World News:
Roughly nine months since emerging in Wuhan, China in late 2019, COVID-19 has now infected over 19 million people worldwide and killed over 712,000 people around the world.
Outside of the United States, the world epicenter, the countries with the most confirmed infections are:
- Brazil: 2,865,053 confirmed cases; 97,440 deaths.
- India: 1,996,478 confirmed cases; 41,098 deaths.
- Russia: 871,894 confirmed cases; 14,606 deaths.
- South Africa: 529,877 confirmed cases; 9,298 deaths.
- Mexico: 456,100 confirmed cases; 49,698 deaths.
WHO Warns of Lack of Testing in Africa
Testing in many African countries remains a “constant and concerning challenge,” according to World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti. “At the same time, some countries have increased their testing per capita while maintaining a low positivity rate. Countries such as Mauritius, Rwanda, Cape Verde and Botswana.”
Dr. Moeti’s warning comes as Africa approaches 1 million confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. She added that, “We do have countries where despite the fact that the governments did a relaxation of the measures, there was an initial increase in cases and several of these countries now we are starting to see a decline. The take-home is that we need to monitor this and ensure this decline continues and it’s sustained.”
Three-Year High Unemployment Rate in Brazil
The unemployment rate in Brazil is at 13.3% in the quarter ending in June – according to the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics (IBGE). They report that 8.9 million people in Brazil have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic – the steepest decline on record.
National News
Thursday, August 6, 2020
US Infections Verge on 5 Million
As of Thursday, August 6, the United States is about to surpass 5 million confirmed cases (4,991,802 currently), according to Worldometer. The US death toll now stands at over 161,000.
The US states with the most cases of COVID-19 are:
- California: 532,745 confirmed cases; 9,872 deaths.
- Florida: 510,389 confirmed cases; 7,747 deaths.
- Texas: 482,101 confirmed cases; 7,880 deaths.
- New York: 447,379 confirmed cases; 32,811 deaths.
- Georgia: 201,713 confirmed cases; 3,984 deaths.
Fauci Hopes to Mitigate the Threat of COVID-19
Dr. Anthony Fauci is hoping to control COVID-19 to the point where it’s no longer a pandemic-level threat. “We hope as a pandemic threat, that we are really on the cusp of seeing the end of it – as we do public health measures and a vaccine,” said Dr. Fauci at an Alliance for Health Policy webinar on Thursday.
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
US Hits Another Grim Death Milestone
The United States death toll hit 160,000 today, as the nation faces the wrath of the novel virus, especially in states like California, Florida, and Texas, which now lead the nation in confirmed cases with 527,186 (CA), 502,739 (FL), and 472,691 (FL), respectively.
Outside of the top three, the nation’s with the most confirmed infections are:
- New York: 446,691 confirmed cases; 32,801 deaths.
- Georgia: 197,948 confirmed cases; 3,921 deaths.
- New Jersey: 188,645 confirmed cases; 15,924 deaths.
- Illinois: 185,993 confirmed cases; 7,742 deaths.
- Arizona: 182,203 confirmed cases; 3,932 deaths.
Moderna Charge $32 to $37 a Dose for its Vaccine
Moderna will charge between $32 and $37 a dose for its experimental COVID-19 vaccine for “low volume” customers according to its CEO, per The Hill. The company will use a tiered pricing system, and will charge less for higher volume orders.
Stimulus Update
Negotiations for a second stimulus bill are still ongoing, but finally progress is being made, according to a CNN report. Top Democratic and White House negotiators are now reportedly working through disagreements, putting up offers, and making concessions. Both sides now agree that the deal will be completed by end of week.
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
US Death Toll Nears 160,000
As of Tuesday, the United States verges on hitting yet another grim milestone in terms of fatalities – Worldometer reports 159,369 deaths from the novel coronavirus. The US has a world-leading 4.8 million confirmed infections. Cases of COVID-19 are now so widespread that White House coronavirus coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx to state that the country has now entered a “new phase” of the pandemic.
The US states with the most confirmed cases of COVID-19 are:
- California: 522,030 confirmed cases; 9,507 deaths.
- Florida: 497,330 confirmed cases; 7,402 deaths.
- Texas: 461,266 confirmed cases; 7,455 deaths.
- New York: 445,841 confirmed cases; 32,791 deaths.
- Georgia: 195,435 confirmed cases; 3,842 deaths.
Florida ICUs Reaching Capacity
At least 45 hospitals in Florida have reached ICU capacity, according to data released by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).
NYC Reports Third Straight Day of No Deaths
On a positive note, New York City saw no COVID-19 deaths for the third consecutive day. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo reported that three people died across the state of New York on Monday.
Monday, August 3, 2020
US Death Toll Nears 160,000; Two More States Surpass NY in Confirmed Cases
On Monday, August 3, there are now 4.8 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, and the death toll verges on 160,000 (currently 158,495). Over the weekend both Florida and Texas surpassed New York in confirmed infections with 491,884 and 454,364 cases, respectively. California remains the state with the most confirmed cases at 515,686. Outside of the top 4, the US states with the most number of confirmed coronavirus infections are:
- Georgia: 193,177 confirmed cases; 3,840 deaths.
- New Jersey: 188,048 confirmed cases; 15,913 deaths.
- Illinois: 183,224 confirmed cases; 7,714 deaths.
- Arizona: 179,497 confirmed cases; 3,779 deaths.
- North Carolina: 126,532 confirmed cases; 1,999 deaths.
Update on Stimulus Negotiations
Bipartisan agreement on a second coronavirus stimulus package remains far apart. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said they expect to resume discussions on Monday. “We obviously need bipartisan support to get any deal done, the last two deals we got done 96-0 and 100-0. I think it’s pretty fair to say that we’re not going to do that again,” Mnuchin told reporters Sunday, per a CNN report.
