March 29, 2024

Earn Money

Business Life

Record Australia Cases; U.S. Deaths Top 150,000: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) — Health officials across Asia are facing a wave of Covid-19 outbreaks, as Australia’s hot spot Victoria state announced a daily record of more than 700 cases and Vietnamese capital Hanoi halted large gatherings.

In the U.S., deaths from the virus surpassed 150,000, the highest official toll in the world and another grim milestone in a pandemic that’s still raging in many parts of the country. California, Texas and Florida each reported record daily fatalities.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned of the most severe economic downturn “in our lifetime” as officials left interest rates near zero and vowed to use all their tools to support a recovery. The U.S. House will require masks for all lawmakers while in the chamber after a Texas representative tested positive for the virus.

Key Developments:

Global Tracker: Cases exceed 16.9 million; deaths pass 665,000Japan lays out terms for some foreign residents’ returnAustralia reports record 713 daily cases in VictoriaHanoi halts big gatherings as more cases found in DanangMexico says it has more than 5,000 new casesIndia’s poorest areas may be developing herd immunityU.S. created a data disaster with its uneven Covid response

Subscribe to a daily update on the virus from Bloomberg’s Prognosis team here. Click CVID on the terminal for global data on coronavirus cases and deaths.

Japan to Allow Some Foreigners’ Return (9:47 a.m. HK)

Japan’s Foreign Ministry announced the new rules under which some of its foreign residents will be allowed to return from abroad.criticism that the country’s current virus restrictions were separating families and disrupting livelihoods.

The terms stipulate that permanent residents of Japan, spouses of Japanese citizens and some others will be permitted to enter starting Aug. 5. They must provide documentation and proof of a negative Covid-19 test conducted less than 72 hours before travel.

South Korea Has 18 New Cases (9:11 a.m.)

The country, which is battling a new Covid-19 wave after initial success in containing the virus’s spread, reported 18 new infections for a total of 14,269.

Australia Sees Worst Day of Infections (9:10 a.m. HK)

Australia announced a daily case record with its epicenter Victoria logging 723 new cases. State premier Daniel Andrews told reporters there had been 13 more deaths from the virus, bringing Victoria’s total to 105.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, speaking later to reporters in Canberra, called the spike “very concerning.”

The rise came despite a lockdown in Melbourne that was aimed at calming the outbreak. Worries are growing that the city’s weeks old stay-home order will need to be extended further in the southern state, taking a bigger toll on its economy.

China Has 105 New Cases, 96 From Xinjiang (8:58 a.m. HK)

The country reported 102 local coronavirus infections for July 29, the National Health Commission said in a statement, amid its biggest spike in domestic Covid-19 cases in months. Three more cases were imported, it said.

Ninety-six of the new cases were found in Xinjiang, the far west region that has been in the spotlight as China’s treatment of its Muslim Uighur population is criticized globally.

Hanoi Halts Big Gatherings Amid Rise (8:41 a.m. HK)

Vietnam found eight more local cases in the central city of Danang and one in Hanoi, bringing the Southeast Asian nation’s total to 459.

Hanoi halted public gatherings of more than 30 people, as officials in the capital worried that the Danang cluster would spread. Bars were ordered closed and religious and cultural gatherings — as well as other large events — suspended, Hanoi’s government said on its website.

Vietnam this weekend reported its first community cases in more than three months in Danang, after having nearly claimed victory over the coronavirus.

Mexico Reports 5,752 New Cases (8:11 a.m. HK)

Mexico reported 5,752 more Covid-19 infections, according to Health Ministry data, as cases continue to surge in Latin America. The country’s death toll rose by 485 to 45,361 — with Mexico set to overtake the U.K. as the hot spot with the third-highest number of deaths worldwide from the virus.

Victoria to Report Record 723 Cases, Australian Says (7:43 a.m. HK)

Victoria state is set to announce a record 723 new cases of the coronavirus as a lockdown of the city of Melbourne struggles to contain the outbreak, the Australian newspaper reported. The new tally beats the previous record by almost 200, the newspaper said, without citing the source of its information.

Three Most Populous States Report Record Deaths (6 a.m. HK)

California, Texas and Florida each reported record daily increases in deaths from Covid-19 Wednesday, showing the virus’s grim wrath in the most populous states in the U.S.

Texas recorded 313 new deaths from Covid-19, pushing the cumulative fatalities to 6,190, according to state health department figures. Total cases rose by 2.3% to surpass 400,000. In California, there were 197 new virus deaths, exceeding the 14-day average of 109 and bringing its total to 8,715. Florida reported 216 additional deaths among residents, for a total of 6,333.

Brazil Reports Record New Cases, Deaths (5:45 p.m. NY)

Brazil registered a record number of coronavirus cases and deaths after days of reported issues with the transfer of the data from local governments into the national system.

The Latin American country added 69,074 cases on Wednesday, pushing the total number of infections to over 2.55 million, according to the Health Ministry. Deaths rose by 1,595 to 90,134.

Maryland Issues Travel Advisory for Hard-Hit States (4:30 p.m. NY)

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is issuing a public health order advising against traveling to a swath of southern states with spiking Covid-19 cases.

The voluntary advisory urges against travel to and from states with test positivity rates of 10% and higher. It includes Texas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Arizona, Alabama and South Carolina, as well as Idaho and Nebraska.

U.S. Cases Rise 1.9% (3:55 p.m. NY)

Coronavirus cases in the U.S. increased 1.9% as compared with the same time Tuesday to 4.39 million, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg News. The increase was higher the average 1.6% daily gain over the past week. Deaths rose 1.1% to 149,961.

Florida reported 451,423 cases, up 2.1% from a day earlier, compared with an average increase of 2.6% in the previous seven days. Deaths rose by a record 216, to a total 6,333.Arizona reported a 1.4% increase in cases, or 2,339 new diagnoses, to bring the total to 168,273. The rise held below the 1.6% seven-day average. The state also reported 46 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 3,454.Illinois reported 1,393 new virus cases, up from 1,076 a day earlier and its seven-day rolling test positivity rate has been climbing in recent weeks to 3.8%.Montana experienced a 8.4% increase in cases, bringing the total to 3,665, according to the data from Johns Hopkins and Bloomberg News.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

Source Article