Coronavirus Update Jun 15, 2020

2020-06-15

There are a long term to see the end of Coronavirus pandemic in the world.

Study Finds 1 in 5 People Worldwide at Risk of Severe Covid-19

A new analysis shows that roughly 1.7 billion people have at least one of the underlying health conditions that can worsen cases of the coronavirus. Reported by New York Times.

In just six months, nearly 8 million people worldwide have been stricken with confirmed cases of Covid-19, and at least 434,000 have died. But those deaths have not been distributed evenly; among the most vulnerable are people with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes and diseases that affect the heart and lungs. According to a new modeling study, roughly 1.7 billion people around the world — 22 percent of the global population — fall into that category.

Pence urged governors to echo a misleading claim about infection spikes.

Spikes of Confirmed Cases:

Vice President Mike Pence encouraged governors on Monday to adopt the administration’s claim that increased testing helps account for the new coronavirus outbreak reports, even though evidence has shown that the explanation is misleading.

On a call with the governors, audio of which was obtained by The New York Times, Mr. Pence urged them “to continue to explain to your citizens the magnitude of the increase in testing” in addressing the new outbreaks.

And he asked them to “encourage people with the news that we’re safely reopening the country.”

In fact, seven-day averages in several states with outbreaks have increased since May 31, and in at least 14 states, the positive case rate is increasing faster than the increase in the average number of tests, according to an analysis of data collected by The New York Times.

Some bars and restaurants just reopened. Now they’re closed again.

Bars and restaurants that only recently reopened around the country are being forced to close their doors again, or at least suspend dining in, amid new infections.

In some cases, the closings came after employees tested positive. In others, it was the patrons who were found to be infected. In Phoenix, Texas, Florida, New York, Los Angeles, with the spikes of confirmed cases, people have to live with few bars, restaurants again.

New Zealand records two new cases, breaking a 24-day streak.

After declaring the coronavirus pandemic eradicated last week, New Zealand authorities on Tuesday confirmed two new cases of Covid-19 in travelers who had returned from Britain, ending the country’s 24-day streak without new infections.

‘The second wave has begun’: U.S. doctor says medical system may be stressed if people aren’t careful

By CNBC.

A second wave of coronavirus has started in the U.S. — and people need to remain careful or risk stressing out the health-care system again, said William Schaffner, a professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

“The second wave has begun,” said the professor of medicine told CNBC’s “Street Signs Asia” on Monday. “We’re opening up across the country, but many, many people are not social distancing, many are not wearing their masks.”

Even so, he said he “cannot imagine” a second shutdown due to the impact of the first one.

Several states in America have reported recent spikes in Covid-19 cases as measures are eased throughout the country. The U.S. has the highest number of cases in the world. Nearly 2.1 million people have been infected by the disease and more than 115,000 people have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Schaffner added that mass gatherings and religious services are also being held. “Many people are simply not being careful, they’re being carefree,” he said. “That, of course, will lead to more spread of the Covid virus.”

New Beijing cluster at wholesale market could impact food imports

A new cluster linked to a wholesale market in Beijing could impact food shipments into China. According to local media, the virus was found on chopping boards used for imported salmon at the Xinfadi market.

On Monday, the World Health Organization said that the claim the new cluster might have been caused by salmon imports or its packaging was not the “primary hypothesis,” Reuters reported.

The situation would be “difficult” if the cluster is traced back to imported meat as China needs imports to keep meat inflation under control, Darin Friedrichs, senior Asia commodity analyst at trading house INTL FCStone said in a report on Monday.

Any additional safety measures in the handling and process of imported meat could also be disruptive to the industry. Even if it is determined that the new cluster was not triggered by imported meat, the reports may have already hit consumer sentiment. If that triggers a shift in preference for domestic pork, that could drive up food inflation.

Newsom defends California reopening rules even for coronavirus cases rise

As COVID-19 cases in California continue to climb, and the death toll tops 5,000, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday defended his administration’s decision to allow counties to ease the stay-at-home order and other restrictions.

Newsom said COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state remain stable weeks after restrictions started to be modified, during a period that included the busy Memorial Day weekend, and maintained that the safeguards in place continue to effectively slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The governor said requiring residents to remain isolated would threaten their overall well-being, including physical and mental health and finances. More than 5.5 million Californians have applied for unemployment benefits during the pandemic.

For the fourth day in a row Monday, Texas reported record highs in hospitalizations from the new coronavirus. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported that there are 2,326 patients with COVID-19 in Texas hospitals — the highest number to date. Since Memorial Day, the state has also seen increases in the numbers of people testing positive for the virus.

The rise in cases and hospitalizations has caused Austin and Travis County to renew their stay-at-home orders. Reopened businesses there “are strongly encouraged” to operate their indoor spaces at 25% capacity or less and to provide services that promote physical distancing, like curbside pickup, according to KUT. But these orders can’t be enforced because Gov. Greg Abbott has allowed Texas restaurants to operate at 75% capacity and other businesses to operate at 50% capacity.