(Fighting against New Coronary Pneumonia) WHO warns that at least 20% of Americans with new mutant strains have been infected with the new crown
China News AgencyBeijing, January 19. Comprehensive news: The latest data from the World Health Organization’s official website shows that as of 16:46 on the 18th Central European Time, there have been 328,532,929 confirmed cases of new crowns and 5,542,359 deaths worldwide. According to the latest statistics from Johns Hopkins University in the United States, as of 8:21 on the 19th, Beijing time, there were 333,465,572 confirmed cases and 5,553,605 deaths worldwide.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the 18th that the number of newly confirmed cases worldwide exceeded 18 million last week, and the number of newly confirmed cases in some countries seems to have reached a peak, but the new crown pneumonia pandemic is far from over. The mutated virus Omicron strain is spreading rapidly around the world, and new mutated strains may emerge.
Americas: At least 20% of Americans have been infected with the new crown
According to data released by Johns Hopkins University at 8:21 Beijing time on the 19th, a total of 67,481,733 cases have been diagnosed in the United States, and a total of 853,720 deaths. The data also shows that at least 20% of people in the United States have been infected with the new coronavirus since the outbreak.
The latest epidemic data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that as of January 14, the average daily increase of new crown confirmed cases in the United States on the 7th reached nearly 800,000, reaching the highest peak since the outbreak; the average daily increase in deaths on the 7th was about 1,800. For example, it reached its highest peak since the end of September last year. In addition, as of January 13, the average daily increase of new crown hospitalizations in the United States on the 7th exceeded 21,000, which is the highest record since the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collected the data on August 1, 2020.
According to data released by the Cuban Ministry of Public Health on the 17th, the country has newly confirmed 3,306 cases in a single day, and the cumulative number of confirmed cases has exceeded 1 million, reaching 1,002,499; 1 new death has been added, and the total number of deaths has been 8,341. As of that day, 14 of Cuba’s 15 provinces have appeared in 14 of the 15 provinces of Cuba, and a total of 168 cases of Omicron infection have been reported nationwide.
Paraguay’s Ministry of Health said on the 18th that the country’s President Benitez tested positive for the new crown virus that day. According to reports, Benitez’s wife was diagnosed with the new crown virus on the 16th of this month. Both husband and wife have completed two doses of the new crown vaccine.
Paxlovid, a new coronavirus treatment drug produced by Pfizer, was approved by Health Canada on the 17th, becoming the first oral drug approved for use in Canada to treat new coronavirus infection. The federal government has pre-ordered 1 million courses of Palo Verde. Canadian officials said that vaccination against the new crown and compliance with public epidemic prevention measures are still the best way to prevent the epidemic, but treatment drugs, including Palo Verde, can reduce symptoms and may be crucial for those who have been infected.
In addition, the oral anti-coronavirus drug Molnupiravir produced by the U.S. drugmaker Merck (known as Merck in the U.S. and Canada) is awaiting official Canadian approval. The Canadian government has pre-purchased 500,000 courses of the drug, and an additional 500,000 courses can be added after the approval of the Canadian Ministry of Health.
In late December 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the emergency use of two new coronavirus oral drugs, Palovide and Monupavir.
Europe: The number of daily confirmed cases in France exceeds 460,000, setting a record
According to data released by the French public health department on the 18th, the country has newly confirmed 464,769 cases in a single day, the highest since the outbreak of the epidemic. More than 26,000 new crown patients are currently being treated in hospitals in France, of which 3,881 are critically ill.
French government spokesman Attar said on the 18th that France is still in a severe epidemic situation, and the new crown virus is still spreading widely. French Prime Minister Castel announced on the same day that the government will further provide assistance to hotels, catering companies, travel agencies and exhibition companies with less than 250 employees.
Asia: Israeli study says fourth dose of vaccine not effective against Omicron strain
According to the statistics of the Japan Broadcasting Association TV station, as of 18:10 on the 18th, Japan has newly confirmed 32,197 cases in a single day, setting a record since the outbreak of the epidemic in the country. Since January 14, the number of newly confirmed cases in Japan has exceeded 20,000 in a single day.
The surge in confirmed cases has led to a rise in the use of hospital beds in many parts of Japan. Tokyo reported 5,185 new confirmed cases on the 18th, exceeding 5,000 again after a lapse of about 5 months; the occupancy rate of hospital beds was 23.4%, almost double that of a week ago.
According to data released by the Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal on the 18th, 10,258 new cases were diagnosed in Nepal in a single day, the highest since May 11 last year. The data also shows that the positive rate of COVID-19 tests in Nepal in the past 24 hours is about 45%.
Oja, an official with the Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal, said that the Nepalese government expects that the current round of epidemics will peak in early February, when the number of confirmed cases in the country may reach 20,000 a day.
A preliminary study published by Israel’s Haim Sheba Medical Center on the 17th showed that the fourth dose of the new crown vaccine was less effective against the Omicron strain.
Gilly Regev-Yoke, director of the infection prevention and control department at Sheba Medical Center, who led the study, pointed out that although antibody levels improved significantly after the fourth dose of the vaccine, it was also more effective in preventing the previous new coronavirus variant strains. Ideal, but due to the “resistance” of the Omicron strain to the vaccine, the existing vaccines are “less effective” against the Omicron strain.
Oceania: Australia’s daily death toll hits record
The Australian official announced on the 18th that about 73,000 new cases were diagnosed in the country in a single day, and the cumulative number of confirmed cases was about 1.6 million, of which 1.3 million were concentrated in the past two weeks; 77 new deaths were caused by the new crown since the outbreak of the country. The deadliest day, with a total of 2,776 deaths. The country’s health officials said that most of the new crown patients in intensive care units around the country are currently infected with the Omicron strain, and “a significant number” of them are young people who have not been vaccinated against the new crown.
Of Australia’s new deaths that day, 36 were in New South Wales, also setting a record for the number of daily deaths in Australia’s most populous state. It is reported that 33 of the state’s deaths have received two doses of the new crown vaccine, of which four received a booster shot. (Finish)