Global COVID-19 Cases Near 100 Million... 1 in 4 Cases Are in the US

UK confirms presence of South African and Brazilian variants as well

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The total number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) worldwide is on the verge of surpassing 100 million. It has been 392 days since the first patient was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) in China on December 31, 2019.

According to the international statistics site Worldometer, as of 10:20 a.m. on the 25th, the cumulative number of confirmed cases worldwide is 99,746,03. It has been only 14 days since the number reached 90 million on the 11th. The death toll has also exceeded 2.13 million.

One in four confirmed cases worldwide occurred in the United States. The cumulative number of confirmed cases in the U.S. is the highest at 25,693,539. India ranks second, far exceeding 10 million. Brazil (8,844,600), Russia (3,719,400), and the United Kingdom (3,647,463) followed. As of midnight on the same day, South Korea recorded 437 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 75,521.

Since last month, more than 50 countries worldwide, including the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union (EU), Israel, Mexico, and China, have started COVID-19 vaccinations, but due to supply shortages, the increase in confirmed cases is still faster than the vaccination rate. Furthermore, the spread of variant viruses, known to be about 1.5 times more transmissible, is making it difficult to contain the outbreak.

In the United Kingdom, where the variant virus was first discovered, the South African and Brazilian variants have also been confirmed. On the 24th (local time), the UK Department of Health announced that there were 77 and 9 confirmed cases of the South African and Brazilian variant viruses, respectively. The UK variant virus has spread to at least 60 countries within about a month since it was first identified on December 11.

Countries are strengthening or extending lockdowns to prevent the spread of variant viruses. According to major foreign media, the United States plans to restrict entry from South Africa starting on the 30th. Additionally, from the 25th, the U.S. will ban entry of non-U.S. citizens traveling from Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and 26 European countries.

Belgium will ban non-essential travel such as tourism until March 1. In France, as the spread does not decrease despite the curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day, local media reported that the government is preparing for a third lockdown. Israel will ban all international passenger flights from takeoff and landing from midnight on the 26th for six days until the 31st.