Both Guam and the US Virgin Islands remain green, as they report very few cases per day. Well done!
New variants are still a significant concern in US, which now has 1,277 confirmed cases of the more transmissible, more severe B.1.1.7 “UK” variant. Nearly ⅓ of which are found in Florida.
4.7% of the US is now fully vaccinated.
Having experienced a small outbreak of B.1.1.7 cases, New Zealand locked down Auckland quickly. After mass testing and contact tracing, they have concluded that the outbreak is contained, and the lockdown will be lifted.
US will record over 500,000 deaths and we know many more have happened.
Peru’s summer resurgence is now showing case and death rates similar to their previous peaks. Stress on their medical system forced much of the country into a lockdown, which started Jan 31.
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.
"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.
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.