The global pandemic total jumped past 18 million today, driven by steady large-scale outbreaks in populous countries, such as India, Brazil, and the United States.
It took only 4 days for the world's COVID-19 total to jump from 17 million to 18 million, and today the total climbed to 18,157,379 cases, with 690,742 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins online dashboard.
Tedros: 'Do it all'
Over the weekend, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that after its emergency committee met for the fourth time on Jul 31 to review the latest evidence it unanimously agreed that the outbreak still warrants a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, accepted the group's recommendation. The extension comes about 6 months after the WHO first declared the PHEIC on Jan 30, when there were fewer than 100 cases outside of China. When it met for the second time in April, cases had climbed to 3 million.
At a WHO media briefing today, Tedros said that, since the April meeting, cases have increased fivefold and deaths have tripled. He said the pandemic has had a ripple effect on a range of other diseases and has interrupted health services, ranging from immunization to mental health support.
Tedros said he's pleased with the progress on identifying treatments that can save lives and that a number of vaccines are in clinical trials. "However, there's no silver bullet at the moment, and there might never be. For now, stopping outbreaks comes down to the basics of public health and disease control," he said, urging countries to "do it all," from testing to tracing to informing communities.
Plans set for virus-origin probe
In another development, a WHO advance team that traveled to China to meet with scientists and health officials there to lay the groundwork for studies into the origin of the virus has concluded its work, Tedros said. The two groups have settled on the terms of reference for the studies and a work program for an international joint team led by the WHO.
As the first step, the team will conduct a detailed epidemiologic investigation into the first cases in Wuhan.
Mike Ryan, MD, who leads the WHO's health emergencies program, said there are some gaps in the epidemiological landscape and a more extensive study is needed to look at the first cases. A surveillance system was in place to identify atypical pneumonia, which triggered the alarm in Wuhan. However, he said that doesn't necessarily indicate where the virus crossed from animals to humans.
The group will look at the first signal and systematically work their way back, and phase 2 of the investigations will focus on the animal source. "Otherwise, you're looking for needles in the haystack," he said.
Hot spot surges stay steady
India has reported 50,000 cases a day for the fifth day in a row, according to media reports. At today's WHO media briefing, Ryan said India's very high numbers reflect its massive population, and though the situation varies in different parts of the country, the developments are concerning, because the virus is now expanding to more rural areas that have weaker health systems.
He noted that health officials are taking steps to increase testing, are importing more oxygen concentrators, and are taking active roles in vaccine development and drug production.
Brazil's situation is still concerning, he said, and like other countries with intense transmission, there are only a few roads out of the crisis, which will involve strong partnerships with governments and states. "The way out is long, and sustained commitment is needed," he said, adding that some would benefit from resets aimed at suppressing the virus and engaging communities.
Vietnam, Australia battle recurrences
Meanwhile, countries that contained the virus are grappling with the fallout from recent flare-ups. Vietnam reported 22 more cases linked to Danang, its outbreak epicenter, today and has identified 4 cases in four different factories, Reuters reported.
Cases from Danang have spread to 10 other locations, and response steps include lockdowns targeting only hot spots and testing everyone in Danang, which is home to 1.1 million people.
In Australia, an ongoing outbreak in Victoria state's capital city of Melbourne prompted even stricter measures. Along with a 6-week lockdown, steps will include closure of retail businesses and some closure of administrative and construction sectors, according to Reuters.
In similar developments elsewhere, the Philippines president yesterday ordered a new 2-week lockdown for Manila as part of efforts to control a recent surge there. Like many places, infections started rising again after restrictions were eased, and yesterday the country reported more than 5,000 new cases.
In the United Kingdom, a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the greater Manchester area triggered a "major incident" declaration, a routine step that will help local officials coordinate the outbreak response, the BBC reported.
