(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is giving schools more flexibility to decide how to safely keep kids in kindergarten through 12th-grade classrooms while guarding against the further spread of Covid-19. Infections are rising across most regions of the world as...
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Bloomberg News
Fri, July 9, 2021, 9:19 AM·12 min read
Infections on the Rise, Johannesburg Mayor Dies: Virus Update
(Bloomberg) -- Coronavirus infections are rising across most regions of the world as the delta variant spreads, the World Health Organization’s chief scientist said. The reproduction rate in England has risen to levels last seen in October.
South Africa’s National Coronavirus Command Council will meet on July 11 to assess the country’s response to the pandemic. Johannesburg’s mayor Geoff Makhubo died after contracting Covid-19.
Thailand ordered stricter measures to contain a surge in new cases, while South Korea is raising curbs on social distancing to the highest level in Seoul for two weeks starting Monday. Malaysia reported the biggest single-day increase in new cases since the outbreak began.
Key Developments:
Global Tracker: Cases top 185.5 million; deaths exceed 4 millionVaccine Tracker: More than 3.35 billion doses administeredWhere Are We in Hunting for the Coronavirus’s Origin?: QuickTakeFrom Alpha to Delta, Why Virus Mutations Cause Alarm: QuickTakePfizer Inc. outlined plans for a third booster dose of its vaccinePandemic isn’t slowing down, WHO chief scientist warns
U.K. Cases Surge (9:26 a.m. NY)
U.K. Covid cases surged, presenting Prime Minister Boris Johnson with more worrying data about the fast-spreading delta variant of the virus ahead of a planned easing of restrictions on July 19.
The reproduction rate of the virus in England has risen to levels last seen in October, the government said Friday. Cases of the Delta variant, which now accounts for 99% of U.K. infections, rose by almost a third in the past week to 216,249 cases, data from Public Health England showed.
Pandemic Not Slowing Down (8:59 a.m. NY)
Coronavirus infections are rising across most regions of the world as the delta variant spreads, clear evidence that the pandemic isn’t on the wane, according to the World Health Organization’s chief scientist.
While vaccination levels in some countries are reducing severe cases and hospitalizations, large parts of the world face oxygen shortages, a lack of hospital beds and higher mortality, the WHO’s Soumya Swaminathan said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.
Spain on German Risk List (8:28 a.m. NY)
Germany reclassified Spain as an area of risk after coronavirus infections surged, raising the alarm about a country that’s among the most popular destinations for German tourists.
The ranking, which is Germany’s third highest, includes the Balearic and Canary Islands. But it has little practical impact, as quarantine can be avoided by travelers returning to Germany as long as they have proof of full vaccination or recovery from Covid-19, or can provide a negative test.
South Africa Command Council to Meet (7:46 a.m.)
South Africa’s National Coronavirus Command Council will meet on July 11 to assess the country’s response to the pandemic and whether current restrictions aimed at curbing its spread are appropriate.
The meeting comes two weeks after President Cyril Ramaphosa placed the country on virus alert level 4, shutting schools and banning alcohol sales and all public gathering other than funerals.
Johannesburg’s Mayor Dies (7:17 a.m. NY)
The mayor of Johannesburg, Geoff Makhubo, has died after contracting the coronavirus. Makhubo was hospitalized after becoming infected with Covid-19 and succumbed to the disease on Friday, the city said.
