Global Statistics
The number of coronavirus cases across the world continues to increase rapidly, with global cases of the pandemic are now over 29,4million with over 930 000 fatalities recorded.
There have been at least 6,745,415 cases of coronavirus in the US, and at least 198,882 people have died. According to a report, nearly 550,000 children in the US have been diagnosed with Covid-19 since the onset of the pandemic. The report highlighted that 72,993 new child cases were reported from Aug. 27 through Sept. 10. This is a 15% increase in child cases over two weeks, bringing the total to at least 549,432 cases, the groups said in their weekly report on pediatric coronavirus cases.
Brazil’s health ministry has reported 343 new Covid-19 fatalities on Monday, raising the nationwide death toll to 132,006. The ministry also reported 15,155 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the countrywide total to 4,345,610.
The World Health Organization expects Europe to see a rise in the daily number of Covid-19 deaths in October and November. The resurgence is however expected to lead to an increase in daily deaths, the WHO said. The number of cases in Europe has risen sharply in recent weeks, especially in Spain and France. On Friday alone, more than 51,000 new cases were reported in the 55 countries of the WHO Europe, which is more than the highest peak in April, according to the organisation. Meanwhile, the number of daily deaths has remained at around the same level since early June, with around 400-500 deaths per day linked to Covid-19, WHO data showed.
In Britain, a government adviser has warned that failure to contain a surge of cases could put the country “right back in hard lockdown in short order.” In an attempt to contain the virus’ spread, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reduced the number of people allowed to meet from 30 to six, starting Monday.
Cases in Africa continue to decline with 6,099 new cases recorded yesterday, to bring the total number of cases to over 1, 3 million. Deaths recorded are now 32,835 after 157 were recorded yesterday.
South Africa recorded 956 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the country’s total confirmed cases to 650 749. The country has recorded 52 new COVID-19 related fatalities, pushing the death toll to 15 499. The number of recoveries now stands at 579 289 which translates to a recovery rate of 88, 9%.
The number of detected cases countrywide continues to decline- since the 22nd of August, under 3000 cases a day have been reported whereas at the height of the epidemic during the month of July the country would report anything between 10 000 and 15 000 cases a day. A 42% decline of detected cases in the preceding two weeks and a 28, 9% decline in deaths in the same period was recorded. Supporting this decline is also a demonstrable decline in persons under investigation, general ward admissions, ICU admissions, deaths and excess deaths.
Zimbabwe recorded 5 new cases of the virus to bring the total number of cases to 7, 531. No new death was recorded hence the death toll remains at 224. The number of active cases is at 1,617 and the national recovery rate is at 76%.
Global stocks rally as COVID-19 vaccines lift hope, dollar eases.
The dollar weakened and world stock markets rallied on Monday on encouraging signs of progress in developing a COVID-19 vaccine, while several multi-billion dollar deals also helped lift the spirit of investors after the downdraft in the past two weeks. Gold jumped almost 1% as the dollar slid and bond yields were stable as investors gauge how the US Federal Reserve will put its new approach to monetary policy into practice and keep its dovish stance at this week’s policy meeting.
Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE on Saturday proposed expanding their Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial to about 44 000 participants, while increasing the diversity of the trial population. Drug-maker AstraZeneca also said on Saturday it has resumed British clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine, one of the most advanced in development, after getting the green light from safety watchdogs.
Enrollment of new patients and other trial procedures for AstraZeneca’s pivotal US trial were being rescheduled until at least midweek and it was not clear how long it would take for a US investigators to complete a probe, sources told Reuters. Oil prices slipped slightly on concerns about a stalled global economic recovery as Libya is poised to resume production, and failed to get support from an impending storm that has disrupted US oil output. Brent crude futures settled down 22 cents at $39.61 a barrel. US crude futures fell 7 cents to settle at $37.26 a barrel. US gold futures settled up 0.8% at $1,963.70 an ounce.
Metal Prices Asia/Europe/NY market
15/11/2020
(Source: Kitco)
