COVID Latest: Biggest Daily Number Of New Infections, Over 106,000
Thursday: Trump blames 'wacko' for 'mass killing'; immunity study gives vaccine hope
Morning! It’s Thursday, May 21. Here’s today’s ‘5+5: coronavirus edition’.
Each day I’m bringing you 5 things to know about COVID-19 + 5 non-corona things too.
If you haven’t already, please sign up above ^^ to get this every day in your emails (and tell your friends).
You can email me at joshb2@protonmail.com for tips, ideas or want to chat. You can also find me on Twitter at @joshbutler; on Facebook; or on Instagram.
As discussed previously, I’m also in the job market, so…
Wash your hands and sneeze into your elbow. Remember physical distancing - at least 1.5 metres of separation.
Latest Australian stats: as of 9pm Wednesday, Australia has 7079 reported cases of COVID-19 (that’s +13 since the day before), with 6444 reported as ‘recovered’; there have been 100 deaths; and more than 1,111,567 tests have been done, according to the latest federal Department of Health stats. Full global stats breakdown below.
5 CORONAVIRUS THINGS
106,000 confirmed cases yesterday
The World Health Organisation is alarmed after more than 100,000 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed yesterday — the biggest daily single number since the pandemic broke out (link).
“We still have a long way to go in this pandemic. We are very concerned about rising cases in low- and middle-income countries,” said WHO director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
While countries like Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and parts of Europe seem to be getting the virus under control (to varying degrees), poorer countries in South America, Asia and Africa have seen their case numbers explode in recent days. Russia and Brazil, for example, have suddenly shot up to number two and three in total cases (trailing only the USA) in just the last few days. There is concern that less wealthy countries with large populations — Indonesia, for instance, which only has 19,000 confirmed cases — may be dealing with large outbreaks but lack the testing and medical staff to track and deal with it. More global stats below.
Trump blames China for “worldwide killing”
U.S. President Donald Trump has unleashed a tirade against China over the virus, calling its leader Xi Jinping a “wacko” and claiming the country’s “incompetence” led to “mass worldwide killing” (link).
Trump has also said he wants to reschedule the G7 leaders’ meeting in person for June, at the Camp David retreat in the state of Maryland (link). It’s unclear whether other world leaders would attend, considering the rampant COVID outbreak still yet to be controlled in the USA.
Monkey study gives immunity hope
Lab monkeys who recovered from coronavirus developed a level of immunity to the virus (link). A study into whether infection leaves some level of future immunity has found given some hope to the hunt for a vaccine. It has been unknown whether surviving a COVID infection would potentially prevent future re-infections, or whether people could contract the virus again and again. Researchers described the finding as “very good news” and that formerly infected animals had “a substantial degree of protection” the second time around.
Virus spreading in Italy earlier than expected
A study by a Milan hospital found that nearly 5 percent of a random sample of Italians contracted coronavirus earlier than the first local transmission was confirmed (link). “The study of blood samples by donors showed that 4.6 per cent already had antibodies against the virus at the start of the epidemic,” it was reported. The study is looking at how to identify asymptomatic carriers of the virus.
Today’s stats:
The latest stats from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering (as of 8.30am AEST Thursday) report 4,968,689 confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide. It will tick over 5 million in the next 24 hours. There have been 326,464 deaths.
The United States has 1,549,052 confirmed cases, with Russia next but far behind on 308,705, then Brazil (271,628) . The U.S. has the most deaths (93,163), then the United Kingdom (35,785) and Italy third on 32,330.
In Australia, the latest federal stats (as of 9pm Wednesday) show 7079 cases, 6444 people recovered, 100 deaths, and 1,111,567 tests.
The latest Australian graph:
5 NON-CORONAVIRUS THINGS
The NRL has announced its draw for the full season (link). Teams are playing only in a certain number of stadiums for now, with not all teams getting to play in their normal home grounds. This may change, with locations not released for games after July.
The federal court has ruled that casual employees may be owed rights and entitlements of permanent employees, such as annual leave (link). Employer groups are livid, and calling for urgent legal changes to prevent “double dipping”.
Former WWE wrestler Shad Gaspard has drowned after being caught in a rip at California’s Venice Beach. He and his son were pulled out by a strong current, and Gaspard reportedly told lifesavers to rescue his boy first. Gaspard’s body was found two days later (link).
Astronomers may have spotted a new planet being formed out in space — the first time such an event has been seen. About 520 light years from Earth, “a dense disc of dust and gas has been spotted surrounding a young star called AB Aurigae”, which experts believe may be forming into a planet (link).
Australian paleontologists have discovered the remains of a 2.5 metre tall kangaroo, 7 metre crocodile and huge lizards among 16 extinct “mega fauna” at a site near Mackay (link).
IMPORTANT EVERY DAY
Be hygienic; wash your hands properly, at least 30 seconds with soap and water, multiple times a day (here’s how you need to do it, plus a handy Dr Karl video tutorial); sneeze and cough into your elbows.
Listen to only official information from the World Health Organisation and legitimate health bodies — Don’t share dodgy stuff on Facebook. If it looks too good (or bad) to be true, it often is.
World Health Organisation latest statistics here.
Australian government latest statistics here.
Signing off — stay safe, be healthy, look after yourself and others.
Josh