public transport. The most high-risk area is currently the south-western province of Khuzestan, but infections are also rising in Kermanshah, Hormozgan, Sistan and Baluchestan.
Approximately 90,000 mosques in Saudi Arabia have been reopened with strict hygiene measures in place, such as the regular sanitisation of prayer mats and washing facilities. However, Grand Mosque in Mecca, home to the holy Kaaba stone, remains closed, indicating the annual Hajj pilgrimage in July will likely be cancelled or delayed. The Medina mosque believed to be the burial place of the Prophet Muhammed has been partially reopened. Worshipper nationwide must keep two metres apart, wear face masks at all times and refrain from embracing or greeting each other with handshakes. Children and the elderly have been instructed to conduct their devotions at home.
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