This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
US Virus Cases Smash Daily Record as Global Infections Soar ¶
On Wednesday, the United States reported a record-breaking 52,000 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally. This surge in cases comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the global pandemic is accelerating.
The WHO's chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that new cases have topped 160,000 on every single day. The grim milestone came as the European Union left the United States, Brazil, and Russia off its final list of nations safe enough to allow residents to enter its borders.
Several US states, including California and New York, have imposed 14-day quarantines on visitors in the buildup to the long weekend's July 4 celebrations. California suspended indoor dining at restaurants in Los Angeles and several counties, while New York scrapped plans to allow restaurants to seat customers inside from next week.
President Donald Trump reiterated his belief that the contagion will 'at some point... sort of just disappear, I hope.' However, he added that he would have 'no problem' wearing a face mask during the pandemic.
The European Union reopened its borders to visitors from 15 countries, including Algeria, Uruguay, and China, but with certain conditions. Travelers from China will be allowed to enter the EU only if Beijing reciprocates. Brazil, which has suffered the most deaths globally for the last week, was excluded entirely.
The WHO warned that the pandemic is 'not even close to being over,' with over 10 million known infections worldwide and more than 500,000 deaths. Data provided by the UN health agency showed the highest number of new daily cases ever recorded came on June 28, when over 189,500 new cases were registered worldwide.
According to the United Nations, the coronavirus crisis could cost global tourism and related sectors from $1.2 to $3.3 trillion in lost revenue. Greece, which has suffered fewer than 200 virus deaths, has seen its economy hit hard by lockdowns and travel restrictions.
Separately, Spain and Portugal held a ceremony as they reopened their land border. The Netherlands also confirmed the reopening of its brothels and red-light districts, with sex worker Foxxy stating, 'I'm totally booked.' She added that she had held a 'little party' when she heard restrictions would be lifted.
Clusters are still causing problems in other countries, including Australia, the Palestinian Authority, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, spikes across southern and western states are driving a surge in national infections. Texas, which again smashed its daily Covid-19 record with over 8,000 new cases, joined Florida and California in closing some beaches for the upcoming holiday weekend.
The Pan American Health Organization warned that the death toll in Latin America and the Caribbean could quadruple to more than 400,000 by October without stricter public health measures. The US government announced that it had bought 92 percent of all remdesivir production, the first drug to be shown to be relatively effective in treating Covid-19.
