India sets global record for number of new Covid-19 cases reported in a day
From CNN’s Esha Mitra and Manveena Suri in New Delhi
India topped the United States’ record of coronavirus cases reported in a 24-hour period for two days in a row.
India recorded 85,687 new cases on Aug. 26 and 77,266 new cases on Aug. 27, both surpassing the United States’ highest number of new cases, which was reported on July 16, when the US reported 77,255 new cases, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU) data.
India has been focusing on ramping up testing to identify and treat potential cases of coronavirus. As of Friday, India has conducted more than 39 million tests, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research.
The Union Health Ministry on Thursday urged states to further ramp up testing, ensuring a minimum of 140 tests per million in all districts and to make public information on the availability of beds, ambulances, and more, so vulnerable patients can receive timely care, according to a statement from India’s press information bureau.
The total number of cases of coronavirus in the country stand at 3,387,500 with 61,529 deaths and 2,583,948 recoveries as of Friday, according to the Indian Ministry of Health.
As fireworks capped off Trump’s RNC, protesters reminded the US that more than 180,000 people have died
Protesters gathered in Washington, DC, for the final night of the Republican National Convention to call out the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
At the White House, President Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination from the White House. A massive fireworks display above the Washington Monument followed his acceptance speech.
Images from the protest showed the celebratory fireworks as protesters held up signs that read “Trump failed 180,000+ died.”
The Democratic National Committee’s War Room was responsible for the demonstration, spokesperson Lily Adams tells CNN. The DNC’s Melissa Byrne confirmed it was part of their counter convention.
At least 180,857 people have died of Covid-19 in the US since the pandemic began, according to the latest tally from Johns Hopkins University. The US has reported the most coronavirus deaths of any county in the world.
Additional reporting from CNN’s Paul Murphy
4 people tested positive for Covid-19 at the RNC, Charlotte’s Mecklenburg County says
From CNN’s Amanda Watts and CNN’s Ryan Nobles
At least four people tested positive for coronavirus at the Republican National Convention, a tweet from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, says.
The tweet says “2 attendees & 2 event support people tested positive for COVID-19 at the Republican National Convention.”
A longer statement from the county says, “approximately 792 Covid-19 tests were conducted among individuals attending or providing support to the Republican National Convention (RNC) Meeting in the City of Charlotte.” Of those, four came back positive.
“These individuals were immediately issued isolation instructions and any known close contacts were notified and issued quarantine instructions by Mecklenburg County Public Health (MCPH),” the statement says.
“Additional details about the RNC Meeting will be included in the official After Action Report, unless there is a recognized threat to the public’s health,” the county said.
The RNC responded in a statement:
“The RNC had diligent safety protocols in place, including testing all attendees before arriving in Charlotte, and again upon arrival. Out of roughly 1,000 tests administered, two RNC attendees, despite having negative tests prior to travel, and two Charlotte locals who planned to serve as event support staff tested positive upon arrival. All were sent home,” RNC Communications Director Michael Ahrens said.
Read the tweet:
Key coronavirus model now projects more than 317,000 US Covid-19 deaths by December
From CNN’s Jacqueline Howard
A well-known coronavirus model that previously has been cited by the White House now forecasts that more than 317,000 people in the United States will die from Covid-19 by December.
As of Friday morning, the model from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington projects that 317,312 people may die from the illness — marking an increase of about 8,000 deaths from a previous estimate the model projected one week ago.
Since January, US health authorities have identified more than 5 million Covid-19 cases so far nationwide and more than 180,000 people have died, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
The new IHME estimate suggests that the United States could see more than 136,000 additional deaths between now and December, and the daily death rate could rise to more than 2,000 per day.
Yet IHME researchers noted on their website on Thursday, when the update to their model was made, that “if mask wearing in public increases to 95%, more than 67,000 lives could be saved.”
The updated IHME model also shows some state-by-state differences.
“Over the last week some estimates for states such as California and Texas have decreased, while Florida, Georgia, and Illinois have increased,” the researchers wrote.
As with any model, these forecasts are only projections — not definitive — and are subject to change.
Berlin court lifts ban on protest against government coronavirus regulations
From CNN’s Nadine Schmidt in Berlin
A ban on a mass protest set to take place this weekend in Berlin against the German government’s response to coronavirus has been lifted following an urgent ruling by the Berlin Administrative Court on Friday.
“The assembly against the coronavirus policy of the federal and state governments planned for August 29, 2020 by the initiative Lateral Thinking 711 can take place after an urgent ruling,” the court said in a statement.
“The organizers must comply with conditions,” the statement added.
Earlier this week, Berlin’s state government announced that it would prohibit the demonstration from taking place, citing potential violations of the government’s coronavirus regulations.
According to the court’s statement, police anticipate more than 20,000 people will attend on Saturday.
Germany’s Merkel warns coronavirus pandemic will become “more difficult” in the coming months
From CNN’s Nadine Schmidt in Berlin
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that the coronavirus pandemic is “likely to get more difficult in the coming months,” cautioning that society “is never going to be the same” until a successful vaccine is developed.
“Things will not return to normal until we have a coronavirus vaccine,” Merkel said Friday.
“We will have to live longer with new coronavirus [cases],” she added.
Speaking during her annual summer press conference in Berlin, Merkel stressed that the “economy should be kept alive or brought back to life,” adding that Germany will “work with the European Parliament so that the recovery fund can be launched early next year.”
The Chancellor’s comments come just a day after the introduction of tougher measures in Germany to curb the spread of coronavirus ahead of the autumn and winter season, including new travel regulations.
“We can see that the number of infections has risen in recent weeks…we take this increase in the summer months very seriously,” Merkel said.
France’s Macron calls for more coordination on restrictions to prevent European “standstill”
From CNN’s Fanny Bobille and Ivana Saric in Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for greater coordination within the European Union on coronavirus restrictions and border regulations, asserting that it would be “absurd” to impose tougher border restrictions within the bloc.
“It makes no sense to close the borders between two countries when there are outbreaks of infection, areas of active circulation, which are well identified. There is a need for a common methodology to define these areas of active circulation, and to address them within each country,” Macron said Friday.
In Europe we have millions of cross-border workers…it would be absurd to impose constraints because it hinders daily life, economic life.”
Speaking during a televised address on Friday, the French President urged his European partners to focus on developing a unified approach which “allows Europe to not to be at a standstill” as a result of the pandemic.
“There is still progress to be made to improve coordination. Let’s not repeat the mistakes of March in this regard, it is counterproductive and, above all, it is ineffective in the fight against the virus and its spread,” Macron said.
All you need to know about Europe’s outbreak
From CNN’s Niamh Kennedy
Europe is grappling with a second coronavirus surge. Here’s how it’s playing out across the continent:
Spain
The country recorded its highest number of cases since the lockdown lifted on Thursday, with 9,658 new infections. Fernando Simón, director of the country’s Center for Health Emergencies, attempted to allay concerns, saying the “situation is completely different to the one we had in March or April.”
Simón explained that “in March, 12% of the cases died, now [it is] 0.4%.” He added that “during the peak of the pandemic only 1.6% of the cases were asymptomatic,” while in the past week, 56% showed no symptoms.
Extra measures have been put in place to bolster the school system, including mask mandates for all students over the age of six. Other new measures announced on Thursday includes a bubble system in schools, students having to disinfect their hands five times a day, and regular classroom sanitization. Some Spanish regions have placed a cap of 20 students per classroom.
France
A compulsory mask rule came into force in Paris and its suburbs on Friday, which means over 7 million Parisians will have to wear a face covering in public — even when on a bike or scooter.
On Thursday, France saw the highest number of new cases since March 31 — the peak of the epidemic — with 6,111 new cases. Prime Minister Jean Castex also declared 21 “red zones” across the country, which refers to areas where the active cases have exceeded 50 per 100,000 people.
UK
The UK continues to be hit by local outbreaks, with 75 positive cases in a poultry factory in Norfolk, eastern England. Hundreds of workers at the Banham poultry facility have been told to self-isolate as a result of the 22% infection rate.
The UK removed the Czech Republic, Jamaica and Switzerland from its travel corridor list on Thursday, in a bid to keep infections down. Yet cases are also rising in the country, which reported 1,522 new infections on Thursday, the highest number since June 12.
Italy
Italy is also observing an upward trend with 1,179 positive new cases reported on Thursday, the highest number since May 6, and five deaths.
Ireland
Some 93 new cases were recorded by Ireland’s Health Protection Service Surveillance Center on Thursday. The Irish government remains watchful after a spike in cases during the last fortnight prompted a tightening of social distancing measures.
Germany
Germany recorded 1,507 cases on Thursday, according to the Robert Koch Institute, which noted the marked rise in cases in a number of federal states.
The institute also predicted that by early 2021 there will be a successful vaccine candidate ready for production. It noted, however, that there will not be enough initial doses available for the entire population.
Deaths and cases double in a few weeks in Argentina
From CNN’s Tim Lister
Argentina’s coronavirus outbreak shows no sign of easing. According to figures from its health ministry, the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases there has doubled since July 31, and its death toll has doubled since August 4.
On Thursday, 10,104 new cases were reported — bringing the total of cases to 380,292. The health ministry also reported 106 deaths but, over the past week, the daily average of deaths has been over 200.
Argentina has reported a total of 8,050 deaths, the majority recorded in the capital, Buenos Aires, and its surrounding province of the same name. The same applies to the number of cases recorded: 327,000 of the 380,000 cases identified so far are in Buenos Aires city and province.
The government has extended lockdown measures in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
