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647,353 Deaths and 16,171,112 Corona Virus Infections, Mostly in the US, Brazil, UK, Mexico, Italy, India, France, Spain, Peru, Iran, and Russia

July 25, 2020 

A Covid-19 patient is wheeled into a Mexico City hospital, July 24, 2020

 

As of July 25, 2020, 22:34 GMT, 

World: 16,171,112  Infection Cases, and 647,353 Deaths.

A list of countries with the highest Coronavirus (Covid-19) deaths:

1 USA 4,308,876 infection cases, and 149,320 deaths.
2 Brazil 2,394,513 infection cases, and 86,449 deaths.
3 UK 298,681 infection cases, and 45,738 deaths.

4 Mexico 378,285 infection cases, and 42,645 deaths.

5 Italy 245,864 infection cases, and 35,102 deaths.

6 India 1,385,494 infection cases, and 32,096 deaths.

7 France 180,528 infection cases, and 30,192 deaths.

8 Spain 319,501 infection cases, and 28,432 deaths.

9 Peru 379,884 infection cases, and 18,030 deaths.

10 Iran 288,839 infection cases, and 15,484 deaths.

11 Russia 806,720 infection cases, and 13,192 deaths.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

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WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 23 July 2020

WHO, 23 July 2020

中文
Français
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Good morning, good afternoon and good evening.

More than 15 million cases of COVID-19 have now been reported to WHO, and almost 620 thousand deaths.

Although all countries have been affected, we continue to see intense transmission in a relatively small group of countries.

Almost 10 million cases, or two-thirds of all cases globally, are from 10 countries, and almost half of all cases reported so far are from just three countries.

As we have said previously, political leadership and community engagement are the two vital pillars of the response.

One of the tools governments can use is the law – not to coerce, but to protect health while protecting human rights.

Yesterday, WHO, the United Nations Development Programme and Georgetown University launched the COVID-19 Law Lab, a database of laws that countries have implemented in response to the pandemic.

It includes state of emergency declarations, quarantine measures, disease surveillance, legal measures relating to mask-wearing, physical distancing, and access to medication and vaccines.

Well-designed laws can help to build strong health systems; evaluate and approve safe and effective drugs and vaccines; and enforce actions to create healthier and safer public spaces and workplaces.

However, laws that are poorly designed, implemented or enforced can harm marginalized populations, entrench stigma and discrimination, and hinder efforts to end the pandemic.
The database will continue to grow as more countries and themes are added.

But even more powerful than the law is giving people the information they need to protect themselves and others.

The best way to suppress transmission and save lives is by engaging individuals and communities to manage their own risk and take evidence-based decisions to protect their own health and that of those around them.

The pandemic has disrupted the lives of billions of people. Many have been at home for months.

It’s completely understandable that people want to get on with their lives.

But we will not be going back to the “old normal”. The pandemic has already changed the way we live our lives. Part of adjusting to the “new normal” is finding ways to live our lives safely.

It can be done, but how to do it will depend on where you live and your circumstances.

It’s all about making good choices.

We’re asking everyone to treat the decisions about where they go, what they do and who they meet with as life-and-death decisions – because they are.

It may not be your life, but your choices could be the difference between life and death for someone you love, or for a complete stranger.

In recent weeks we have seen outbreaks associated with nightclubs and other social gatherings, even in places where transmission had been suppressed.

We must remember that most people are still susceptible to this virus. As long as it’s circulating, everyone is at risk.

Just because cases might be at a low level where you live, that doesn’t make it safe to let down your guard.

Don’t expect someone else to keep you safe. We all have a part to play in protecting ourselves and one another.

First, know your situation. Do you know how many cases were reported where you live yesterday? Do you know where to find that information?

Second, do you know how to minimize your exposure? Are you being careful to keep at least 1 meter from others? Are you still cleaning your hands regularly? Are you following the advice of your local authorities?

No matter where you live or how old you are, you can be a leader in your community, not just to defeat the pandemic, but to build back better.

In recent years we’ve seen young people leading grassroots movements for climate change and racial equality.

Now we need young people to start a global movement for health – for a world in which health is a human right, not a privilege.

I thank you.

https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---23-july-2020

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‘This is about saving lives not playing politics:’ coronavirus czar says he won’t resign

Opposition parties have been calling for his dismissal

 Mexico News Daily, on Saturday, July 25, 2020 • 

Coronavirus czar Hugo López-Gatell said Friday he won’t resign as deputy health minister after opposition politicians called for his dismissal.

“I am committed to Mexico. I will not resign,” López-Gatell, who has a doctorate in epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University, told reporters at the Tabasco airport yesterday, just before his evening coronavirus press conference. “This is not about playing politics, it is about saving lives and protecting people,” he said. 

His statements come after politicians from three parties demanded that he be ousted from his position as head of prevention and health promotion and chief strategist for the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We come to do technical work. We are technical officials dedicated to public health, and we come to do that work. The government of Mexico and President López Obrador have made it very clear since this pandemic began that in Mexico health decisions are made with technical and scientific criteria, and that’s our commitment,” he told journalists. 

Leaders of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) the Citizens’ Movement (MC) and the National Action Party (PAN) have all asked for his resignation claiming that he has failed at managing the pandemic.

As of Friday, Mexico had registered 378,285 cases of the coronavirus, 7,573 more than on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Health. 

In addition, 737 people died during that 24-hour period, bringing the death toll to 42,645. 

Source: El Financiero (sp), El Economista (sp) 

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/coronavirus-czar-says-he-wont-resign/

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Increased hospital occupancy will leave Mexico City on orange next week

The city will remain at the second-highest level of coronavirus risk

Mexico News Daily, on Friday, July 24, 2020 • 

Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday that Mexico City will remain at the orange alert level due to a growing demand for hospital beds and fears that there could be a resurgence of coronavirus cases.

The city remains at the second-highest risk level due to the increase in the number of hospitalized coronavirus patients during the last five days, Sheinbaum explained.

“We call on all the inhabitants of Mexico City to protect themselves,” she cautioned, adding that safe distance measures and the use of face masks must continue.

Currently, 2,674 people with the coronavirus in Mexico City are in hospital, and 774 are on ventilators.

If the number of hospitalized patients with coronavirus reaches 5,000 in the Valley of México, the city will revert to the red light, or maximum risk level. 

“According to the epidemiological stoplight of the Ministry of Health, if occupancy increases to more than 5,127 beds, we would need to be taking more restrictive measures and have to return to a red light and stay like that for several weeks so that we can drop the level of hospitalization in the city,” Sheinbaum warned.

Not changing the trend of the virus could lead to exponential growth and a return to maximum-risk restrictions by October. 

Permitted activities will remain unchanged next week, although businesses in the city’s historic center, where the largest crowds of people have been seen, will close at 5 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. and will be closely monitored for compliance.

As of Friday, officials said, there have been 66,444 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Mexico City and 8,638 deaths. Active cases currently number 4,638.

Source: Reforma (sp), Aristeguinoticias (sp), Milenio (sp)

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/increased-hospital-occupancy-will-leave-mexico-city-on-orange-next-week/

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