The global cases of people suffering COVID-19 are now at 3,041,764 as of Monday night, April 27, according to the real-time tracker by the Johns Hopkins University. The number of total recovered patients is now at 893,967 while the fatalities are now at 211,167 in the same period.
A separate tally coming from Reuters is painting a much dimmer picture. It says the novel coronavirus detected in December 2019 is now infecting an average of 82,000 people on a daily basis over the past week. Of that, a quarter was reported in the US while more than 43% were reported in Europe. Both US and Europe are currently considered the epicenters, although, there are warnings as of late that Africa is shaping to become the next epicenter.
The US has also been registering an average of more than 30,000 new cases every day. The country now accounts for a third of the overall reported new cases, according to the Reuters tally.
The picture isn't promising in Latin America and as mentioned in Africa. Mexico reported between 7 to 10% jump in new cases. Brazil reported 60,000 cases as of Sunday.
In Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria accounted for more than 40% of the overall number of cases in the continent.
The global situation is not at all grim. There are some signals ushering in some slight positivism.
As per Reuters, the mortality rate - one in seven cases - seemed to be lower since the number of asymptomatic and unconfirmed cases are excluded from the tally of the overall COVID-19 cases.
While attention is still in Europe, some of the region's hardest-hit nations have reported a drop in daily confirmed cases in the past weeks. And, although there was a 2.5% increase in the reported number of cases on Sunday in the region, that was the lowest daily rate in almost two months. That what also a significant decrease compared to daily rate recorded in March. At the time, Europe is recording a 10% spike on a daily basis.
The situation is also promising in China, the first epicenter of the virus, where health officials only reported three new cases as of Sunday. The government is also happy to announce that all patients in Wuhan have all been sent home.
In Australia, the famous Bondi Beach will be reopened starting April 28. Surfers and swimmers will be allowed to the waters from 7 am to 5 pm. To avoid overcrowding, picnics, and jogging on the beach are still prohibited.
In New Zealand, there is no more undetected cases in the country. All patients are accounted for. This means the country already broke the virus's chain of transmission and reducing the possibility of another community outbreak.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardem, who is earning global praises, lowered the country's toughest lockdown restrictions from Level 4 to Level 3.
At Level 3, 400,000 more workers are due to go back to their work, Ardem said. That would mean a total of 1 million New Zealanders at back at their jobs. Also, 75% of the country's economy will recommence. Its building and construction industry, forestry, manufacturing, and retailing could ease back into operations. With this, more than 1,000 roads and rail construction workers will soon be starting major projects.
Meanwhile, as if a strong signal of perhaps the new normality people should expect after the pandemic, JetBlue requires all passengers to wear face masks during travel. It is the first major US airline to do so.
