Coronavirus Watch

Global Statistics

COVID-19 cases continue to surge around the globe as there are now 80 million cases of the virus that have been reported and 1,73million deaths.

The British government on Wednesday said huge swathes of England would be placed under its strictest COVID-19 restrictions as a highly infectious virus variant sweeps the country, pushing the number of cases to a record level. Britain reported almost 40 000 new infections as the mutated variant of the coronavirus, which could be up to 70% more transmissible than the original, causes the number of cases and hospital admissions to soar. The number of recorded deaths – 744 – was also the highest figure since April.

Covid-19 has now reached every continent after Antarctica recorded its first outbreak, as health and army officials scrambled to clear out and quarantine staff from a remote research station surrounded by ocean and icebergs.

As coronavirus cases across Africa continue to surge, some parts of the continent are now experiencing a second wave of the virus.  According to a Reuters tally, countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Mauritania, Ghana and Ivory Coast have seen a spike in cases while reporting near-record levels of infection. South Africa is the worst affected country by the COVID-19 second wave in the continent.

According to the World Health Organisation Africa Regional Office (WHO Africa), COVID-19 cases have seen a steady rise since mid-October, averaging at 46 000 cases per week, compared to about 29 000 between early September and early October. The continent currently sits at over 2.5 million cases, with over 2.1 million recoveries and over 61 000 deaths.

South Africa’s COVID-19 infections increased to 954 258 cases with 14 046 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. 411 more COVID-19-related fatalities have been reported, bringing the total death toll to 25 657. Recoveries now stand at 811 372. All provinces, with the exception of the Eastern Cape, continue to report increases in their cases “with KwaZulu Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng Province registering the largest increases and comprising 81% of the new cases today (30%, 28% and 23% respectively).”

Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria, currently has over 79 000 confirmed cases, with over 68 000 recoveries and over 1 200 deaths. Just a day after South Africa announced its second wave, Nigeria’s Health Minister Dr. Osagie Ehanire warned that the country may be on the verge of a second wave with cases rising sharply over the past few weeks. As seen in a Reuters report, Nigeria’s capital Lagos, its commercial capital Abuja and the northern state Kaduna emerged as new epicentres, making up over 70% of confirmed cases. Positive tests have increased since the second week of December, with the spread being attributed to large gatherings and not adhering to health regulations.

Kenya currently sits at over 95 000 confirmed cases, with over 76 000 recoveries and over 1600 deaths. Kenya was worst hit in October following a spike in cases, with the number of infections rising by 15 000 during the month alone.

The DRC currently sits at over 15 800 confirmed cases, with over 13 700 recoveries and over 370 deaths since the pandemic hit the country. President Felix Tshisekedi attributed the second wave of COVID-19 in the country to cases from foreign countries after the re-opening of airspace in August; and the relaxation of lockdown and prevention measures. In a Reuters report earlier this month, head of the DRC’s COVID-19 response team Jean-Jacques Muyembe cautioned of a shortage of oxygen, adding that the second wave sees more patients being admitted in hospitals as compared to the first.

Zimbabwe recorded 112 new cases of the virus to bring the total number of cases to 12,656. 4 new deaths were recorded with Mash East recording 2, Bulawayo recording 1 and the other death being recorded by Manicaland.100 new recoveries were registered and the national recovery rate now stands at 81,1%.

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24/12/2020

(Source: Kitco)