Country,	Total	New	Total
Other	Cases	Cases	Deaths
World	204,727,137	609,402	4,326,058
USA	36,892,215	101,254	634,662
India	32,033,333	36,316	429,183
Brazil	20,213,388	35,245	564,890
Russia	6,491,288	21,378	166,442
France	6,339,509	28,576	112,356
UK	6,117,540	23,510	130,503
Turkey	5,968,868	26,597	52,437
Argentina	5,041,487	12,412	108,165
Colombia	4,846,955	3,948	122,768
Spain	4,643,450	15,680	82,227
Italy	4,406,241	5,636	128,273
Iran	4,238,676	39,139	95,111
Germany	3,803,332	3,284	92,312
Indonesia	3,718,821	32,081	110,619
Mexico	2,978,330	6,513	244,935
Poland	2,884,361	200	75,285
South Africa	2,546,762	6,540	75,201
Ukraine	2,260,232	781	53,124
Peru	2,127,034	1,186	197,102
Netherlands	1,888,992	2,161	17,878
Iraq	1,732,298	9,970	19,336
Philippines	1,676,156	8,560	29,220
Czechia	1,675,179	168	30,369
Chile	1,624,823	507	36,138
Canada	1,443,433	1,346	26,683
Bangladesh	1,376,322	11,164	23,161
Malaysia	1,299,767	19,991	11,162
Belgium	1,141,379	1,454	25,274
Sweden	1,106,821		14,621
Romania	1,085,412	312	34,323
Pakistan	1,075,504	3,884	24,004
Japan	1,043,625	12,068	15,297
Portugal	990,293	2,232	17,502
Israel	910,569	4,164	6,571
Hungary	810,046	35	30,037
Thailand	795,951	19,843	6,588
Jordan	779,019	926	10,148
Switzerland	729,024	1,910	10,918
Serbia	727,246	792	7,146
Nepal	720,680	3,194	10,150
Morocco	711,103	9,778	10,509
UAE	695,619	1,334	1,982
Austria	664,133	601	10,751
Kazakhstan	649,120	7,235	6,973
Tunisia	613,628		21,089
Lebanon	573,959	1,558	7,952
Saudi Arabia	535,176	864	8,357
Greece	521,399	4,181	13,087
Ecuador	491,831		31,788
Bolivia	478,671	608	18,004
Cuba	475,105	8,936	3,608
Georgia	455,846	5,697	6,182
Paraguay	455,680	291	15,341
Belarus	455,281	607	3,551
Panama	443,718	900	6,918
Bulgaria	429,628	805	18,288
Costa Rica	422,344	1,882	5,169
Kuwait	404,463	595	2,375
Guatemala	394,372	3,254	10,845
Slovakia	393,160	101	12,543
Uruguay	382,721	114	5,990
Croatia	365,335	246	8,275
Azerbaijan	354,662	1,736	5,084
Dominican Republic	344,836	211	3,975
Myanmar	337,561	4,434	12,234
Sri Lanka	335,851	2,904	5,340
Denmark	325,725	1,004	2,554
Palestine	318,181	182	3,615
Ireland	315,385	1,509	5,044
Venezuela	314,480	896	3,733
Honduras	309,029	1178	8,202
Oman	298,942		3,948
Lithuania	286,943	517	4,433
Ethiopia	285,413	882	4,440
Egypt	284,875	86	16,588
Libya	271,981	2134	3,781
Bahrain	270,290	129	1,384
Moldova	261,000	193	6,291
Slovenia	260,372	216	4,433
Armenia	232,610	313	4,658
Vietnam	228,135	8,390	4,145
Qatar	228,119	220	601
S. Korea	213,987	1539	2,134
Kenya	213,756	1,183	4,211
Bosnia and Herzegovina	206,476	159	9,694
Zambia	200,830	629	3,499
Algeria	183,347	979	4,618
Nigeria	179,118	610	2,194
Mongolia	175,560	957	860
Kyrgyzstan	169,971	471	2,413
North Macedonia	158,681	517	5,513
Afghanistan	151,291	278	6,978
Norway	141,999	666	805
Latvia	139,587	125	2,561
Uzbekistan	138,382	891	941
Estonia	135,512	290	1,277
Mozambique	134,343	1166	1,641
Albania	134,201	220	2,460
Botswana	130,771		1,832
Namibia	121,507	304	3,204
Australia	37,013	383	943
Suriname	26,103	57	669

 

Retrieved from：https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

 

 

 

South Korea's daily COVID-19 cases top 2,200, hit record

By Sangmi Cha

 

Women wearing masks walk in a shopping district amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Seoul, South Korea, July 9, 2021. REUTERS/ Heo Ran

 

South Korea reported more than 2,200 new daily COVID-19 cases, a record since the pandemic began last January, Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol said on Wednesday, as the country grapples with its most severe coronavirus outbreak.

Despite having distancing measures in place for over a month, infections have spiked due to the spread of the more transmissible Delta variant and a rise in domestic travel over summer, Kwon told a COVID response meeting.

He also noted a rise in so-called "silent spreaders" within communities such as workplaces, indoor gyms, churches and nursing homes, leading to an increase in infections of unknown origin.

South Korea has been struggling since July to tame sporadic outbreaks of COVID-19 that were at first centred largely on metropolitan Seoul but have since spread nationwide.

President Moon Jae-in told a meeting of aides on Wednesday that the rise in cases was of great concern and asked for the continued cooperation of residents and health officials.

"(We) are at a critical period that could be a turning point for further increases in infections if we fail to stop the current spread," Moon said, according to his spokesman.

Nearly half of new cases detected recently have been found outside Seoul and in summer holiday spots, while authorities are concerned that many people are ignoring social distancing rules.

Kwon strongly urged people who return from holidays to voluntarily get tested before going back to work.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 2,223 new coronavirus cases for Tuesday, bringing the country's coronavirus infections to 216,206, with 2,135 deaths.

KDCA officials said a continuation of infections at the current pace could strain the country's health care system.

Only 15.7% of South Korea's 52 million people have been fully vaccinated, while 42.1% have received at least one dose of vaccine. The government's target is for 70% to have received at least one shot by September.

 

Retrieved from：https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-koreas-daily-covid-19-cases-hit-record-surpassing-2200-health-minister-2021-08-10/

 

 

 

Melbourne COVID lockdown extended for week after 20 new cases reported

By Colin PackhamRenju Jose

 

Healthcare workers administer coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests at a drive-through testing centre on the first day of a seven-day lockdown, as the state of Victoria looks to curb the spread of an outbreak in Melbourne, Australia, May 28, 2021. REUTERS/Sandra Sanders

 

Australia's second-biggest city Melbourne will stay locked down for a second week after reporting 20 new COVID-19 cases as it struggles to stamp out infections caused by the highly infectious Delta variant of the pandemic.

Melbourne had been due to exit the lockdown on Thursday, the sixth for its five million people in stop-start battles against the coronavirus also seen elsewhere across the country have triggered frustration and dischord.

But Victoria state Premier Dan Andrews confirmed strict stay-at-home orders will remain in place until at least Aug. 19 after authorities were unable to trace how several of the 20 people confirmed as new cases on Wednesday contracted COVID-19.

"If we were to open, then we would see cases akin to what is happening, tragically, in Sydney right now," Andrews told reporters in Melbourne, referring to an outbreak in Australia's most populous city that has spread to thousands despite Sydney being in week seven of its own lockdown.

"We have seen a surge in the number of cases and (that is) expected to continue," New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney, reporting another 344 new infections in the past 24 hours, close to the city's single-day record.

Berejiklian said the Sydney lockdown, which has grown to include several areas north of the city, will also be expanded to include Dubbo, a small city about 400 kilometres (248 miles) northwest of Sydney.

Sydney is scheduled to remain in lockdown until the end of August. Most expect the restrictions to be extended, despite a recent surge in people seeking vaccinations.

Australia has so far fared much better than many other countries in the developed world during the pandemic, with just under 37,000 COVID-19 cases. The death toll rose to 944 on Wednesday after two people, including a man in his 30s, died in Sydney.

But with fewer than 25% of the country fully vaccinated, Australia is struggling to avoid stop-start lockdowns that some warn could tip Australia's economy, the world's 13th biggest according to the International Monetary Fund, into a second recession in as many years.

Federal and state governments have committed to ending lockdowns when 70% of the country's near 26 million population is vaccinated.

Australia's Treasurer Josh Frydenberg last month said the country's economy would contract in the current quarter as a result, and a recession would depend on how long the lockdowns last.

On Wednesday Matt Comyn, the Chief Executive of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA.AX) - the country's largest lender - said he expects Australia would avoid a recession

"While Australia faces near-term challenges due to the lockdowns we expect growth will simply be pushed back by six months, with the economy rebounding in late 2021 and growing strongly in 2022," Comyn told analysts.

The curbs have already dented consumer sentiment, which slid to a one-year trough in August, data published on Wednesday showed.

 

Retrieved from：https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-victoria-reports-20-locally-acquired-covid-19-cases-2021-08-10/

 

 

 

Merkel prods Germans to get COVID-19 vaccine as 4th wave worries mount

 

A medical worker takes a swab sample from Luisa during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test, on the premises of the brewing company BrewDog beside their DogTap restaurant in Berlin, Germany May 11, 2021. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

Germany's coronavirus vaccination drive has slowed and those people who have not taken up the opportunity to have shots will have to take COVID-19 tests to take a full part in public life, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday.

To nudge more people to get vaccinated amid concerns about a rise in new cases, Merkel said the government will stop offering free tests from Oct. 11, except for those for whom vaccination is not recommended, such as children and pregnant women.

The government will also require people to be either vaccinated, test negative or have a recovery certificate to enter indoor restaurants, participate in religious ceremonies and do indoor sport.

Less than seven weeks before a federal election, Merkel and leaders of Germany's 16 states met to discuss measures to dampen a new spate of infections, driven by the spread of the Delta coronavirus variant, and avert unpopular restrictions.

"The bad news is that the vaccination rate has lost pace substantially," Merkel told a news conference after the meeting.

"I hope it will pick up pace again after the (summer) holidays," the conservative leader said, but added: "On vaccinations, we are not where we need to be."

Germany had made the tests free for all in March to help make a gradual return to normal life possible after months of lockdown. Although around 55% of Germans are fully vaccinated, the pace of inoculations has slowed.

In neighbouring France, vaccinations jumped after President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a plan for citizens to have to show a health pass for many daily activities, although the plan has also triggered mass protests. read more

Merkel said she would like to see around 75% of Germans fully vaccinated. Bavarian leader Markus Soeder, who joined her at the news conference, warned of a fourth wave of infections.

"What is clear is that this fourth wave is coming, and definitely in the autumn," said Soeder. "The current infection rates are not sufficient to be carefree."

The Bavarian premier added that "there won't be another lockdown - in any case not for double vaccinated people. Why? Because then it is unconstitutional."

Merkel agreed that so long as the vaccines work, any further restrictions must be different to previous lockdowns.

Armin Laschet, the conservative candidate to succeed Merkel after the Sept. 26 election, said Germany needed to increase testing and boost vaccinations.

"We want to and will test more to avoid a new lockdown," Laschet told the North Rhine-Westphalia state assembly.

Laschet is desperate to avoid new restrictions to avoid handicapping his chances to become chancellor.

Germany has recorded more than 3,000 cases a day in the last week, bringing the total to 3.79 million. Germany's death toll is 91,803. The nationwide seven-day incidence rose on Tuesday to 23.5 per 100,000 people, up from 23.1 on Monday.

The federal government also agreed at Tuesday's meeting to extend financial assistance to businesses affected by restrictions beyond September, when they are supposed to expire.

Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said the aid would run until the end of the year. "We are thus continuing to stand firmly by our companies and workers," he said.

 

Retrieved from：https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/unvaccinated-germans-face-more-covid-tests-avoid-restrictions-2021-08-10/

 

 

 

U.S. eases COVID-19 travel advisory for Canada -State Department

By David Shepardson

 

A passengers waves goodbye as he walks towards the gates for U.S. travel at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Ontario, Canada June 23, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Osorio

 

The U.S. State Department has lowered the COVID-19 travel advisory for Canada to "Level 2 Exercise Increased Caution", according to a statement on Tuesday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also eased Canada's travel recommendation rating to Level 2.

Despite the change, the U.S. government shows no sign of easing restrictions for Canadian tourists, who are barred from entering United States land borders. On Monday, Canada opened to fully vaccinated American tourists for the first time in 16 months.

Canada barred all leisure travel from the United States in March 2020 because of the cornavirus pandemic. But as of Aug. 9 fully vaccinated Americans are able to enter the country.

The U.S. travel restrictions for non-essential travelers at the Canadian and Mexican land borders are set to expire on Aug. 21 but are likely to again be renewed.

The State Department also said the advisory for several countries, including Vietnam, Austria and Kenya, was raised to "Level 3 – Reconsider Travel."

The CDC warned on Monday against travel to Israel, France, Thailand, Iceland and several other countries because of a rising number of infections in those places.

The State Department also issued its parallel "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisories for Iceland and France on Monday and confirmed on Tuesday it was adding Israel to that list. As recently as last month, Israel was listed at "Level 1" by the U.S. governent agencies before being hiked by two levels.

 

Retrieved from：https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-eases-covid-related-travel-advisory-canada-state-department-2021-08-10/

 

 

 

Moderna reaches deal with Canada to build ‘state-of-the-art’ Covid vaccine manufacturing plant after shortages

By Berkeley Lovelace Jr.

 

Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, listens during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on Friday, June 4, 2021. Trudeau said that 65% of eligible Canadians have received a first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

David Kawai | Bloomberg | Getty Images

 

Moderna said Tuesday it has reached a deal with the Canadian government to build a “state-of-the-art” manufacturing plant in Canada to make Covid vaccines and potentially shots for other respiratory viruses after the country was plagued by supply shortages earlier this year.

The plant aims to provide Canadians with access to domestically manufactured mRNA vaccines against respiratory viruses, including Covid, seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and possibly other vaccines, pending licensure, the U.S. drugmaker said.

It is also intended to be used on “an urgent basis” to support the country with direct access to vaccines during health emergencies, the company said.

Moderna said it is in discussions with other governments for similar collaborations.

“We are excited to expand our presence and continue our long-term collaboration with Canada,” Patricia Gauthier, Moderna’s lead for Canadian operations, said in a statement. “With our industry-leading mRNA technology platform and rapid drug development capabilities, we look forward to being an active participant in Canada’s robust life sciences ecosystem.”

Canada suffered from repeated delays and supply shortages of Covid vaccines this year as it struggled to obtain the shots from other countries that were manufacturing them. The issue forced the government to delay second shots for up to 16 weeks and advise residents to “mix and match” vaccines.

The Biden administration, under pressure from allies worldwide to share vaccines, announced plans in March to ship about 4 million doses of AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine that it was not using to Mexico and Canada.

The supply of vaccines and pace of inoculations has since increased, Canadian health authorities have said, and residents have since gone on to receive their second doses.

Shares of Moderna were down about 3% Tuesday just before the announcement. The stock is up more than 360% year to date.

 

Retrieved from：https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/10/covid-vaccine-moderna-canada-agree-on-building-manufacturing-plant.html

 

 

 

Texas governor appeals for out-of-state help to fight latest Covid wave

 

Two more of the state’s largest school districts announced mask mandates as a county-owned hospital in Houston raised tents

The Texas governor, Greg Abbott, appealed for out-of-state help to fight the third wave of Covid-19 in his state amid dire warnings while two more of the state’s largest school districts announced mask mandates in defiance of the increasingly hardline Republican.

Abbott’s request came on Monday as a county-owned hospital in Houston raised tents to accommodate their coronavirus patient overflow.

Private hospitals in the county already were requiring their staff to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the Dallas and Austin school districts announced Monday that they would require students and staff to wear face masks. The Houston school district had announced it would implement a mask mandate for its students and staff later this week if its board approves.

The highly contagious Delta variant is causing a majority of new infections.

The Republican governor has directed the Texas department of state health services to use staffing agencies to find additional medical staff from beyond the state’s borders as the Delta wave began to overwhelm its present staffing resources.

He also has sent a letter to the Texas Hospital Association to request that hospitals postpone all elective medical procedures voluntarily.

Hospital officials in Houston said last week that area hospitals with beds had insufficient numbers of nurses to serve them.

Abbott also directed the state health department and the Texas division of emergency management to open additional Covid-19 antibody infusion centers to treat patients not needing hospital care and to expand vaccine availability to the state’s underserved communities.

He also announced about $267m in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits for August. That was on top of the $3.9bn in benefits previously allocated since April 2020.

The governor is taking action short of lifting his emergency order banning county and local government entities from requiring the wearing of masks and social distancing to lower the Covid-19 risk.

Abbott has said repeatedly that Texans have the information and intelligence to make their own decisions on what steps to take to protect their health and the health of those around them. Dallas county judge Clay Jenkins filed a lawsuit asking a judge to strike down Abbott’s mask mandate ban.

One of Houston’s two county-owned hospitals, Harris Health System and Lyndon B Johnson hospital in north-eastern Houston, added nearly 2,000 sq ft of medical tents in the hope of taking control of the anticipated increase in patient volume and keep staff and non-Covid patients safe.

Last week, Houston area officials said the wave of Delta variant infections so strained the area’s hospitals that some patients had to be transferred out of the city, with one being sent to North Dakota.

The rolling two-week daily average of new Covid-19 cases in Texas has increased by 165% to 8,533, according to Johns Hopkins University research data.

About 45% of the state’s population has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

Retrieved from：https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/10/texas-coronavirus-covid-delta-cases-hospitals-mask-mandates