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COVID-19 tracker 16 November 2020

Global cases top 54m; hopes are pinned on a vaccine

Shireen Darmalingam

Global update:

  • Global cases have surpassed 54.81 million, while the death toll has surpassed 1.32 million; recoveries are at 38.13 million.
  • US infections rose by more than 100,000 for a 10th consecutive day as US states tighten rules. The US has 11.36 million cases, accounting for 20% of global cases; the death toll is 251,832. Two of Joe Biden’s Covid-19 advisers have commented against a nationwide US lockdown. 
  • India has 8.84 million cases and 130,109 deaths; Brazil 5.86 million cases and 165,811 deaths; Russia 1.92 million cases and 33,186 deaths.
  • Austria will follow neighbour Slovakia and test its entire population, beginning in December. 
  • Germany will be implementing "considerable restrictions" against the spread of the virus over the next four to five months.
  • Pfizer and BioNTech anticipate having two months of FDA-requested safety data this week. Smooth results would pave the way for the companies to apply for authorization.
  • AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford also expect more trial data soon.

Africa update:

  • Africa’s COVID-19 cases remain relatively low, with confirmed cases at 1.98 million; fatalities are at 47,438.
  • Morocco has 293,177 reported cases, Nigeria 65,148, Ghana 50,123, Kenya 70,245.
  • The World Health Organisation noted that the pandemic can be used as a “springboard to achieve global health security and preparedness”. The WHO also reiterated calls for global solidarity in the fight against the virus which “pays no heed to political rhetoric or conspiracy theories”. It was further noted that while a vaccine is urgently needed, it would not address the global underinvestment in essential public health functions.

South Africa update:

  • SA reached 100,000 cases on 22 June (in 110 days); it took a further 14 days to reach 200,000, 9 days to reach 300,000, a further 8 days to reach 400,000, 9 days more to breach 500,000, 20 days to reach 600,000. However, the daily rate of increase is now starting to ease.
  • SA currently has the 15th highest caseload, with 751,024, an increase of 1,842 new cases.
  • COVID-19 deaths rose by 35 yesterday, to 20,241; 693,467 people have recovered from the virus, a recovery rate of 92.3%.
  • Gauteng has the highest number of confirmed cases, at 231,643 (accounting for 30.8% of the total); 4,882 deaths have been reported. 
  • The Western Cape has 121,815 (accounting for 16.2% of the total) and 4,453 deaths, while KwaZulu-Natal has 124,897 (accounting for 16.6% of the total) and 3,287 deaths.
  • The Eastern Cape has 108,313 cases (accounting for 14.4% of the total) and 4,054 deaths.
  • 5.11 million tests have been conducted since 5 March.

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