More than 179 million people have tested positive for the virus worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 3.8 million infected people have died. More than 2.7 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide.
Among other things, high mortality rates in the 2020 Corona year have led to a decline in life expectancy in the United States.
Among other things, high mortality rates in the 2020 Corona year have led to a decline in life expectancy in the U.S.
The latest developments
Sydney’s famous beach suburb of Bondi and other eastern neighborhoods of Australia’s largest city will go into lockdown for at least a week starting at midnight Friday (6/25). The aim is to control the rapid spread of the delta variant in the metropolis of five million people. People are now only allowed to leave their homes if they have absolutely essential jobs to do outside the home office, need to buy groceries or go to the doctor, or want to play sports outdoors. Previously, the New South Wales state government had already imposed restrictions throughout the city. Australia had largely sealed itself off from the outside world since the outbreak of the pandemic. The delta variant was probably brought in by the crew of a cargo plane.
Because of a worrying spread of the delta variant and an increase in cases of infection, the government of Portugal has suspended the relaxations scheduled for Monday (6/28) for large parts of the country. With 1556 new infections within 24 hours, the Ministry of Health registered the highest level that day since February. According to the EU agency ECDC, Portugal now has a 14-day incidence of just over 124, the highest of all 30 countries covered. The situation is particularly bad in the greater Lisbon area, as well as in Sesimbra and Albufeira. Restrictions are therefore being tightened there.
The life expectancy of the American population has fallen by almost two years in 2020. This has been determined by a study of American researchers from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond. According to the study, published in the “British Medical Journal”, it turned out a huge disparity between African Americans, Latinos and whites. According to the study, life expectancy for African-American men fell to just under 68 years – the lowest since 1998 – while white men lived to just under 75 years. Overall, life expectancy in the U.S. fell by 1.87 years to 76.9 years from 2018 to 2020, and for blacks and Latinos it fell by three years each. In this regard, the researchers see persistent and widening health care disadvantage, “high mortality rates in 2020, and persistent inequities against racial and ethnic minorities.”
The mask requirement will be significantly relaxed in Spain. Starting Saturday, the mouth-to-nose protection will no longer have to be worn outdoors at all times and in all places, the Spanish government announced Thursday (June 24) in Madrid. According to a decree, people must continue to carry and put on a mask when out and about if a minimum distance of one and a half meters from people outside their own households cannot be maintained. In enclosed public spaces and on public transportation, the mask requirement remains in effect.
Pfizer-Biontech’s vaccine is highly effective against the delta variant of Covid-19, Alon Rappaport, Pfizer’s medical director in Israel, told local radio station Army Radio on Thursday (24/6). “The data we have today indicate that our vaccine is very effective against this variant as well.” The Delta variant was first identified in India and is becoming the dominant variant of coronavirus worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
Uruguay has had the most new infections per capita in the past two weeks
Newly confirmed infections and deaths in the past 14 days, per 100,000 population, by country
Country Cases Deaths
Mongolia 1042 4.9
Uruguay 977.6 16.1
Colombia 781.8 17
Namibia 681.7 11
Argentina 639.9 17.2
Bahrain 559.8 9.7
Kuwait 550.3 2.1
Oman 524.2 7.4
Brazil 496.1 13.1
Chile 436.1 8.5
Shown are the 50 countries (with more than one million inhabitants) that have recorded the most cases per capita in the last 14 days. As of 6/23/2021.
Source: Johns Hopkins UniversityNZZ / nth.
The situation in Europe
Recently, European countries had sharply tightened Corona restrictions because of the third wave of infection in the spring. Since May, several countries have now been easing restrictions on populations – some states somewhat more hesitantly than others. There are currently no longer any hard lockdowns; in some regions of Italy, nighttime curfews are still in place until June 21. France lifted them in mid-May. Restaurants and hotels, theaters and cinemas are mostly open again. Sports facilities and gyms are also allowed to receive customers again, subject to certain conditions; in Austria, for example, this is reserved for those who have been tested, have recovered and have been vaccinated. However, far-reaching relaxations are to come into force there from July 1. Nightlife is being handled differently; while discos are open in some regions in Spain, nightclubs are still closed in the Netherlands.
Vaccination campaigns by governments are progressing; Great Britain has already vaccinated more than 40 percent of the population. In France and Italy, an equal proportion of people have been vaccinated against Sars-CoV-2 once so far.
Vacations in popular destinations are usually possible without quarantine. Depending on the country, other regulations apply (proof of testing, health passport, etc.).
— source: nzz.ch/picture: pixabay.com
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