As countries on every continent start the ease lockdown regulations, a dramatic spike in positive COVID-19 cases welcomes the virus' second wave while other nations are still in the middle of overcoming the first wave. In the United States, the average number of daily cases remains at about 22,000 new individuals as more than 800 people add the death count every day.
Moreover, the spread of infection during international gathers, anti-racism protests, and local protests are extra complications. Health officials all over the world have been talking about the economic consequences of lifting lockdown restrictions too early.
Stella Kyriakides, the health commissioner of the European Union, said 'We must be ready to roll back relaxation of measures if needed.' She shared this with the rest of EU's members so that authorities would hastily push for mass testing, especially with the reopening of businesses and schools.
Currently in Brazil, the health ministry has recorded 909 deaths in the past 24 hours, adding to a total of over 41,000 fatalities. This puts them in second place of virus deaths, surpassing Britain's numbers.
In South Africa, they saw their biggest single-day increase this week amounting to 3,359 cases.The running total over 61,000 cases remains active representing more than 25% of the cases on the entire continent. Africa's World Health Organization chief said that this current trend is parallel to what's happening in the United States and Europe.
In India, public transportation has resumed operations, as well as offices and malls this week. After nearly 2.5 months of lockdown, restrictions have been lifted, contrary to health officials' advice that they were still 'weeks away from flattening the rising infection curve.' Although their death toll count is smaller than other countries at 8,498, the health ministry reported that cases rose by 10,956 this week, most from Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.
Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, one of India's biggest and prominent mosques, will not be hosting a congregation until after this month has passed. 'What is the point of visiting mosques at a time when the virus is spreading so fast?' he said.
First Wave in the Americas
In Mexico, the capital's mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum will allow public transportation to run again and reopen factories under strict workplace conditions. Markets, restaurants, churches, and shopping malls will shortly follow despite a high number of current cases - 5,222 new infections and 504 new deaths.
Up to 340,000 factory workers returning to work while available testing remains limited. However, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador persists to reactivate the economy, thinking that there will not be new outbreaks. 'We have to be careful that this doesn't happen, and open little by little with health measures, health protocols, and if we see a new outbreak somewhere, return to confinement - everything voluntarily,' he said
Currently, the Americas are being hit by this pandemic the hardest with Central and South America surpassing European cases and falling rank right under U.S. statistics. Southern states including Texas and Arizona reported that the number of patients filling hospital beds is rising.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner have expressed a possible reinforcement of lockdown in Houston, Texas. 'We may be approaching the precipice of a disaster,' said Hidalgo. 'It's out of hand right now. The good news is it's not [severely] out of hand.'
'I want the reopening to be successful,' she said. 'But I'm growing increasingly concerned that we may be approaching the precipice of a disaster.'
Reading the Signs
General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director expressed that the threat of a resurgence is quite real. 'We must also remember that, although the situation is improving here in Europe, globally it's getting worse ... We will continue to need global solidarity to defeat this pandemic fully,' he said.
Spencer Fox, a research associate at the University of Texas at Austin expressed his concern over the high number of predicted deaths. 'We are starting to see very worrying signs about the course the pandemic is taking in cities and states in the U.S. and around the world,' he said. "When you start seeing those signs, you need to act fairly quickly.'
Read Also: Missouri Authorities Find Answer Why COVID-Positive Hairstylists Did Not Infect 140 Clients
