Weekly update, new wave starting in Europe
Deaths are still heading down at least, the reported ones...
World wide cases are up 14% compared to last week, reported deaths are down by 25%.
The continents
Asia getting back on top, Oceania passing South America, the pandemic has been moving East.
Cases in Asia are up 26%, Oceania 14%, Europe 6.7% increase.
Cases are down in NA by 11%, South America 17%, Africa 35% decrease.
Corners of the world
South Korea is still heading up, 2.83 million new cases last week an 1,907 more deaths.
China is also heading up, still below the original outbreak in Wuhan, at least by the numbers they're releasing.
Europe in detail
Germany heading further up with other countries following.
It's still far from over, yet by Monday we'll be pretending it's all in the past :/
In addition to no more masks in schools:
- All requirements around cohorting and distancing will be removed
- There will be no more restrictions on athletic activities, music or singing
- No capacity limits for indoor activities (other than fire code regulations)
- No immunization requirements for indoor sports spectators
- Visitors to schools will not be required to provide proof of immunization or wear a mask
- Staff immunization disclosure requirements are lifted, as well as the regular testing requirements for non-immunized staff
As mentioned by Dr. Kieran Moore, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, these changes represent a move to “learning to live with and manage COVID-19.” We look forward to your continued support and cooperation as we continue to move in this direction together.
Meanwhile https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/no-moving-on-from-covid-19-for-canada-s-exhausted-health-care-workers-1.5824541
COVID-19 cases continue to roll into the two Toronto-area hospitals where Eram Chhogala works as a trauma nurse. The numbers have dwindled to a stream instead of a wave, but each is a reminder of what the disease has done and could possibly still do.
"Previously, we had high numbers and waves where people came in heavy bottlenecks, and I'm just wondering if it's going to be the same thing again," Chhogala said in a phone interview this week. "You know, it's the wonder of, 'Is this going to happen again?'"
With mask mandates and other COVID-19 health restrictions lifting, many Canadians are finally able to envision a return to normal life. But, as they face burnout, staff shortages and daunting procedural backlogs, some health workers say it isn't so easy to move on.
Chhogala says she understands people's desire to return to a more normal life. But she also worries that health measures such as mask mandates are lifting too quickly, while there's still so much to do to ensure the health system is ready for another wave.
"A lot of people are probably really excited that they can go back to normal again, but I just don't think that we're at that normal yet," she says.
I agree, it's too soon. Canada usually follows the trends in the UK and they're going up again. Right after March break is the worst time to drop most of the counter measures. We're still at 37K cases a week and 300 deaths. It's not over. Schools remained closed with lower numbers last year (both in cases and deaths, while cases are now also counted much less) and with a less infectious strain going around.
