GLOBALLY COVID-19 CASES JUMP TO 10.35 MILLION AND DEATH TOLL RISES TO 508,000

Telangana

From Our Bureau    

1ST JULY 2020

The Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic situation remained grim globally, with the confirmed cases across the world soaring to 1,03,57,662 and the death toll reaching 5,08,055 in the 216 affected countries and territories, according to the latest update from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Globally, American region continued to be the worst-hit with 52,18,590 confirmed cases and 2,49,318 deaths. Europe came next with 27,28,059 confirmed cases and 1,97,874 deaths. Eastern Mediterranean region reported 10,77,426 confirmed cases and 24,970 deaths.

South-East Asia region’s tally stood at 8,08,906 confirmed cases and 22,235 deaths. Western Pacific region recorded 2,17,146 confirmed cases and 7,453 deaths and African region registered 3,06,794 confirmed cases and 6,192 deaths. WHO Risk Assessment at global level remained very high.

It has never been clearer that communication is an important public health intervention that contributes to controlling pandemics. The WHO Regional Office for Europe discusses this and the risks of an “infodemic” – an overabundance of information, some of which can be misleading or even harmful. WHO launched the first Infodemiology conference on 29th June, which includes talks with experts on how the infodemic affects the world and reflections on how it can be managed.

Cambodia has been responding to a measles outbreak at the same time as the COVID-19 outbreak. WHO has supported efforts for routine immunization in Cambodia at health care facilities, and in the community through outreach teams.

WHO has published an update to the scientific brief on smoking and COVID-19, which assesses the available evidence on the risk of smokers being infected by the virus, severity of disease, and deaths among hospitalized COVID-19 patients who smoke. The conclusion remains that smoking appears associated with increased severity of disease and death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

At the media briefing, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pointed out  “More than 10.3 million cases of COVID-19 have now been reported to WHO, and more than 506,000 deaths. For the past week, the number of new cases has exceeded 160,000 on every single day. 60 percent of all cases so far have been reported just in the past month.”

“We will never get tired of saying that the best way out of this pandemic is to take a comprehensive approach. Find, isolate, test and care for every case, trace and quarantine every contact, equip and train health workers and educate and empower communities to protect themselves and others. Not testing alone. Not physical distancing alone. Not contact tracing alone. Not masks alone. Do it all,” he added.

“Countries that have adopted this comprehensive approach have suppressed transmission and saved lives. Flare-ups are to be expected as countries start to lift restrictions. But countries that have the systems in place to apply a comprehensive approach should be able to contain these flare-ups locally and avoid reintroducing widespread restrictions.

“However, we are concerned that some countries have not used all the tools at their disposal and have taken a fragmented approach. These countries face a long, hard road ahead. But one of the lessons of the pandemic is that no matter what situation a country is in, it can be turned around. It’s never too late.

“As you know, in March, Italy and Spain were the epicenter of the pandemic. At the peak of its epidemic, Spain had almost 10,000 cases a day, and Italy had more than 6,500 cases. But both countries brought their epidemics under control with a combination of leadership, humility, active participation by every member of society, and implementing a comprehensive approach. Both countries faced a daunting situation, but turned it around.

“The fastest way out of this pandemic is to follow the science and do what we know works: the comprehensive approach. Today and tomorrow, WHO is holding a second research and innovation forum, bringing together more than 1,000 scientists from all over the world to take stock of the progress made so far, to discuss new research questions and knowledge gaps, and to define research priorities for the remainder of this year and beyond.

“Research and innovation have played a vital role since the beginning of the pandemic – and even before In January, WHO published the first protocol for PCR testing for the new coronavirus. In February, we brought together hundreds of researchers from around the world to identify research priorities. In March, we launched the Solidarity Trial, a large international study to find answers about which therapeutics are the most effective. And in April, with the European Commission and multiple other partners we launched the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, to catalyse the development and equitable allocation of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.

“This pandemic is a scientific challenge, but it is also a test of character. We must act in the interests of global solidarity and our shared humanity. We have a shared responsibility to ensure that all people have access to the tools to protect themselves, especially those who are most at risk.

“Although the pandemic is global, there are differences in the experience and approach of each region and country. Over the next few weeks, we plan to feature a different region regularly, to highlight the challenges in different parts of the world, and the lessons we are learning. Today we’re starting with the Eastern Mediterranean region – comprising much of the Middle East and North Africa – which is the third-most affected region globally, after the Americas and Europe,” WHO Director-General added. (eom)

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