Covid cases map: Global rates SURGE as UK nears freedom – where are cases highest?
COVID vaccine: Variants that beat jabs 'will appear' says expert
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Covid case rates have formed a central tenet of various government responses since early last year. These rates show whether their coordinated efforts produce results, which have proven encouraging for some individual nations. But the overall picture shows a concerning trend, with cases reaching a peak not yet seen since the pandemic began.
Where are Covid cases the highest?
While some countries, namely England, Wales, the US and Israel, have managed to vaccinate significant swathes of their populations and now approach restriction-free life, the global case rate is rising.
Caseloads are smashing previous records set in late 2020, with more people diagnosed over the last seven days than any other week since the pandemic began.
Data from scientists at Johns Hopkins University shows a total increase in caseloads of 12 percent.
Death tolls have risen in kind, pushing 12,000 a day to a total of 82,000 by April 18.
Two countries are shouldering most of the case burden, Brazil and India.
The nations, both in the developing world and lacking the vaccine resources of other countries, have vast and densely packed populations.
They have covered approximately 4.5 and 8.3 percent of their people with jabs, respectively while beating back daily case increases of 200,000 and 30,000.
India is now home to the second most significant outbreak after taking the unenviable position from its South American counterpart in March.
Between April 6 and 10, a total of 2,634,923 cases were recorded – and 14,983 deaths.
India is upping its vaccination effort in response, with 44 million doses given in the same time period.
This means a total of 17 million people in India are now fully vaccinated and 109 million people have had their first dose.
But in a nation with a staggeringly large population, that’s just 1.3 percent and 8.1 percent respectively, meaning there’s still a long way to go.
The rise in cases comes after the Indian health ministry reported findings of two unusual mutations: E484Q and L425R.
When first discovered at the end of March, up to 20 percent of cases carried this variant – which has been named B.1.617. Now, the figure has risen to more than 60 percent in the western state of Maharashtra.
And in worrying news, the strain has now gone on the move. Public Health England (PHE) said last week there were 73 cases in England and four in Scotland. But last night Health SecretaryMatt Hancock confirmed the figure had risen up to 103.
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed its concern at the rising cases in recent weeks.
Speaking from a briefing focussed on the eastern Pacific region and Papua New Guinea, the organisation’s chief said the news was “worrying”.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus focussed his attention on the potential for a “much larger epidemic” despite smaller numbers in the area but addressed the latest global rates.
He said: “Globally, the number of new cases per week has nearly doubled over the past two months.
“This is approaching the highest rate of infection that we have seen so far during the pandemic.”
Dr Ghebreyesus added countries could lower these concerning rates with international cooperation.
He said: “Globally, our message to all people in all countries remains the same. We all have a role to play in ending the pandemic.”
Rich nations currently out-vaccinate all others, according to the United Nations, with roughly one person covered every second.
Poorer countries have had trouble crossing this dividing line, with many yet to issue their first dose.
Experts have championed the developed world’s role in assisting other nations with vaccinations by exporting help or jab supplies.
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