Children in Italy Under Lockdown
Santa Claus Concerns Amid COVID-19
US Deploys Mobile Morgues and Parking Lot Wards
New Cases Continue to Rise
"Quarantine Gaps" Government Criticized and Concerns Grow
[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] # In El Paso, Texas, USA, where the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is severe, hospitals are overwhelmed with patients and deaths, leading to the operation of mobile morgues and the use of helicopters to transport patients to other cities. According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 10th (local time), the number of mobile morgues increased from the previous 4 to 10. As hospital rooms became fully occupied, tents serving as hospital rooms were set up in building parking lots. Even the city convention center was used as a hospital ward.
# An email from a child in an Italian region under COVID-19 lockdown, worried that Santa Claus might not come on Christmas, was revealed. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte shared the story of 5-year-old Tomaso on Facebook on the 12th (local time). Tomaso said, "I asked my mom how many days were left until Christmas because I was worried about Santa Claus," and requested, "It would be great if he could be given a special pass to deliver presents to all children around the world."
The US Has the Highest Number of Confirmed Cases Among Single Countries
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of the 12th (Central European Standard Time), the total cumulative number of COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide is approximately 51.848 million. The international statistics site Worldometer, based on announcements from each country, counted the cumulative confirmed cases at about 50.359 million. The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 1.28 million.
The country with the highest cumulative number of COVID-19 confirmed cases is the United States. As of the 12th, the US has recorded over 100,000 new daily cases for nine consecutive days. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached approximately 10.314 million. The death toll also reached about 241,000 cumulatively. On the 11th, 1,479 deaths were reported in a single day, pushing the weekly average death toll above 1,000 per day.
In Canada, 4,981 new COVID-19 cases were reported, approaching the 5,000 mark just five days after first entering the 4,000 range on the 7th. Daily new cases have been increasing by about 1,000 every week from the end of last month to early this month. The rate of increase is also accelerating. Notably, Ontario, the largest province, recorded 1,575 new cases, setting a three-day consecutive record and surpassing Quebec’s daily case numbers for two days in a row, raising alarms.
Other Major Countries Besides Italy Also Have 'Gaps in Quarantine'
Europe is also in a serious situation. In Italy, as of the 12th, the daily new confirmed cases reached 37,978, and deaths were 636. The cumulative numbers were 1,066,401 and 43,589, respectively. The Italian government designated some regions, including Lombardy, as high-risk virus zones (Red Zones), imposing strict lockdown measures such as restrictions on going out and closure of non-essential businesses.
Major Eurozone countries such as Germany, France, and the UK are in similar situations. German health authorities reported that as of the 13th (local time), the cumulative confirmed cases were 751,095, and cumulative deaths were 12,200. On the 13th alone, new confirmed cases reached 23,542, surpassing the 23,399 reported seven days earlier. New deaths numbered 218. Since October, as COVID-19 cases surged, Germany implemented partial lockdown measures starting from the 2nd. Restaurants are allowed only takeout and delivery, and cultural and public facilities are closed. The number of people allowed inside stores is also limited.
In France, confirmed cases and deaths were approximately 1.898 million and 42,900, respectively. Despite a nationwide lockdown reissued two weeks ago, the increase in confirmed cases has not slowed. Due to COVID-19, one person is admitted to the hospital every 30 seconds, and one person enters intensive care every 3 minutes.
In the UK, confirmed cases and deaths were approximately 1.29 million and 53,000, respectively. On the 12th, new confirmed cases reached a record high of 33,470. The UK implemented a second lockdown on the 5th of this month, closing pubs, restaurants, and non-essential businesses. However, the spread of COVID-19 has not subsided even after the lockdown.
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