Topline
The seven-day average of new Covid cases in the U.S. fell to 27,815 on Friday, the lowest level since last June, but the pandemic is gathering strength in Latin America, where the number of virus-related deaths has passed 1 million, with almost half of them in Brazil, while the virus is spreading to rural parts of India from urban centers.
Movement in the Nossa Senhora Aparecida Cemetery, this Wednesday morning, October 28, 2020 in ... [+]
Key Facts
A report from the Biden Administration released Friday showed that the number of U.S. counties with “high” levels of Covid transmission has been cut in half since mid-April to 694
But the Covid pandemic is worsening in some of the most heavily populated countries in Latin America, which accounted for 31% of global Covid deaths in May, while representing only 8.4% of the global population.
The seven-day moving average of confirmed Covid cases has risen in Brazil to more than 78,000 from about 57,000 in early May, and in Argentina to almost 37,000 from 5,760 in early February, according to Johns Hopkins.
In India, the seven-day moving average of confirmed cases has fallen to about 265,000 from 382,000 a week ago, but health officials warn the pandemic has spread to rural areas amid a second wave.
Key Background
The U.S. is currently averaging about 552 Covid-related deaths per day, according to Johns Hopkins data, the lowest level since last July. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington projects that the number of daily deaths will fall to under 120 by early September, down sharply from 5,500 in early January. In South America, only 15% of people have received at least one vaccination dose, versus 28% in Europe, while Asia and Africa have even lower rates of 5% and 1%, respectively, according to the website Our World in Data through May 19. Meanwhile, in other parts of the world reported infection rates are generally declining. Daily new infections in Europe have dropped to about 86,000 from 116,000 in early April, according to the Reuters tracker, while newly reported deaths have plunged to under 2,000 from almost 7,000 in late January. In Russia, confirmed cases have fallen to 8,000 from almost 24,000 in early January. In Africa, daily confirmed cases have fallen to under 10,000 from 38,000 in early January. In East Asia, Japan’s daily confirmed cases have jumped to about 5,250 from 1,530 in mid-March, while in South Korea, confirmed new cases have dropped to about 650 from 840 in early January.
What To Watch For
Heath officials in India fear a third wave of new infections in the next few months due to vaccine shortages amid an overwhelmed health care system. "While [the spread of Covid] has stabilized in many parts of the country, and overall the burden has been lessened, we have a long way to go," Dr. V. K. Paul, a member of a government panel on Covid management, told a news conference, Al Jazeera reported. "For the first time, we have seen that rural areas have been affected in this pandemic."
Further Reading
How Long Will Covid-19 Coronavirus Vaccine Protection Last? (Forbes)
When Will You Need A Third Covid Vaccine Dose? Here’s What The Experts Say (Forbes)
These Companies Are Working On Covid Vaccines That Could Stop The Next Pandemic (Forbes)
