U.S. Infection Pace Accelerates; Iran Struggles: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) --

New U.S. cases crept above the pace seen in recent days. Russian deaths reached a two-month high.

As Europe’s second wave persisted, Germany posted its highest daily number of new cases since April and Poland wasn’t far off Friday’s record. A professor warned that deaths in Britain could hit 100 a day by late October.

The health minister of Australian virus epicenter Victoria resigned. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the U.S. could face a “problematic” fall and winter in the fight against the virus as cases breached 7 million.

Key Developments:

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U.S. Cases, Deaths Rise (8 a.m. NY)

The U.S. added 55,074 cases, a 0.8% gain above the average 0.6% increase in the previous seven days, according to data from Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg. Total cases are now 7,032,595.

Another 948 people died, the fourth straight day over 900. Total fatalities are 203,746.

Emiratis Shut Entertainment Early (7:27 a.m. NY)

The United Arab Emirates reported 1,078 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, marking the fourth day in a row of infections rising above 1,000. The country’s fatality rate remains among the lowest globally, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Dubai, a sheikdom in the UAE, issued a circular on Thursday directing entertainment activities in the city to conclude by 1 a.m. as a new measure to spread the curb of the virus, according to a report in the Khaleej Times.

Iran Fatalities Climb (7:25 a.m. NY)

Coronavirus fatalities in Iran rose to 25,394 with 172 more deaths overnight, down from 207 a day earlier. The number of daily new cases also eased to 3,204 from 3,563 the day before, taking the total to 443,086, the latest Health Ministry data showed.

Iran has struggled to curb the spread of the virus in the past few weeks. The country saw an average of 182 deaths and 3,332 new cases per day over the past seven days, a significant jump from an average of 113 deaths and 2,009 new infections daily in the last week of August.

U.K. Professor Warns Grim Weeks Ahead (7 a.m. NY)

Britain could see 100 coronavirus deaths a day as soon as three weeks from now, according to a scientist who advises the government. Professor Graham Medley, of Britain’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said on BBC Radio 4 that his assumptions were 10,000 new infections being reported every day and a death rate of 1%.

Russia Deaths Reach 2-Month High (5:37 p.m. HK)

Russia reported 7,523 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, with Moscow posting the most new infections since June 8. There were 169 fatalities nationwide, the most since July 29, taking the total to 20,225.

New cases in Moscow rose by 1,792, up 15% from the previous day. On Friday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin asked people over 65 and those with chronic illnesses to stay home from Sept. 28. He also advised companies to switch as many employees as possible back to working from home.

S. Africa Disbands Adviser Group (5:20 p.m. HK)

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize disbanded a group of 51 scientific pandemic advisers after many of them were critical of the government’s measures to curb the spread of the virus. Members of the Ministerial Advisory Council were informed of the dissolution in a one-paragraph notification, according to News24, a South African Internet news site.

Poland Cases Hover Near Record (4:13 p.m. HK)

Poland reported 1,584 coronavirus cases on Saturday, the second-highest number after the record of 1,587 on Friday, according to the nation’s health minister. As a result, a total of 85,980 cases were confirmed since the outbreak of the pandemic. Altogether 2,424 deaths were confirmed, including 32 deaths reported on Saturday.

Highest Number of German Cases Since Spring (3:45 p.m. HK)

Germany recorded its highest number of new Covid-19 cases since late April. Still, with 2,366 new infections in one day, the number is well below the additional cases reported by some other European countries.

After the start of the new school year in Germany, around 50,000 students are currently in quarantine, Bild-Zeitung reported, citing a survey of local authorities.

More Hungary Virus Fatalities (3:06 p.m. HK)

Hungary reported 12 coronavirus deaths Saturday, continuing the increase in fatalities observed in the past two weeks. There were 950 additional confirmed infections, with 589 people currently being treated in hospitals.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a Facebook video that he expects a further increase in cases. The country has enough hospital capacity and has more beds in dedicated epidemiological units in reserve, Orban added.

Rwanda Approves Easing of Measures (2:06 p.m. HK)

The East African nation’s cabinet approved the gradual reopening of schools depending on education levels of education as pandemic-linked restrictions ease. Inter-provincial public transport will resume, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, and mandatory testing for meetings, conferences and social gatherings has been scrapped.

Rwanda has reported 4,798 total cases so far.

China Halts Some Seafood Imports (12:24 p.m. HK)

Chinese authorities said they had suspended some seafood imports from two Russian vessels and a Brazilian company after Covid-19 was found in samples.

The General Administration of Customs will from Saturday suspend imports from two Russian vessels for four weeks after outer packaging and product samples from the ships tested positive.

Brazil’s Monteiro Industrial de Pescados Ltda will be subject to a similar ban for a week starting Saturday, after a sample of inner packaging from the firm’s frozen ribbon fish products tested positive for the virus.

They add to a long list of restrictions on imports by China, which has been investigating imported meat, seafood, packaging and containers as a potential virus source.

Singapore to Isolate Fewer Migrant Workers (11:34 a.m. HK)

Singapore is set to quarantine fewer migrant workers in their dorms should virus cases be detected in the living quarters, tweaking its approach to reduce work disruption and improve their welfare.

The move aims to minimize disruption to the country’s economy, and will isolate smaller groups when a new case is found in a dorm -- instead of an entire block of workers -- according to the Ministry of Manpower.

Victoria’s Health Minister Steps Down (9:17 a.m. HK)

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos of Australia’s coronavirus hot spot Victoria state resigned amid anger over quarantine procedures at hotels.

State Premier Daniel Andrews had told an investigation into the government’s quarantine program that he saw Mikakos as accountable for the program, according to a report from the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Mikakos said that while she never shirked her responsibility, it wasn’t hers alone.

Her resignation came as Prime Minister Scott Morrison told the UN General Assembly that whoever discovers a vaccine to the new coronavirus must share it, calling it a global and moral responsibility.

Dozens of New Infections in South Korea (8:31 a.m. HK)

South Korea reported 61 more Covid-19 cases, brining its total to 23,516 as it works to contain a new wave of the virus. The country is boosting social distancing measures for two weeks in bid to prevent cases from resurging during national holidays.

Mexico Reports More Than 5,000 New Cases (8:11 a.m. HK)

The hard-hit country reported 5,401 new virus cases, bringing its total to 720,858, according to the Health Ministry. The number of deaths rose by 405, to 75,844. Authorities said 28% of general hospital beds were now occupied.

California Warns of Jump in Hospitalizations (7:45 a.m. HK)

The Golden State is seeing early signs of rising virus case counts and emergency-room visits after several weeks of improvement, with forecasts showing that hospitalizations may jump 89% in a month, according to a top health official.

Some of the uptick may be tied to an increase in infections over Labor Day weekend, Mark Ghaly, California’s health and human services secretary, said at a briefing Friday. He said he was raising an “early flag” to warn of a potential rise in cases as businesses reopen and flu season nears.

“It really is about not letting our guard down as we did earlier in the summer,” Ghaly said.

California has made significant progress in fighting its outbreak, with hospitalizations and test positivity rates at the lowest since the pandemic began.

Fauci Says U.S. May Face ‘Problematic’ Months Ahead (7:40 a.m. HK)

Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the U.S. could face a “problematic” fall and winter in the fight against the virus.

“We’re afraid things could actually get worse,” he said in an interview with Irish public broadcaster RTE. “We’ve got to get our baseline down, we’ve got to get control of this.”

Still, he also struck an optimistic note, saying the pandemic will end, and it should be clear by the end of the year whether a safe vaccine has been developed.

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