Second wave sees global cases increase above 50m
Shireen Darmalingam
Global update:
- Global cases have surpassed 50.73 million, while the death toll has surpassed 1.26 million; recoveries are at 35.79 million.
- The US reported a record increase in coronavirus cases over the weekend, with at least 132,000 new infections. The US has 10.28 million cases, accounting for 20% of global cases; the US death toll is 243,768.
- India has 8.55 million cases and 126,653 deaths; Brazil 5.65 million cases and 162,397 deaths; Russia 1.77 million cases and 30,537 deaths.
- Melbourne is emerging from a 16-week lockdown, after 10 days without new cases.
- South Korea is expanding nationwide testing of patients and workers at nursing homes and mental hospitals to prevent virus outbreaks.
- England’s new infection rate is starting to slow with the country entering a fresh lockdown last week.
- AstraZeneca has indicated that it would release trial data by year-end.
- The UK has indicated that it would be able to produce only 4 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine by year-end, far below earlier indications of 30 million.
- Australia has signed a deal with Novavax for 40 million doses of a vaccine; the first delivery is expected in H1:21.
- J&J has been given the go-ahead to begin clinical trials in SA.
Africa update:
- Africa’s COVID-19 cases remain relatively low, with confirmed cases at 1.88 million; fatalities are at 45,362.
- Morocco has 256,781 reported cases, Nigeria 64,090, Ghana 49,202, Kenya 62,488.
South Africa update:
- SA currently has the 13th highest caseload, with 737,278, an increase of 1,372 new cases.
- COVID-19 deaths rose by 20 yesterday, to 19,809; 6719,688 people have recovered from the virus, a recovery rate of 92%.
- Gauteng has the highest number of confirmed cases, at 230,299 (accounting for 31.2% of the total); 4,862 deaths have been reported.
- The Western Cape has 119,242 (accounting for 16.2% of the total) and 4,397 deaths, while KwaZulu-Natal has 124,011 (accounting for 16.8% of the total) and 3,255 deaths.
- The Eastern Cape has 101,336 cases (accounting for 13.7% of the total) and 3,878 deaths.
- 4.98 million tests have been conducted since 5 March; 17,266 were in the past 24 hours.
- J&J has been given the go-ahead to begin clinical trials in SA.
Read PDF