Callaghan O’Hare / Reuters
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In many parts of the world, the coronavirus continues to run at an alarming rate, with the official case count hovering around to 10 million. The US trend is worrying: according to the latest data, 45,300 new cases of Covid-19 were identified on Friday, never so many since the start of the pandemic. The previous day it had been almost 40 thousand. These are the latest updated data from Johns Hopkins University, which demonstrate that more than “something” in the US strategy against the virus is not working. Compared to two weeks ago, there are 31 American states where cases have increased again, with the most critical situations in Texas and Florida. Overall, since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 2,467,864 coronavirus cases in the United States, the number of victims 125,039.
At least five states – reports CNN – reported the highest number of infections in the past 24 hours: Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Tennessee and Utah. The city of Miami has decided to close the beaches for the weekend of July 4th, Independence Day, for fear that the contagion boom that is affecting Florida may worsen. All bars also closed. The governor of Texas, Republican Greg Abbott, has also been forced to step back, by ordering the closure of bars and the tightening of measures for restaurants. Just him, who until a few days ago categorically excluded new closures, was forced to give in.
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India exceeds half a million cases. Lockdown and curfew are back in the state of Assam
Confirmed cases of coronavirus in India have exceeded half a million, with a new record of 18,552 infections in the past 24 hours. The Ministry of Health reported 384 new deaths, bringing the total to 15,685. The wave prompted the authorities of the northeastern state of Assam to impose a two-week blockade in the capital of the state of Gauhati. About 700 new cases were reported in just four days. Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the rest of Assam will be subjected to a nightly curfew and weekend lockdown. He urged people to keep basic necessities, signaling the possibility of an even more severe lockdown, which also includes grocery stores.
Egypt lift restrictions, but concern over escalation
Egypt has lifted many of the restrictions imposed to stem the coronavirus pandemic. Cafes, clubs, gyms and theaters have reopened after over three months of closure, despite the fact that new infections have started growing again. The authorities also allowed the reopening of mosques and churches and lifted the nightly curfew. The government of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi wanted to “save” the Egyptian economy hit hard by the virus epidemic.
The reopening has sparked criticism, not least because Egypt is still experiencing new infections and relatively high coronavirus deaths. The union of Egyptian doctors warned last month that the country was heading for a catastrophe. The Egyptian health ministry reported 62,755 confirmed infections, including 2,620 deaths. However, the actual number of infections and deaths, as in other parts of the world, is believed to be much higher due to a number of reasons, including limited tests. The government is also planning to reopen selected tourist destinations on international charter flights starting Thursday, allowing travelers from all over the world to return to parts of the country less affected by the coronavirus. These include the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula, home to the main seaside resort and seaside destination of Sharm el Sheikh, the Red Sea holiday areas of Hurghada and Marsa Alam, as well as Marsa Matrouh, on the Mediterranean coast.
In Brazil almost 47 thousand cases in 24 hours
Brazil has recorded 46,860 new coronavirus cases and 990 additional deaths in the past 24 hours: the Ministry of Health has announced, according to CNN reports. The new data bring the overall balance of the infections to 1,274,974 and that of the dead to 55,961. The state of Sao Paulo remains the epicenter of the virus with 258,508 cases and 13,966 deaths, followed by the state of Rio de Janeiro (108,497 cases and 9,587 deaths).
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