"Aiming for #ZeroCovid is the way to weather the pandemic and minimize damage
"Doctors, economists and political scientists advocate a goal of elimination, by establishing “green zones,” where transmission is low, schools, restaurants, businesses and cultural places can reopen.
The UK has reported significant progress since the beginning of their recent set of restrictions. They are now averaging 13,000 cases (¼ of peak) and 700 deaths (½ of peak) per day.
In an attempt to slow the importation of new variants, Britain will now require travelers coming from 33 select countries to complete a 10-day quarantine in a government-sanctioned hotel.
Scotland is requiring this for all international air passengers.
In Australia, Victoria continues to track down new locally-acquired cases of the UK variant B.1.1.7. All cases have known epidemiological links to the hotel outbreak. It has not yet been decided whether they will extend their lockdown past the scheduled end date of Feb 17.
In Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador announces a provincial lockdown to contain their current outbreak of the UK variant B.1.1.7. Yesterday, they reported 50 new cases. Today, 26.
In Australia, Victoria reports promising news: only one locally acquired covid case was reported yesterday, down from 5 the day before. Their circuit-breaker lockdown is still scheduled to end on Feb 17th.
Globally, daily cases continue to fall. Yesterday 408,487 cases were reported, nearly ½ of peak. One reason: Stronger lockdowns in the face of the new variants are having significant impact.
Yesterday Australia reported 5 locally acquired cases in Victoria, which was preceded by 6 cases from days before. All confirmed to be the more transmissible, more severe UK variant. Today (Tomorrow our time, Feb 13), just one new locally acquired case.
Switzerland reports progress, with cases now less than ⅕ of peak. Enough to move them into our “nearly there” category on EndCoronavirus.org/countries
Congratulations!
Denmark reported 470 cases and 11 deaths yesterday. Despite progress, cases of the more transmissible and more severe UK variant are likely still growing. We are hoping they gain control if it too.
We’re waiting. Waiting for the leadership that will allow us to live our lives again.
We have been living with COVID for so long, it often feels like we have forgotten how to live without it.
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Imagine hugging friends again, traveling freely, starting large bar tabs, dancing, going to the theatre and to concerts. Imagine all schools, universities, family events, and sports games happening without restrictions.
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Despite the fact that most of the world’s best scientists today are working in America, despite the fact that America has produced most of the vaccines for COVID-19 so far, despite that, a long period of risk, restrictions, and uncertainty stretches before us across 2021.
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Laos reports continued success in their Zero Covid strategy, with a total of 45 cases since the beginning of the pandemic and only one case in the last two weeks.
Part of their success is due to having strict travel restrictions, with 14-day quarantines upon arrival.
Yesterday Djibouti reported 9 new cases, 0 deaths, and 361 tests. They have reported ~6k cases and 63 total covid deaths to date, with only 2 deaths since the start of this year.
Many states are reporting significant progress in US. Daily cases and hospitalizations are extremely high, but falling quickly. Deaths are relatively constant at 3,000 per day.