The global COVID-19 total passed 15.5 million cases today, with no let-up in brisk activity in the main hot spots, including India, which reported another daily record high.
So far, 15,628,936 cases have been reported, along with 636,262 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins online dashboard.
India, Americas, and South Africa developments
India today reported another daily record high number of cases, 48,891, amid reports that clinicians are facing shortages of generic remdesivir, an antiviral that studies have shown as promising for critically ill patients, Reuters reported.
Gilead, which makes remdesivir, had authorized six Indian companies, along with three makers from other countries, to make and sell a generic version of the drug in 127 developing countries. So far only three of the Indian companies have passed the regulatory and manufacturing steps to begin producing generic remdesivir.
Maharashtra is the country's hardest hit state, where 60% of cases have been reported from Mumbai.
Brazil, the country with the second-highest cases —where early signs of stabilization have been reported — yesterday reported about 58,000 new cases. Virus activity has been spreading inland and to poorer, less populated areas where health services are in short supply, Bloomberg News reported. Though the country's southeast has been the epicenter, the northeast of the country is now reporting nearly as many cases, and richer states such as Santa Catarina are reporting heavy activity.
Elsewhere, Mexico now has the world's fourth highest death total behind the United Kingdom, according to the Johns Hopkins online dashboard. The country has a very low level of testing, only 3 per 100,000 people and a high positivity rate of 66%, suggesting that the country has many more cases than the 370,712 that have been reported, The Guardian reported today.
Sources said testing is rare for people with symptoms, even among sick healthcare workers. Health officials said it's unclear why Mexico's testing levels are so low, and reasons could range from cost-cutting to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's view that it is an unneeded expense or that health officials are taking a herd immunity approach.
South Africa—Africa's main hot spot and the country with the fifth highest cases--reported nearly 14,000 new cases today, amid a report from the South African Medical Research Council that in July, deaths from natural cases were 59% higher than expected, which could reflect a higher-than-reported number of COVID-19 deaths.
The country is shuttering schools for a second time and will extend the academic year beyond the end of 2020 due to pandemic disruptions.
Countries track upticks
Meanwhile, countries that have brought down their virus levels are addressing flare-ups, with global health officials expect as restrictions ease, but say need to be addressed and watched closely.
Australian officials have ordered new restrictions for New South Wales, its most populated state, following newly emerged clusters in Sydney, Reuters reported. Neighboring Victoria state is also battling a fresh surge, which began in the suburbs of Melbourne.
In France, cases have increased 66% over the past 3 weeks, with 26% rise over the past week, the Associated Press reported. Officials recently announced that wearing masks are mandatory in public indoor spaces.
Canada's COVID-19 cases have gradually risen over the past 2 weeks, following a steady decline in June, CTV News reported. The uptick reflects known outbreaks in several provinces, some involving "lockdown fatigue", younger people expanding their social connections, and migrant camps and other congregate living settings.
