Covid has hit South Africa harder than any other country on the continent, making the drop in deaths all the more remarkable.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases made the announcement in its daily tally of coronavirus cases, sparking cautious optimism among health authorities.

The last time the country reported no deaths over a 48-hour timescale was on May 12, 2020.
“Empirically, the hospitals are pretty much empty of Covid cases,” said Shabir Madhi, professor of vaccinology at the University of the Witwatersrand.

“We do know that reported deaths are underestimated by a factor of about three, but even then the rate at the moment is particularly low.”

He attributed the decline in death to both the rollout of vaccines and to the impact of past waves of infection.

“It’s come at a huge cost of loss of life, but it has resulted in a large portion of the population that have now developed protection against severe disease,” Madhi said.

At least 80 percent of the populous province Gauteng has already been infected with Covid, a statistic he believed likely mirrors the entire country.

Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique and Eswatini also reported no Covid deaths in the last 24 hours, although those neighbouring countries have less developed health surveillance system.

South Africa has suffered nearly 100,000 Covid deaths, and more than 3.6 million cases.

Source: https://www.africanews.com/2022/03/01/south-africa-records-zero-covid-19-related-deaths-in-48-hours/

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From Previous weeks……

The number of Covid-19 related deaths in Spain jumped by 738 in the last 24 hours as the country surpassed China to become the second-deadliest global hotspot in the pandemic after Italy.

Health officials said Wednesday that 3,434 people had died from the virus in Spain since the beginning of the outbreak, more than the 3,281 reported by China, where Covid-19 first emerged late last year, while Italy remains the deadliest with more than 6,500 fatalities.

A total of 47,610 confirmed cases – roughly 38,000 active – means Spain has a nationwide fatality rate of around 7.2 percent. New cases rose by 20 percent since the previous day.

Some 5,367 people have been discharged from hospital having recovered from Covid-19, while 3,166 people have been admitted to ICU across the country.

According to Fernando Simón, the head of the country’s emergency public health department, the fatality ratio has leveled out in recent days and figures seem to indicate that Spain is approaching a peak in coronavirus cases.

“If we are not already at the peak, then we are close,” he said in his daily briefing.

The new figures were released halfway through a crucial week for Spain as authorities monitor whether a draconian national lockdown adopted 11 days ago has led to a flattening of the curve of new infections.

But concerns have been raised over the welfare of the country’s health care workers after figures showed that they accounted for more than 13 percent of Covid-19 cases in Spain, an issue the government has put down to difficulties accessing a highly competitive market for protective gear and equipment.

The Spanish health minister, Salvador Illa, on Wednesday announced a new deal with China for the provision of hundreds of millions of medical items.

He said the deal would see Spain receive 550 million masks – only six million have been distributed in the first 10 days of the health crisis so far – 5.5 million rapid testing kits and 11 million pairs of gloves over the next four to eight weeks.

“The supply is going to be weekly, in a staggered manner. The first will be done at the end of this week,” he told a press conference. “Additionally, the Spanish government is implementing the domestic production of all these items.”

The number of ventilators included in the deal for those being monitored in ICU is substantially less, with 950 expected to be delivered between April and June.

“We need more and we are making efforts to secure them, more than anything to produce them on Spanish soil.

The contract with China, valued at 432 million euros ($466m), came after a phone conversation between the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, and the Chinese president, Xi Jinping.

A Madrid judge on Wednesday ruled that the local health ministry had a “legal obligation” to protect health workers in the capital and gave a 24 hours deadline to provide them with enough equipment, following a complaint from the AMYTS medical union.

A similar case from the national CESM medical union was denied by the Supreme Court.

The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced Wednesday that order of protective gloves, masks, and overalls secured by the European Union would be delivered to Spanish hospitals in two weeks.

She added that Spain could be eligible for 11 billion euros from the bloc’s emergency coronavirus fund and that 20 billion euros had already been approved to help protect small businesses and the unemployed.

The immediate effect of the coronavirus pandemic on Spain’s employment figures, between those who have lost jobs and those now unable to work, will be released as usual at the end of the month.

Social security minister, José Luis Escribá, said the government was studying a basic living wage to those affected by this crisis.

Spanish lawmakers are on Wednesday set to vote on the extension of the country’s state of alarm by two weeks, meaning some 47 million Spaniards could be kept housebound until at least mid-April.

Source: https://www.efe.com/efe/english/portada/spain-passes-china-covid-19-death-toll-2nd-behind-italy/50000260-4204643

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Previous Weeks…

The number of coronavirus sufferers to have died in Italy has passed the 7,000 marks, but the rise in the number of new cases of contagion fell for the fourth day running, the Civil Protection Department said on Wednesday. It said 57,521 people are currently infected with COVID-19 in Italy, 3,491 more than Tuesday. The daily rise on Tuesday had been 3,612, on Monday 3,780 and on Sunday 3,957. The number of coronavirus deaths rose 683 to 7,503. The daily rise was lower than 743 on Tuesday but higher than 601 on Monday and 651 on Sunday. Italy registered a record increase of 793 COVID-19 deaths on Saturday. The department said 9,632 people have recovered from the coronavirus in Italy, 1,036 more than yesterday. The rise in recoveries on Tuesday was 894.

The overall number of people to have been infected in Italy, including the deceased and people who have recovered, is 74,386. Of those, 3,489 patients are in intensive care. Civil Protection Department head and Coronavirus Emergency Commissioner Angelo Borrelli was unable to attend the daily press conference updating the figures after suffering symptoms of fever. The result of a swab is being awaited.

March 19 – Emergency Commissioner and Civil Protection Chief Angelo Borrelli said Sunday that 5,476 people have died with the coronavirus in Italy, up by 651 on Saturday. On Saturday the record was 793 deaths. Borrelli said 46,638 people are currently infected with the coronavirus in Italy, 3,957 more than Saturday. The daily increase in new contagions was 4,821 on Saturday. He said 7,024 people in Italy have recovered from the coronavirus, 952 more than Saturday. The overall tally of people to have contracted the coronavirus in Italy, including victims and those who have recovered, is now 59,138

Coronavirus Italy Covid19- The death toll in Italy due to Covid19 has passed 2500 with 345 new deaths and 31,000 new cases of infection reported. At least 7000 died and 176,000 infected cased reported worldwide.

Lombardy of Italy in Lockdown

Europes largest Coronavirus infected country, Italy’s Lombardy region where the country’s one-fourth of the population lives has been locked down by the Italian Government to curb the spread of the virus to other parts of the country by limiting movement of the people. As per the decree issued by Prime Minister Mr. Guiseppe Conte’s office said “For Lombardy and for the other northern provinces that I have listed, there will be a ban for everybody to move in and out of these territories and also within the same territory. Exceptions will be allowed only for proven professional needs, exceptional cases and health issues”

Coronavirus Italy Covid19 – 7375 Infected Cases, 366 Died in Italy

As per the official Italian Government sources, the infected cases rise to 7375 and the death toll is 366.

How Corona Virus Outbreak Started

It all started in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. 90 Countries affected, 100,000 people infected, 3600 people died worldwide.

What is Corona Virus

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.

How Corona Virus is Transmitted to Humans

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.

Signs of Coronavirus Infection

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.

How to Prevent Coronavirus

Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.

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Russian military specialists have arrived in Bergamo, where the Italy-Russia coronavirus response centre will be deployed, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement.

“A convoy of special vehicles with military specialists of the Russian Defence Ministry arrived at the Orio al Serio airfield in Bergamo, where a joint Italian-Russian headquarters to fight the coronavirus infection will be deployed,” the statement said.

The Russian military arrived in Italy to help slow the spread of COVID-19, following talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

In a historically unprecedented measure, the Russian military sent well over fifteen strategic lift aircraft carrying medics and virologists, and packed with equipment for diagnosis and disinfection to help the Mediterranean nation slow the spread of the ongoing pandemic.

Italy is fighting a severe coronavirus outbreak, by far the worst, outside of China. The total number of registered coronavirus cases in the country has surpassed 74,350, with over 7,500 deaths reported as of Wednesday.

Source: https://sputniknews.com/europe/202003251078710986-russian-specialists-arrive-in-bergamo-where-coronavirus-response-centre-will-be-deployed/

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Kerala announced complete shutdown yesterday….

Complete Shutdown in Kerala, India- Corona Pandemic. The Indian State of Kerala with a population of 38 million people announced a complete shutdown till 31st March 2020. Kerala among the worst affected states in India, Monday alone 28 positive cases reported with a total tally of 95 positive cases and 36,000 under observation in various districts.

Chief Minister Mr.Pinarayi Vijayan announced the unprecedented complete shutdown with state borders closed, restaurants closed only home delivery allowed, no public transport, only medical stores, and grocery stores are allowed to open.

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Coronavirus South Korea Status

South Korea reported a total of 7,134 cases with 50 deaths on Saturday.

Coronavirus Japan Status

Japan has reported 6 deaths and 488 local cases by Saturday, in addition to 696 cases linked to the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was previously quarantined near Tokyo.

Coronavirus Iran Status

Iran on Saturday reported a total of 7167 cases with 237 deaths. The country has already shut down schools until April, while the authorities have advised people to avoid inter-city trips.

Coronavirus USA Status

According to real-time data maintained by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, the caseload in the United States has topped 420 with 17 deaths as of Saturday night. The U.S. states of Washington, Florida, California, Hawaii, Maryland, Indiana, and New York have all declared a state of emergency. Stanford University and the University of Washington have canceled on-campus classes.

Coronavirus France

21 dead 1126 infected. Museums in Paris only allowing restricted entries to the visitors and tourists.

Coronavirus Status Other Countries

Malta, Maldives, Pakistan, Mangolia reported maiden cases of Coronavirus today.

Report from last week…

Coronavirus refuses to settle down, Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Oman reported new cases today. 7 reported died in Italy, 50 unconfirmed deaths from Iran but the government refused to accept the same, 7 in South Korea.

The outbreak of the Coronavirus in the month of December 2019 in China caused the death of more than 1000s of lives as of today. According to the National Health Commission, 2,478 new cases of infection were confirmed, bringing the total to 42,638. Monday alone 108 people died. 2 died outside China, i.e. one in Hongkong and one in the Philippines.

For the first time since the outbreak of the virus, the Chinese President XI Jinping visited the health facilities in Beijing.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said a vaccine for the coronavirus could be ready in 18 months. According to the UN health body, the official name for the virus would be Covid-19.

The virus said to have originated in Wuhan, in the seafood market where they sell wild animals too.

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