COVID-19 cases cross 11-million mark globally, England eases curbs

The worldwide tally of COVID-19 cases has crossed the 11-million mark with half-a-million deaths being reported so far from across the globe, according to data released by the John Hopkins University on Saturday (July 4).

Currently, the  numbers stand at 11,093,182 confirmed cases and 525,491 cases. The US continues to remain on top of the worst-affected countries’ list with 2,795,163 cases, and 129,437 deaths, as per the university’s data.

Brazil and Russia occupy the second and third spots on the list with 1,539,081 and 673,564 cases respectively. India, with 648,315 positive cases, is currently the fourth worst-affected country in the world. It is followed by the South American countries, Peru and Chile.

The World Health Organisation, meanwhile, updated its COVID-19 timeline on Saturday, to say that it wasn’t China, but its own office in the country that alerted the global body of the virus. The first few cases were reported from Wuhan, China.

Meanwhile, the WHO’s emergencies chief Dr. Michael Ryan said that “we need to put up a fight now” during a peak in the current wave of the COVID pandemic, rather than focusing on when a second wave might come.

Pubs, restaurants open in England

For the first time in more than three months, England has permitted the opening of pubs and restaurants in what is being seen as the biggest lockdown easing in the country. Also, to the reopening of much of the hospitality sector, couples can tie the knot once again, one can watch a movie at their local cinema and finally get a haircut. However, social distancing rules have to be followed in all such cases.

Related news: First alerted on coronavirus by our office, not China, says WHO

Though the lockdown easing will be warmly welcomed by many, there are concerns that the British government is being overly hasty, even reckless, in sanctioning the changes, given the country’s still-high coronavirus infection and death rates.

On Friday, another 137 virus-related deaths were recorded across the UK, the large majority in England, taking the total to 44,131, by far the highest in Europe and third behind the United States and Brazil.

Spain county locked down

Authorities in northeastern Spain on Saturday ordered the lockdown of a county around the city of Lleida due to worrying outbreaks of the virus. Catalan regional authorities said that as of noon local time, movement will be restricted to and from El Segriá, around Lleida, home to over 200,000 people. Residents will have until 4 pm local time to enter the area.

This is the first restriction of free movement since the end of Spain’s state of emergency on June 21. Regional health authorities said Friday that they had registered a jump in 60 cases in 24 hours, taking the total number of infections to over 4,000 in the county. These fresh outbreaks are linked to agricultural workers in the rural area.

Curfew imposed in Miami

Curfew has been imposed in Miami ahead of the Independence Day weekend while several other US states too witnessed a record increase in the virus cases on Friday. Reports said that new daily highs in cases have been reported from North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alaska, Missouri, Idaho and Alabama.

New York state reports 918 new cases

New York state reported 918 new coronavirus infections and nine deaths, Governor Andrew Cuomo said. It’s the first time more than 900 new infections have been reported since June 12, when 916 people tested positive for the virus statewide.

“The more than 900 new cases in New York yesterday, while representing just 1.38 per cent of tests, is a reminder that the virus is still here,” the Democratic governor said in a news release. He added, “I cannot repeat enough that our actions today — those of individuals being smart and following all precautions, and local governments enforcing the state’s guidelines — will determine which direction these numbers go.”

Trump Jr’s girlfriend contracts coronavirus

Kimberly Guilfoyle, girlfriend of US President Donald Trump’s oldest son, has contracted the virus. Sergio Gor, chief of staff to the Trump campaign’s finance committee, said Guilfoyle was immediately isolated after the positive result to limit exposure.

He said that she will be retested to confirm the diagnosis since she isn’t showing symptoms of COVID-19. Gor said that Guilfoyle is doing well and canceling her public events. He said that Donald Trump Jr. has tested negative but is self-isolating as a precaution. He is also canceling his public events. The couple was in South Dakota to hold fundraisers for Trump’s reelection.

Saudi crosses 2-lakh mark

Saudi Arabia has become the first country in the Gulf to cross the 2-lakh mark with 4,193 fresh cases being reported on Friday, weeks ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. Currently, the country’s count stands at 2,01,801, as per John Hopkins University data. It has also reported 1,802 COVID-related death so far.

First alert from WHO office in China, says health body

The WHO, in a recent update of its account of the early stages of the pandemic, said that it was alerted by its own office in China, and not China itself, to the first pneumonia cases in Wuhan. On April 20, WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference the first report had come from China, but did not specify whether the report had been sent by Chinese authorities or another source. However, in a more detailed chronology of events published by WHO recently, indicates that it was the WHO office in China that on December 31 notified its regional point of contact of a case of “viral pneumonia” after having found a declaration for the media on a Wuhan health commission website on the issue.