This Tuesday marks six months since the World Health Organization first received reports of cases of pneumonia in China from an unknown cause, which would later be identified as a new coronavirus infection, WHO Director-General said Monday. , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
More than 10.3 million cases of coronavirus have been reported worldwide, including at least 505,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
But the pandemic is far from coming to an end any time soon, Tedros said.
“This is not even close to ending,” Tedros said during a press conference in Geneva on Monday.
“Although many countries have progressed globally, the pandemic is actually accelerating. We are all in this together and we are in this for the long term, ”said Tedros.
Here’s what you need to know about the global outbreak:
Arizona closes bars, gyms and other businesses after “brutal” increase in covid-19 cases: in one of the most drastic reopening setbacks thus far, Arizona will close bars, gyms, movie theaters and other businesses for 30 days in between of a “brutal” increase in covid-19 cases, Governor Doug Ducey said Monday. The pullback comes when the state has seen a recent spike in covid-19 cases. There are now almost 75,000 infections reported, compared to 46,689 cases 10 days ago.
Australian state re-enforces blockade in 10 suburbs: The state of Victoria reintroduced containment measures in 10 suburbs around Melbourne following a recent increase in coronavirus cases. A quarantine order will take effect at 11:59 pm local time on July 1 and will last until July 29.
Beauty salons, gyms, libraries, and swimming pools in these 10 recently-reopened suburbs will re-close, while cafes and restaurants will return to work only with take-away orders.
WHO team will investigate how the virus started: WHO will send a team to China to better understand how the new coronavirus started, Director-General Tedros said during a briefing on Monday. Tedros said he hopes the visit, which will take place next week, will lead to “understanding [cómo] the virus started and what can we do to prepare ourselves in the future ”.
A new swine flu with “pandemic potential” was discovered: Chinese researchers discovered a new type of swine flu that can infect humans and has the potential to cause a future pandemic, according to a study published Monday. Researchers say the disease, called the G4 virus, now shows “all the essential characteristics of a possible pandemic virus” and is genetically descended from the H1N1 swine flu that caused a global pandemic in 2009.
World Rugby Tournament Canceled: The remainder of this year’s Rugby Sevens World Series was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the sport’s governing body said Tuesday.
The EU is preparing to reopen its borders, but probably not for Americans: the European Union is preparing to reopen its external border to 15 countries outside the bloc as soon as this Wednesday. However, one country that will not appear on the proposed list is the United States, according to two EU diplomats.
Diplomats, who were not allowed to discuss the matter before the 27 EU member states reached an agreement, have confirmed to CNN that European governments have until lunchtime on Tuesday to agree on the list of 15 countries allowed.
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