From Our Bureau
20TH JUNE 2020
The Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic situation remained grim globally, with the confirmed cases across the world soaring to 85,25,042 and the death toll reaching 4,56,973 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 41,63,813 confirmed cases and 2,15,903 deaths. Europe came next with 25,09,750 confirmed cases and 1,92,645 deaths. Eastern Mediterranean region reported 8,78,428 confirmed cases and 19,560 deaths.
South-East Asia region’s tally stood at 5,60,285 confirmed cases and 16,814 deaths. Western Pacific region recorded 2,03,490 confirmed cases and 7,288 deaths and African region registered 2,08,535 confirmed cases and 4,750 deaths. WHO Risk Assessment at global level remained very high.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in his regular media briefing, said today is World Refugee Day and highlighted the risks of COVID-19 for some of the world’s most vulnerable people. He also stressed the shared duty to do everything we can to prevent, detect and respond to transmission of COVID-19 among refugee populations.
WHO has published ‘Criteria for releasing COVID-19 patients from isolation’ which provides an update to previous guidance. The updated criteria reflect recent findings that patients whose symptoms have resolved may still test positive for the COVID-19 virus for many weeks. Despite this positive test result, these patients are not likely to be infectious and therefore are unlikely to be able to transmit the virus to another person.
WHO has published an Emergency Global Supply Chain System (COVID-19) catalogue. This catalogue lists all medical devices, including personal protective equipment, medical equipment, medical consumables, single use devices, laboratory and test-related devices that may be requested through the COVID-19 Supply Portal. (eom)
