Coronavirus (COVID-19) Discussion Thread

[SvennoJ]

Weekly Update.


In total 4.49 million new cases were reported this week (up from 4.11 million) to a total of 135,288,781 cases worldwide
Also another 77,516 deaths were reported this week (up from 71,048) to a total of 2,927,665 casualties

Cases are rising a little in the USA, deaths as well. Europe had a big Easter dip in reporting and has less cases overall this week, deaths are still up

The continents

Asia reported 1.73 million new cases (up from 1.22 million) and doubled its deaths 14,720 (up from 7,606)
Europe reported 1.23 million new cases (down from 1.43 million) and 24,887 more deaths (up from 23,284)
South America reported 841K new cases (up from 809K) and 27,272 more deaths (up from 26,108)
North America reported 602K new cases (up from 554K) and 10,444 more deaths (slightly down from 10,517)
Africa reported 79.3K new cases (down from 87.4K) and 1,799 more deaths (slightly down from 1,897)
Oceania reported 1,519 new cases (down from 2,011) and 9 deaths (21 last week)

Corners of the world

India reported 812K new cases (up from 483K) and 4,326 more deaths (up from 2,866)
USA reported 488K new cases (up from 462K) and 7,230 more deaths (up from 6,468)
Brazil reported 463K new cases (down from 505K) and 20,568 more deaths (down from 21,040)
Iran reported 120K new cases (up from 70.2K) and 1,163 more deaths (up from 653)
Canada reported 54.7K new cases (up from 33.9K) and 243 deaths (182 last week)
Japan reported 18.7K new cases (up from 14.6K) and 149 deaths (218 last week)
South Africa reported 5,518 new cases (down from 7,645) and 280 deaths (344 last week)
South Korea reported 4,075 new cases (up from 3,424) and 27 deaths (21 last week)
Australia reported 55 new cases (95 last week) no deaths

Europe in detail

Big dips in reporting around Easter, hard to tell who is actually recovering and which dips might only be temporary

The biggest concerns are in Asia, Turkey, Iran, India. Here in Canada we're not getting the new variants under control either, hence the stay at home orders for the next 4 weeks. At least we still have the means to get our hands on vaccines but as predicted, it is now quickly turning into a first vs third world situation. Everyone for themselves to get as much vaccine as possible. Survival of the richest.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56480474
India recorded 260,000 fresh coronavirus cases last week - one of the worst weekly increases since the pandemic began early last year.
Experts say that poor adherence to safety protocols is driving the surge. Some say new variants could also be a reason, but it isn't established yet.

BBC doesn't want to link it to the UK variant of course, but now a new combined variant might become the culprit
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56507988

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/04/09/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/
U.S. cases involving Brazil variant on the rise, according to CDC data

Here variants have likely taken over the spread completely
https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/06/americas/canada-covid-19-variants-spread/index.html
"With increasing rates of infection, we are seeing a greater number of younger adults with Covid-19 being treated in hospital," said Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer. She added that more than 15,000 variant cases have been detected so far, the vast majority of them the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom.

Keeping the cases high, just looking at hospital numbers to decide when re-opening was 'safe' was a terrible decision. New Zealand and Australia had the right idea, the rest of the world only created a bigger mess.