This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
Coronavirus Pandemic Worsens, WHO Warns ¶
As of June, 60% of the world's 10 million coronavirus cases since December have been reported, a sign that the pandemic is getting worse and not slowing down, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that more than 160,000 new cases are reported every day.
He emphasized the need for countries to take a comprehensive approach in battling the virus, which includes finding, isolating, testing, and caring for every case, tracing and quarantining every contact, equipping and training health workers, and educating and empowering communities to protect themselves and others.
“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,” Tedros said.
He added that countries taking a fragmented approach have a long, hard road ahead, and that it's never too late to turn the situation around.
“Not testing alone. Not physical distancing alone. Not contact tracing alone. Not masks alone. Do it all,” Tedros said.
Wearing masks saves lives, Tedros pointed out, and U.S. President Donald Trump has finally agreed to wear one in public, despite initially dismissing the idea.
“If I were in a tight situation with people, I would, absolutely,” the president told Fox Business news.
However, Trump still doubts the effectiveness of mandatory mask-wearing and believes that COVID-19 will eventually disappear.
But medical experts say the virus is here to stay, just like the common cold.
A new Reuters poll shows that Americans' anxieties about the coronavirus are at an all-time high, with 81% of those surveyed expressing concern about COVID-19.
Some U.S. states are setting records for new cases, and governors are taking measures to slow the spread of the virus, such as New Jersey's Gov. Phil Murphy, who has put reopening bars and restaurants on pause.
California has again shut down bars, theaters, and indoor restaurant dining, and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has put plans to reopen indoor dining rooms on hold.
South Carolina's state epidemiologist, Dr. Linda Bell, warned that the number of new cases is overwhelming the ability of health officials to track down the victims, and that people's friends and loved ones will die if they don't wear masks and keep proper distance.
McDonald's will again close its dining rooms for three weeks, restricting service to drive-in windows and parking lot deliveries.
Public health experts say there is little evidence that the nationwide protests against police violence have contributed to the spike in COVID-19 cases.
Elsewhere, Canada's official birthday celebration, Canada Day, was a virtual one for the first time, and the Czech Republic has reopened after more than three months, with only 12,000 cases and 349 deaths reported.
Amsterdam's famed red-light district has welcomed visitors and tourists, but sex workers are being advised to avoid kissing and unusual activities to avoid a coronavirus flare-up.
