(NEW YORK) — Here are today’s In Crisis headlines:
COVID-19 numbers
Here’s the latest data on COVID-19 coronavirus infections and deaths.
Latest reported numbers globally per Johns Hopkins University
Global diagnosed cases: 37,584,742
Global deaths: 1,077,672. The United States has the most deaths of any single country, with 214,776.
Number of countries/regions: at least 188
Total patients recovered globally: 26,109,425
Latest reported numbers in the United States per Johns Hopkins University
There are at least 7,763,473 reported cases in 50 states + the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. This is more than in any other country.
U.S. deaths: at least 214,776. New York State has the greatest number of reported deaths in the U.S., with 33,294.
U.S. total patients recovered: 3,075,077
U.S. total people tested: 115,424,481
The greatest number of reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is in California, with 855,454 confirmed cases out of a total state population of 39.51 million. That ranks third in the world after Maharashtra, India, which has 1,528,226 reported cases, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, which has 1,037,660 reported cases.
Global COVID-19 cases over 37 million; cases surging overseas; US hotspots increase
As of Monday morning, the number of reported COVID-19 cases worldwide approached 38 million, with 37,584,742 according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. European governments are enforcing more restrictions on capitals and local areas as they attempt to stem rising COVID-19 cases across the continent. France reported 26,896 new cases Saturday, a new daily record according to the French Health Ministry. Italy, one of the hardest-hit nations early in the pandemic, is also seeing a surge, reporting another 5,724 cases in the last 24 hours and 29 deaths, while Spain registered nearly 60,000 cases last week. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to unveil increased restrictions today as U.K. infections rise.
In the U.S., 35 states are reporting an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, while 14 states are seeing an increase in deaths. Five states on Friday saw a record number of new cases — North Dakota, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Wyoming — while Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Utah saw a record number of hospitalizations. Wisconsin, with over 150,000 cases, is among the worst hit, with Gov. Tony Evers telling WISN TV “The virus is frankly right now out of control. We’re setting records on a regular basis.”
President Trump, meanwhile, delivered remarks from the White House Saturday afternoon in his first in-person event since it was announced he’d tested positive for COVID-19. The president removed his mask when he appeared on the balcony before a cheering crowd of several hundred people. Trump said in part that a COVID-19 vaccine “is coming out very, very quickly,” in “record time.” He also declared that the virus will soon “disappear.” Experts have repeatedly warned that winter will likely bring a COVID-19 resurgence, the early signs of which are now appearing, while the FDA has said it’s unlikely any vaccine will be approved for U.S. distribution before early next year.
As President Trump insists he’s recovered from COVID-19 and tested “totally negative,” the White House continues to refuse to say when his last test was or what type it was, nor will they say when Trump’s last negative test was before his first positive test – information vital to conduct contact tracing as more people who had White House contact test positive.
New report declares COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for nearly a month
A new report by Australia’s National Science Agency says COVID-19 can survive on surfaces in some cases for up to 28 days. These external surfaces — broadly categorized in virus research as ‘fomites’ — include glass, polymer, stainless steel, vinyl and paper. The study notes that “viable virus was isolated for up to 28 days at 20 degrees centigrade,” about 68 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning that it’s possible someone who touched a fomite during that time could encounter live virus. The good news: the report also notes the amount of surviving virus was very small, meaning the risk of infection via fomite transmission was low, though not impossible. The latest guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, updated July 10, says in part, “transmission of novel coronavirus to persons from surfaces contaminated with the virus has not been documented.” The Australian report also notes that the familiar hand-washing and other general COVID-19 disinfection measures we should already be employing can continue to successfully minimize the fomite transmission risk.
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.