top of page

Worldwide Health Alert – COVID-19 Update

This is a period of continued disparity between international destinations with respect to travel impact. Globally, we have surpassed 14.5 million total confirmed cases. We have also noted that 56% of confirmed cases have recovered – increasing 2% since 13 July. Of the reported closed cases (9.4 million) 6% have died. Of the current active cases (almost 5.3 million) 1% are listed as serious or critical (over 59,600 cases).


Social distancing and shelter in place directives are changing across the globe (location dependent). We strongly encourage all leaders and individuals to comprehensively plan for return to work with integrated risk management protocols and practices and avoid rushing to failure.


Notable Statistics:

  • 14,567,109 total cases across 188 countries globally – up from 12,934,317 cases on 13 July (1,632,792 case difference)

  • 8,193,138 recoveries (56% of total cases) – up from 7,139,985 on 13 July

  • 607,187 deaths (4.2% of total cases)– up from 569,697 on 13 July

The Situation:

Vaccine trials are under way in the U.S., Europe and China, but will take 12-18 months to be fully developed and released to the public. Officials say more than half dozen vaccine programs are in the clinical phase and over 80 are in preliminary phase

Europe

  • Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia has asked millions of its citizens to stay home as case numbers begin to threaten to overwhelm the local hospital systems.

  • Belgium sees a 66% increase in trend of daily new infections with a 154.1 daily average for the week of 10-16 July, compared to a 93 daily average the week prior.

  • France makes masks mandatory Monday in public places indoors or risk a $154 (135 euro) fine.

    • France reporting 400-500 active coronavirus outbreak clusters, but are not concerned about a “second wave”.

  • British officials sign a deal with Pfizer and others to buy 90 million doses of experimental coronavirus vaccine

    • Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he could not promise that there would be a successful vaccine by end of the year.

  • Greece imposes stricter rules on seasonal workers after a spike in cases in the Balkans. Any workers that leave Greece before 4 August will not be allowed back until further notice.


Eurasia

  • Russia reported almost 6,000 new cases as total approaches 777,500. Remains the 4th highest cases total in the world.

    • Russia is hoping to complete vaccine trials by end of August and then produce 200 million doses with foreign partners by end of the year.


Asia

  • India’s cases passed the 1 million mark on 17 July. Reported 40,425 new cases in a new record high on Monday. Country’s total stands at 1.1 million, but the ministry reports that the fatality rate is “progressively falling” – currently at 2.49%.

    • More than 300,000 samples being tested daily now and local governments are implementing focused lockdowns in high risk areas.

  • Malaysia – more than 97% of Covid-19 patients in the country have recovered.

  • Japan reported 500 new cases nationally, 188 of those in Tokyo.

    • Majority of Japanese are against the government’s plan to jump-start domestic tourism over concerns that it will just spread the virus to rural areas.

  • China’s most recent outbreak in Xinjiang capital city of Urumqi continues to rise with 17 more cases on Monday. China has swiftly taken action to lockdown the western city and 100s of flights to/from the city were canceled last Friday.

  • Indonesia reported 2nd highest daily increase of deaths related to coronavirus with 96, a day after posting the record.

    • Indonesia is reporting 88,214 total cases, the highest reported number in East and Southeast Asia. Death toll stands at 4,239.

  • Hong Kong seeing a recent spike in cases, reported 73 new cases on Monday, 66 of which were locally transmitted. Sunday reported over 100 new cases for the first time.

    • Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced that all non-essential workers must work from home.

    • Masks are currently required on public transportation, but may soon be required in all public indoor venues.

  • Philippines reports 1,521 new cases; 5th straight day over 1,000 daily new cases.

  • South Korea still seeing double-digit new cases, mostly imported, though numbers dropped below 30 on Monday for first time in over three weeks. Has seen double-digit daily imported cases for 25 straight days.


Middle East

  • 15 June: According to WHO and UN children’s agency UNICEF the disruption of essential nutrition and health services in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) could kill over 50,000 children under 5 in the region. A 40% increase over pre-Covid-19 numbers.

  • Pakistan reporting that number of active cases continues to drop. 1,587 new cases reported on Sunday as active cases fell by 97. Totals stand at 53,465, the lowest since 3 June.

  • Israeli government orders weekend shutdown from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning – malls, shops, pools, zoos and museums – people allowed to leave homes, but by 24 July people may be confined to their residences.


Africa

  • 17 April: WHO Africa – a tentative projection shows that cases in Africa could hit as many as 10 million in 3-6 months.

  • South Africa’s death toll pushed past the 5,000 mark Sunday with 85 new deaths reported in the previous 24 hours.


Oceania

  • Australia’s Victoria state dealing with a spike in cases since mid-July. Recorded 275 new cases Monday and 1 death. Authorities are asking residents to wear face masks once they leave their homes or face a fine of $140 ($200 Australian)


South/Central America

  • El Salvador postpones moving into Phase 2 again on advice from health ministry and experts. Country is reporting 11,846 total cases and 335 deaths.

  • Mexico reported 5,311 new cases and 296 more deaths. Total of 344,224 cases and 39,184 deaths. Government still maintains that actual number of cases is “significantly” higher.

  • Brazil passes 2 million cases with no signs of slowing down – took only 27 days to go from 1 million to 2 million cases. Anger grows over President Bolsonaro’s handling of the virus. Testing numbers are on the lower end as well.

    • Bolsonaro greeted supporters at his residence Sunday though he is recovering from a recent diagnosis of Covid-19.

  • Unrest in prisons over conditions have been reported in several countries across Latin America.


Canada

  • U.S. and Canada extend border closure to non-essential travel through 21 August.


U.S.

  • U.S. cases rose to 3,794,355 confirmed cases, 140,716 total deaths and 1,131,121 recovered.

    • 15 June: U.S. regional data showing that cases are slowing in the Northeast and Midwest, while rising in South and West. Increased testing is partially the cause.






Please note changes to the following chart: Numbers in parentheses reflect ranking of country in the previous report on 13 July. New countries to reach the top 25 and data are in red. New numbers are in red and numbers from last report are in black.



Travel Effects Across the Globe:

  • Many countries have urged citizens to reconsider travel or avoid nonessential travel

  • Quarantines, mask mandates social distancing rules, and border closures based on needs per country. Some of these may be implemented with little to no notice.

  • Airlines have cancelled many international flights and several cruise operators have suspended operations or cancelled trips.

  • Current CDC Travel Alerts for Covid-19:

    • Level 3 – Avoid all nonessential travel – Global COVID-19 Pandemic Notice – Widespread Ongoing Transmission - LINK

    • See LINK for all current travel alerts by country

Symptoms to Watch Out For:

Officials say the respiratory disease, is capable of spreading through human-to-human contact, droplets carried through sneezing and coughing, and germs left on inanimate objects. The virus might spread during the incubation period – which is believed to be from 1 to 14 days. Be on the lookout for the following symptoms:

  • High fever

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

  • Cough (usually dry)

  • Sore throat

  • Chills sometimes with repeated shaking

  • Headache

  • Fatigue

  • Muscle aches or pain

  • Diarrhea, nausea, and/or vomiting

  • Loss of smell and/or taste (uncommon)

  • Confusion, stroke-like symptoms, and/or seizures (rare)

  • Pneumonia (secondary infection)

DISCLAIMER and Hold Harmless

Disclaimer: LSDS™ gathers information from multiple sources and offers insight and perspective to travelers. Sources cannot be validated for accuracy in every instance. Travelers assume all risk associated with their travel and are responsible for the decisions associated with travel and for their own safety. Users of this reference document agree, to hold harmless LSDS™ (LLC) its employees and clients associated with any risk or injury incurred during travel.


Comentários


bottom of page