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The official death toll from Covid-19 has approached 1 million, although experts say the true figure may be nearly double. India’s infections are projected to exceed 6 million, while Russia is experiencing a resurgence in cases.
Virus cases in the United States rose by 45,444 on Saturday to 7.08 million, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg. The 0.7 percent increase was in line with the average daily increase for the previous seven days. An additional 740 deaths were reported nationwide that day, which is consistent with the average increase from the previous week.
Utah reported more than 1,000 cases for the fourth day in a row, ending the state’s worst week since the start of the pandemic, according to data from the state health department.
New infections in Utah rose to record levels this month amid an outbreak in the Midwest and Mountain regions, reaching a peak of 1,411 new cases Thursday.
The state reported a cumulative 70,615 cases and 453 deaths on Sunday.
Health officials in New York City said they are alarmed by a continued increase in the transmission of the Covid-19 virus in sections of southern Brooklyn and Queens with large Orthodox Jewish communities, on the eve of the Yom Kippur holiday.
Seven of the eight neighborhoods saw increases from Saturday’s previous report, according to preliminary data, the city’s health department said in a statement.
Face mask compliance in neighborhoods has been much lower than in other parts of the city, and cases have exceeded the citywide average “at an alarming rate,” more than tripling, in the past 14 days, according to the Department.
Key developments:
Vaccine is likely to be ‘partially protective’: Gottlieb
The coronavirus vaccines under development are likely to be “partially protective,” but will not prevent all inoculated people from becoming infected, said Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration.
“The expectation is that this vaccine will be partially protective, very similar to the flu vaccine, where for some people it will provide full immunity, but for other people it will not provide as much protection,” Gottlieb told CBS “Face the Nation.”
G20 Leaders Summit to be held ‘virtually’
The G-20 Leaders Summit, which had been planned for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will now take place “virtually,” according to a statement posted on the G-20 website.
The G-20 summit brings together the leaders of the world’s largest country for a multi-day summit meeting. This year’s agenda “will focus on protecting lives and restoring growth, addressing vulnerabilities discovered during the pandemic and laying the foundation for a better future,” according to the statement.
Morrison advocates an end to the Australian confinement
The leader of Australia’s second-largest state has announced the end of Melbourne’s nightly curfew earlier than originally expected as the pace of new coronavirus infections in the city slows.
That is not enough for Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is urgently seeking to restart the stagnant national economy and is pleading with the Prime Minister of the state of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, to swiftly lift more lockdown restrictions implemented nearly two months ago.
Beijing urges halt some frozen food imports
The Beijing city government is requiring companies to stop importing frozen food from countries with severe coronavirus outbreaks, according to a statement on the website of the local trade office. The statement did not mention any nation.
The city’s move is the latest import restriction in China. The nation has been investigating imported meat, seafood, packaging, and containers as a potential source of Covid-19 since June.
Cases in Brazil, slow deaths
Brazil reported 14,318 cases, after a week in which the nation had the fewest infections since June, according to data from the Health Ministry. The total number of cases, in the country with the third highest number of infections in the world, is now 4,732,309. Another 335 people died, for a total of 141,741 deaths.
Cases from Ireland on the rise
Ireland recorded 43O new infections on Sunday, the most in five months, and Dublin accounted for around half of the cases. The government has reintroduced restrictions in the Irish capital, as well as in a region along the border, to try to slow the spread of the virus.
France slow cases
France reported a third daily decline in new cases, falling to 11,123 on Sunday from 14,412 on Saturday. The seven-day average stayed above 12,000 for the third day. France reported 27 additional deaths, bringing the total to 31,727.
Myanmar tightens restrictions
Myanmar has seen an increase in cases this month, prompting the government to order the construction of treatment and quarantine centers in Yangon and Mandalay.
About 743 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed on Sunday, bringing the total for the Southeast Asian nation to 10,734, the Ministry of Health and Sports said. Deaths increased from 28 to 226. All but six deaths were reported this month.
On Monday, the government will further tighten restrictions to minimize the movement of people in the Yangon region from one municipality to another.
Bloomberg News
