At least one in five Americans has been infected with COVID-19! WHO warns or presents a new mutant strain

Comprehensive news: The latest data from the official website of the World Health Organization shows that as of 16:46 CET on the 18th, the global cumulative number of confirmed covid-19 cases 328532929, and the cumulative number of deaths 5542359. According to the latest statistics of Johns Hopkins University in the United States, as of 8:21 Beijing time on the 19th, the global cumulative number of confirmed cases 333465572, and the cumulative number of deaths 5553605.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the 18th that the number of new confirmed cases worldwide exceeded 18 million last week, and the number of new confirmed cases in some countries seems to have reached a peak, but the new crown pneumonia pandemic is far from over, and with the rapid spread of the new crown variant virus Omiljung strain around the world, new mutated strains may appear.

Americas: At least 20 percent of Americans have been infected with COVID-19

According to the data released by Johns Hopkins University at 8:21 Beijing time on the 19th, the cumulative number of confirmed 67481733 cases in the United States and the cumulative number of deaths is 853,720. The data also shows that at least 20% of people in the United States have been infected with the new crown virus since the outbreak of the epidemic.

According to the latest epidemic data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of January 14, the average daily increase in confirmed covid-19 cases in the United States on the 7th was nearly 800,000, reaching the highest peak since the outbreak of the epidemic; the average daily increase in deaths on the 7th was about 1,800, reaching the highest peak since the end of September last year. In addition, as of January 13, the average daily increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the United States exceeded 21,000 on the seventh day, which is the highest record since the CDC counted the data on August 1, 2020.

According to the data released by the Cuban Ministry of Public Health on the 17th, the country confirmed 3306 new cases in a single day, and the cumulative number of confirmed cases has exceeded 1 million, reaching 1002499; 1 new death, with a cumulative death of 8341 cases. As of that day, 14 of Cuba's 15 provinces had developed the Olmiqueron strain, and a cumulative total of 168 cases of the Aumiqueron strain infection had 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 on the same day. According to reports, Benitez's wife was confirmed to be infected with the new crown virus on the 16th of this month. Both husband and wife have completed two doses of COVID-19 vaccination.

Paxlovid, a new coronavirus treatment drug produced by Pfizer in the United States, was approved by Health Canada on the 17th, becoming the first oral drug approved for the treatment of new coronavirus infection in Canada. The Federal Government of Canada has pre-ordered 1 million courses of Palo Verde. Canadian officials say that getting the COVID-19 vaccine and complying with public precautionary measures is still the best way to prevent the epidemic, but therapeutic drugs, including Palo Verde, can alleviate the symptoms and may be crucial for those who have been infected.

In addition, the oral anti-coronavirus drug Molnupiravir, produced by the U.S. pharmaceutical company 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 after the approval of the Canadian Ministry of Health, an additional 500,000 courses can be added.

In late December 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the emergency use of two oral COVID-19 drugs, Paravid and Monupilvir.

Europe: France's daily increase in confirmed cases exceeded 460,000, a record high

According to the data released by the French public health department on the 18th, the country added 464769 new cases in a single day, the highest record since the outbreak of the epidemic, with a cumulative total of more than 14.73 million cases; 289 new deaths, with a cumulative death of more than 127,000 cases. More than 26,000 COVID-19 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 widely spreading. French Prime Minister Castell announced on the same day that the government will further provide assistance to hotels, catering enterprises, travel agencies and exhibition companies with less than 250 employees.

Asia: Israeli study says the fourth dose of the vaccine does not work well against the Aumiclon strain

According to the statistics of the Japan Broadcasting Association Television Station, as of 18:10 on the 18th, 32,197 new cases were confirmed in Japan in a single day, setting a record since the outbreak of the epidemic in Japan, with a cumulative 1938906 confirmed cases; 9 new deaths, with a cumulative death of 18,458 cases. Since January 14, the number of new confirmed cases in Japan in a single day has exceeded 20,000.

The surge in confirmed cases has led to a rise in bed use in many parts of Japan. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 5,185 new confirmed cases on the 18th, more than 5,000 cases again after about 5 months; the bed occupancy rate was 23.4%, almost double that of a week ago.

According to the data released by the Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal on the 18th, 10,258 new cases were confirmed in Nepal in a single day, the highest record since May 11 last year. The data also shows that the positive rate of COVID-19 testing in Nepal in the past 24 hours is about 45%.

Oja, an official at Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population, said the Government expects the outbreak to peak in early February, when the country's daily increase in confirmed cases could reach 20,000.

A preliminary study released by the Israeli Hayim Sheba Medical Center on the 17th showed that the fourth dose of the new crown vaccine was less effective in resisting the Olmikharong strain.

The head of the study, Gilly Regoff-Jokai, director of the Infection Prevention and Control Department at the Sheba Medical Center, pointed out that although the antibody level increased significantly after receiving the fourth dose of the vaccine and the effect on the prevention of the previous COVID-19 variant strain was also ideal, because the Olmikron strain had a certain "resistance" to the vaccine, the existing vaccine was "less effective" against the Olmikron strain.

Oceania: Australia has recorded a record number of deaths

Australian officials reported on the 18th that the country confirmed about 73,000 new cases in a single day, with a cumulative total of about 1.6 million confirmed cases, of which 1.3 million cases appeared in the past two weeks; 77 new deaths, the largest number of deaths due to the new crown since the outbreak of the epidemic in the country, with a cumulative death of 2776 cases. Health officials in the country said the majority of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units across the country were currently infected with the Olmikron strain, and "a significant proportion" of them were young people who had not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Of australia's new deaths that day, 36 occurred in New South Wales, also setting a record for the number of deaths in Australia's most populous state. It is reported that 33 of the deaths in the state have received two doses of the new crown vaccine, of which 4 have received booster injections.

Column Editor-in-Chief: Gu Wanquan Text Editor: Cao Fei Title Image Source: Xinhua News Agency Photo Editor: Yong Kai

Source: Author: China News Network