Apart from the countries like the US and Brazil that have larger caseloads, Australia, Hong Kong, Sudan, Uzbekistan, Israel among others saw their highest spike in cases. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Coronavirus Global Updates: More than 15.87 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 639,354 have died, according to a Reuters tally. Over the past week, nearly 40 countries have witnessed a record single-day spike in fresh coronavirus infections which is double the number from the previous week. Apart from the countries like the US and Brazil that have larger caseloads, Australia, Hong Kong, Sudan, Uzbekistan, Israel among others saw their highest spike in cases.
North Korea has reported a suspected covid-19 case in its border town, following which Kim Jong Un decided to impose a lockdown and declare emergency in Kaesong city. If confirmed this would be N. Korea’s first official coronavirus case.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Texas apart from witnessing a surge in infections is being hit hard by Hurricane Hanna that has made landfall twice and is threatening to bring possible tornadoes. Similarly Hawai is gearing up for a hurricane as coronavirus numbers escalate in the country.
Australia’s Victoria reports its highest daily death toll
A woman looks out a window from a locked-down public housing tower in Melbourne, Monday, July 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
Reporting its highest daily toll amid a continuous surge in coronavirus cases, Australia’s Victoria recorded 10 deaths overnight, State Premier Daniel Andrews said. A man in his 40’s became one of the youngest covid fatality in Australia. In terms of cases, the state reported 459 new infections making it the 21st consecutive day of triple digit spike in infections. Victoria processed 42,973 tests on Saturday which was by far and away the biggest testing result that we’ve seen on a single day.
N.Korea declares emergency, lockdown in Kaesong city as first suspected Covid-19 case reported
Kim Jong Un convened an emergency meet in response to critical situation. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared an emergency and a lockdown in the border town of Kaesong after a person suspected of being coronavirus positive returned from South Korea after illegally crossing the border, state media said Sunday, Reuters reported. If confirmed, this would be North Korea’s first coronavirus case. Kim convened an emergency meet in response to critical situation in which the vicious virus could be said to have entered the country”, the North’s KCNA state news reported.
UK imposes a 2-week quarantine for travellers coming from Spain
The UK has imposed a two-week quarantine for travellers coming from Spain with effect from Saturday midnight. Britain is also advising people not to travel to Spain and has removed the country from the list of safe places to visit following a surge of COVID19 cases.
A sign requesting people stay two metres apart to try to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is displayed in front of “Out of Order” a 1989 red phone box sculpture by British artist David Mach, in south west London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Britain’s Department for Transport issued a statement late Saturday warning that as of midnight anyone returning from Spain would have to self isolate. “Protecting public health is our absolute priority and we have taken this decision to limit any potential spread to the UK” the government said.
Lebanon reports its highest single-day spike
A border official checks the temperature of passengers as a precautionary measure at a border crossing between Syria and Lebanon in Jdaydet Yabous, Syria. (Reuters)
With 175 new coronavirus cases reported in the last 24 hours, Lebanon has reported its highest single-day spike taking the total caseload to 3,500. Lebanese officials warn of a spike in infections following the easing of restrictions after the country’s only airport opened on July 1. Government officials have urged people to observe social distancing and wear masks.
The government is considering reintroducing restrictions including closing gyms, nightclubs and business. Lebanon currently has 3,582 confirmed cases and 47 deaths.
Mainland China reports 46 new coronavirus cases, including 22 in Xinjiang
As mainland China reported 46 new infections Saturday, up from 34 a day earlier, Xinjaing has 22 out of the new infections, China’s Health Commission said on Sunday. Thirteen were in the northeastern province of Liaoning, while the remaining 11 were imported cases. Xinjaing has been reporting new infections consistently since the past week after it experienced a new surge on 18 July.
As of Saturday, mainland China had 83,830 confirmed coronavirus cases, the health authority said. The COVID-19 death toll remained at 4,634.
France expands free COVID-19 testing as infection rates rise
As coronavirus cases increase following ease in restrictions in France, the French health authorities are making coronavirus tests kits available to its citizens free of charge and without a prescription as they closely monitor the uptick in infections.
People queue up prior to visit the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, Thursday, June 25, 2020. The Eiffel Tower reopens after the coronavirus pandemic led to the iconic Paris landmark’s longest closure since World War II. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
PCR nasal swab tests, which detect COVID-19 infections caused by the novel coronavirus, will be freely available on demand under government orders published on Saturday.
Israelis continue protests against PM’s handling of pandemic
Israeli police officers scuffle with demonstrators during a protest against Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside his residence in Jerusalem, early Sunday, July 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Thousands in Israel held numerous demonstrations across the country against their prime minister and the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic with the main protest taking place in Jerusalem outside the official residence of Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday. The protests that have been continuously going for the past few weeks triggered by the failure to handle and contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Israel has been reporting an average spike of 2,000 cases daily since the reopening of the economy since May which has been termed by critics as “hasty and erratic”.
Some other important developments
South Korea new cases have fallen back to below 60 a day
Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff says his wife has tested positive, while his results awaits
With escalating coronavirus numbers, Hawaii is gearing up for a hurricane