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Tuesday, July 28, 2020, 23:23
WHO says COVID-19 pandemic is 'one big wave', not seasonal
By Agencies
Tuesday, July 28, 2020, 23:23 By Agencies

Passengers wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, react as they exit Terminal 1 after landing at Manchester Airport in Manchester, north west England on July 27, 2020. (ANTHONY DEVLIN / AFP)

WASHINGTON / MEXICO CITY / LA PAZ / BRASILIA / COCHABAMBA / PARIS / BERLIN / PRAGUE / MADRID / LONDON / MOSCOW / GENEVA / ATHENS - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday warned against complacency about new coronavirus transmission in the northern hemisphere summer, saying that this virus did not behave like influenza that tended to follow seasonal trends.

"People are still thinking about seasons. What we all need to get our heads around is this is a new virus and...this one is behaving differently," Margaret Harris said in a virtual briefing in Geneva, urging vigilance in applying measures to slow transmission that is spreading via mass gatherings.

She also warned against thinking in terms of virus waves, saying: "It's going to be one big wave. It's going to go up and down a bit. The best thing is to flatten it and turn it into just something lapping at your feet."

Coronavirus cases in the US increased 1.3 percent Monday to 4.27 million, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg News

ALSO READ: UK defends Spanish quarantine move as travelers react with anger

Global tally

Global COVID-19 cases worldwide topped 16.4 million Tuesday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

The global death toll crossed 650,000 on Monday.

The United States has the highest tally and toll, with more than 4.2 million cases and over 148,000 deaths. Other countries with over 20,000 fatalities include Brazil, Britain, Mexico, Italy, France, Spain, and India. 

Bolivia

Bolivian interim President Jeanine Anez said on Tuesday she had recovered from the coronavirus and returned to work.

Anez, 52, said on July 9 that she tested positive for the coronavirus and would remain isolated in the presidential residence. 

The South American country has recorded 69,429 cases and 2,583 associated deaths, according to the most recent government data.

In Bolivia's Cochabamba region, the death of an inmate suspected of having the coronavirus prompted rioting in four of the most populated prisons over access to medical care, a government watchdog said on Monday.  Eight inmates in total have died with symptoms of COVID-19, according to Cochabamba ombudsman Nelson Cox, spiking concerns that the virus will spread throughout the prison population.

Authorities have reported more than 60 deaths due to the coronavirus in Bolivia's prison system, which is overcrowded at more than 240 percent capacity. There have been several other deaths in recent months that were not confirmed as caused by the  coronavirus due to a lack of testing.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, center, removes his face mask during a meeting with supporters outside his official residence at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, July 27, 2020. (ERALDO PERES / AP)

Brazil

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday took off his mask in public as he greeted supporters in Brasilia, days after saying he had recovered from the coronavirus, which he said had not had a serious impact on his health.

The right-wing leader tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this month and went into quarantine at his residence, but said on Saturday that his latest test had come back negative.

Standing outside the Alvorada Palace, the Brazilian president's official residence, Bolsonaro removed his mask after supporters asked that he take it off so they could snap pictures and selfies with him.

The Brazilian Press Association filed a criminal complaint against Bolsonaro earlier this month because he took off his mask in the presence of reporters just as he announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus. The group alleges Bolsonaro endangered the health of those present at the news conference.

Brazil on Monday reported a total of 2,442,375 confirmed coronavirus cases and 87,618 deaths. New cases totaled 23,384, while there were 614 new deaths.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria will allow tourists from Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia, Montenegro, Moldova, Israel and Kuwait to visit its resorts as of July 28 if they have negative COVID-19 tests, the health ministry said.

The negative tests have to be done 72 hours prior to arrival. Tourists from Ukraine will be allowed on the same grounds as of July 30, the ministry said in a statement.

Bulgaria has so far reported 10,621 confirmed cases and 347 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Chile 

Chile on Monday reported the country has tallied a total of 347,923 cases, after seeing a daily increase of 2,133 new cases. 

Another 75 deaths were reported, raising the death toll to 9,178.

Croatia

Croatian Health Minister Vili Beros on Monday introduced a COVID-19 tracing app, the first mobile application in the country that will allow infected people to anonymously inform other app users about possible exposure to the coronavirus.

The application "Stop COVID-19" was created by APIS IT, one of the leading Croatian technology companies.

"The app is voluntary and transparent, it uses temporary and anonymous data, and when the pandemic ends, it will no longer be possible to use it," national news agency Hina quoted Beros as saying.

Croatia recorded 24 new cases in the past 24 hours, pushing the tally to 4,881, with 139 deaths.

Czech Republic

The Czech government announced on Monday an overhaul of its much-criticized system of tracking and isolating contacts of people with COVID-19 as it battles a spike in new infections.

The government launched its "smart quarantine" system in spring as it sought to ease nationwide restrictions imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19, but it has come under increased criticism, including by ministers, for being ineffective.

Under the new plans, an oversight body led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis will manage the smart quarantine program, which uses mobile data to track those who have come into contact with infected people.

The army will take over from the health ministry logistical duties such as testing points and laboratories. Health Minister Adam Vojtech said his team would focus more on the epidemiological situation and countermeasures.

The Czech Republic has reported 15,324 confirmed cases, with 371 deaths.

Denmark

An additional 109 new COVID-19 cases were registered in Denmark over the weekend, according to latest figures from the Statens Serum Institut (SSI) released on Monday, pushing the tally to 13,547.

The death toll remained unchanged at 613.

The number of patients hospitalized increased by seven to 23.

The weekend figures align with a developing pattern of increases over the past three weeks which had seen the number of infections in Denmark rise from an average of 24 to 44 a day.

Egypt

Egypt registered on Monday 420 new COVID-19 infections, taking its tally of infections to 92,482, said the health ministry.

It is the lowest daily increase registered in Egypt since May 16.

Khaled Megahed, the ministry's spokesman, said in a statement that 46 more patients died , raising the death toll to 4,652.

A total of 1,007 recoveries were recorded in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries in the country to 34,838, the spokesman said.

ALSO READ: Africa eyes traditional medicine as cases top 800,000

El Salvador

El Salvador registered 405 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking its tally to 15,035, the country's health ministry said Monday.

A total of 417 people have died and at least 7,827 people have recovered from the disease, the ministry said.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia's confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 14,547 on Monday after the Ministry of Health reported 579 new cases.

According to a statement by the ministry, 6,386 recoveries have been reported, including 170 in the last 24 hours period.

Five more deaths were recorded, raising the death toll to 228.

Healthcare workers prepare to test people with COVID-19 symptoms near the beach in Saint Jean de Luz, southwestern France, July 27, 2020. (BOB EDME / AP)

France

France's new confirmed COVID-19 cases were up by a daily average of 850 over the last three days, a slight decrease versus the 1,000-plus figure published on Thursday and Friday, but a higher total than May's daily average, when the country started unwinding its lockdown.

The number of reported confirmed cases stood at 183,079.

The death toll was up by 17 over the last three days, at 30,209, the increase slowing compared to the end of last week.

In a statement, the French health ministry said the "latest trends still show a gradual deterioration" of the situation, urging everyone to resume "some goods habits" needed to contain the virus.

Germany

The recent uptick in German cases is a major cause for concern and sticking to hygiene and distancing rules remains crucial, according to Lothar Wieler, the head of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases.

“The latest trend in COVID-19 infections is very worrying for me, and for all of us at the Robert Koch Institute,” Wieler said. “We were able previously to keep the case numbers steady over a period of several weeks. This shows we can keep the virus under control, but only if we stick to the rules.”

There have been more than 3,600 new cases in the past seven days, taking the tally to more than 206,000, Wieler said Tuesday at a news conference. That compares with a daily increase of almost 7,000 at the height of the outbreak at the end of March.

Negligence is behind a steady rise in new coronavirus infections in Germany, Wieler said, adding that it was unclear if the country was experiencing a second wave.

The RKI linked the spike in infections to increased social contact at parties and in the workplace, and urged people not to flout social distancing rules.

Meanwhile, Germany's foreign ministry advised holidaymakers not to travel to several Spanish regions including Catalonia, home to Barcelona, that have seen coronavirus infection rates rise.

The advice was issued a day after Germany announced plans for free, mandatory coronavirus tests for holidaymakers returning from high-risk countries in order to slow the spread of infections as the holiday season kicks into high gear.

Germany has designated 130 countries as high-risk, including Turkey, Egypt and the United States, but Health Minister Jens Spahn later told ARD television's Tagesthemen program that the list would be reviewed daily, adding that he was worried about the uptick in Spain since so many Germans holidayed there.

ALSO READ: WHO chief: Global COVID-19 cases doubled over past 6 weeks

Arriving passengers wait in line for a COVID-19 test at a new test center at the airport in Duesseldorf, Germany, July 27, 2020. (MARTIN MEISSNER / AP)

Ghana

The number of COVID-19 infections in Ghana has increased to 33,624, after 655 new cases were confirmed early Tuesday, said the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

In its latest update, the GHS also said that 307 more people had been discharged after treatment, bringing the number of recoveries to 29,801.

The death toll remained at 168 while active cases rose to 3,655.

Greece

Greece will make mask-wearing compulsory at more indoor public spaces to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus after a small flare up of COVID-19 infections in the second half of this month, its Deputy Civil Protection Minister said on Tuesday.

Health authorities had made mask-wearing compulsory for consumers at supermarkets 10 days ago. Mask have been also compulsory at public transport.

The measure goes into effect from Wednesday.

Greece has managed to contain the spread of COVID-19 infections to 4,227 confirmed cases and 202 deaths after imposing an early lockdown based on official data up to Monday.

Guatemala

Guatemala began reopening its economy on Monday, easing restrictions imposed four months ago to curb the coronavirus, although cases are still on the rise in much of the country.

Although the country's borders remain closed, various industries can resume operations, public transportation will gradually begin running and shopping centers and restaurants can reopen starting on Monday. The curfew will remain in place at night.

Despite the relaxation of health measures, nearly half of Guatemalan municipalities remain on "red alert," meaning cases have yet to level off.

On Sunday, Guatemala reported 45,000 total cases of COVID-19 and 1,700 deaths.

Ireland

Ireland announced a 375 million euro financial package on Monday aimed at getting children back to school full-time by the end of August, as it eases its coronavirus restrictions.

Hundreds of additional teachers and support staff will be recruited, and 75 million euros will be spent on building works and classroom alterations to enable social distancing to protect the health of staff and students.

Ireland's new coalition government has staked its reputation on a timely and successful reopening of schools. This month it delayed the final phase of reopening the economy to Aug 10 when the infection rate crept up a touch.

Ireland has reported 25,892 confirmed cases and 1,764 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Kenya

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday introduced a raft of new measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, noting that the surge of infections has continued for the past three weeks and in some areas accelerated sharply.

Kenyatta banned the sale of alcoholic drinks in all restaurants in the country and directed all bars to remain closed indefinitely to slow down the rising rate of COVID-19 transmission in the country. Kenyatta also extended the nationwide curfew for a further 30 days.

The measures were introduced as the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 17,975 on Monday after 440 new cases were confirmed.

The Ministry of Health said in a statement that the death toll rose by five to 285 while the number of recoveries increased by 90 to 7,833.

Libya

The National Center for Disease Control of Libya on Monday reported 158 new COVID-19 cases, raising the infection tally in the country to 2,827, including 577 recoveries and 64 deaths.

Separately on Monday, the Ministry of Justice said that it will release 582 prisoners before the end of their prison term in order to reduce the number of prisoners, as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus.

Mexico

Mexico's health ministry on Monday reported 4,973 new coronavirus cases and 342 additional deaths, bringing the country's total cases to 395,489 and death toll to 44,022.

Mexico has the fourth highest coronavirus death tally worldwide. The government has said the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.

Morocco

Morocco registered 609 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, raising the tally of infections in the North African country to 20,887, the health ministry said.

Recoveries increased by 115 to 16,553 while the death toll rose by three to 316 in the last 24 hours, said Mouad Mrabet, coordinator of the Moroccan Center for Public Health Operations at the Ministry of Health, at a press briefing.

Earlier in the day, Minister of Health Khalid Ait Taleb warned that the spread of COVID-19 in Morocco is becoming a big concern given the surge in infections in the past week.

Nigeria

Nigeria will allow schools to reopen for pupils due to take graduation exams, a presidential aide said on Monday, reviving a plan dropped earlier this month due to rising cases of COVID-19.

"The federal government orders the re-opening schools for secondary school students in exit classes on August 4, 2020," Bashir Ahmad, a presidential aide, tweeted.

In the message, he said the move was made ahead of the start of the West African Examinations (WAEC) - a region-wide test for graduation from secondary school - on Aug 17.

The West African country has reported 40,532 coronavirus infections, including 858 deaths. The number of deaths has jumped from 460 since the schools plan was postponed on July 9.

Peru

Peru has so far registered 389,717 COVID-19 infections, with 18,418 deaths and 272,547 recoveries, the health ministry said on Monday.

Russia

Russia reported 5,395 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing its nationwide tally to 823,515, the fourth largest in the world.

Russia's coronavirus taskforce said 150 people had died over the last 24 hours, pushing the official death toll in the country of around 145 million people to 13,504.

A tourist wearing a face mask pushes a stroller as illustrators wait for customers, in Benidorm, southeast Spain, July 27, 2020. (ALVARO BARRIENTOS / AP)

Spain

With its tourism-reliant economy on its knees, Spain is desperate to convince the UK to reconsider its thinking as stranded Britons, prospective travelers and airlines all complained.

Spain reported a cumulative total of 278,782 coronavirus cases on Monday, health ministry data showed, with the figure including results from antibody tests on people who may have already recovered. A total of 855 new cases were diagnosed in the past day, while the ministry is monitoring 361 clusters across the country.

Spain does not report daily coronavirus data over the weekend.

Tunisia

The Tunisian government announced on Monday new measures for travelers coming from abroad in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

The new measures were adopted after a number of new infections were recorded among returnees.

"These measures include the obligation to place all members of the same family coming from countries not classified on the 'green' or 'orange' list, including children under 12, in mandatory isolation," reads a statement released by the government.

Those from a country on the "orange" list and those who did not carry out a lab test for COVID-19 will be held in quarantine for at least three days until the health ministry carries out the their lab tests, according to the statement.

The Ministry of Health on Monday reported three new cases, including two imported ones, bringing the tally to 1,455, with 1,157 recoveries and 50 deaths.

UK

The UK is considering ways to scale back its coronavirus quarantine rules after restrictions on trips to Spain provoked a backlash from tourists, airlines and the government in Madrid.

Plans being examined by officials in London include abandoning the blanket rules applying to travel across whole countries in favor of regional restrictions, and reducing the number of days passengers arriving back home in Britain will need to stay in quarantine.

Transport minister Charlotte Vere unveiled the government’s latest thinking in answer to questions in the House of Lords, the UK Parliament’s upper chamber, on Tuesday.

“We are looking at all eventualities because we would like to reduce the days in isolation if we possibly can,” Vere said. The UK is also considering regional restrictions to replace whole-country curbs, such as the one imposed on Spain, she added. “We could put them in place for regions in the future -- we’re not there yet, but we are looking at it because it’s an appropriate consideration.”

Earlier, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez responded angrily to the UK ratcheting up its travel ban to Spain to include popular holiday islands.

“The decision is unbalanced,” Sanchez said in interview with local television broadcaster Telecinco. The Balearic and Canary Islands, he said “have a lower incidence of the virus than is being registered right now” in Britain.

British junior minister Simon Clarke said the government disagreed with the Sanchez's assessment. Clarke said that Britain's travel advice was guided by science and Spain's infection rate had risen.

As of Monday morning, Britain has recorded 300,111 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with a daily increase of 685, according to figures updated by the country's health authorities.

READ MORE: Johnson accepts lessons to be learned from UK's virus response

US

Coronavirus cases in the US increased 1.3 percent Monday to 4.27 million, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg News. Deaths rose 0.3 percent to 147,209.

California, which reported new 6,891 cases, plans to spend US$52 million to ramp up testing, treatment and infected-person isolation in eight counties of the Central Valley, one of nation’s most important agricultural regions. 

New York health authorities will investigate a Hamptons charity concert opened by Goldman Sachs chief David Solomon and headlined by the Chainsmokers after footage showed crowds of partiers, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo. The governor said he was appalled by “egregious social distancing violations” seen in videos of the Saturday night event in Southampton. 

Attending an event in North Carolina, President Donald Trump wore a mask and talked up the possibility of a coronavirus vaccine by the end of the year.

Trump also said a number of governors are moving too slowly to open their states’ economies amid the coronavirus pandemic -- a shift from last week when he praised social distancing measures and state executives.

Meanwhile, US Senate Republicans has proposed a US$1 trillion coronavirus aid package hammered out with the White House.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the package would include direct US$1,200 payments to Americans, as well as US$190 billion for loans to help small businesses, while slashing the expiring supplemental unemployment benefits of US$600 a week by two-thirds.


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