Coronavirus Facts and Figures: Monday, August 3, 2020 – Worldwide Cases Crosses 18.5 Mark

Lausanne is the capital of the Swiss canton Vaud.

The number of coronavirus cases across the globe crossed the 18 million mark over the weekend now stands at 18.31 million, an increase of over 256,000 people over the past 24 hours.  Out of this, 11.5 million have recovered, based on data compiled by Worldometer, a service that aggregates and makes available world statistics. The death toll now stands at 694,057.

The number of daily deaths was 4,421 on Sunday.

In the United States and its territories, over 58,408 new cases were reported on Friday.  The number of confirmed cases stands at 4.83 million, while the death toll is now stands at 158,483.

Despite the record figures, the Trump Administration came out against a measure under consideration in Congress that would make wearing masks mandatory on all U.S. passenger flights.  “This requirement is overly restrictive, and such decisions should be left to States, local governments, transportation systems, and public health leaders,” a spokesman said.

Brazil continues to have the second highest number of cases in the world, and is now at 2.73 million as of Sunday, with a death toll of almost 100,000.  India is in third place, with 1.83 million total cases and a death toll of over 38,000, and Russia is in fourth place, with 856,2654 cases and a death toll of 14,207.

The critical R0 figure in Germany rose to 1.11 as a 4-day average, up slightly from 1.06 on Friday, according to the Robert-Koch-Institut. Five weeks ago, that figure had been at 2.88.

R0, pronounced “r naught,” is a mathematical term that indicates how contagious an infectious disease is.

While international correlation of these figures are difficult, perhaps the most useful comparison is to look at the deaths per million members of the population, with the caveat that there are differences in how countries record deaths. It’s also important to keep in mind that the number of deaths is a lagging indicator.

Tiny San Marino, with a population of just over 33,000 and which has been testing all of its inhabitants, continues to have the highest number of deaths per million members of the population, at 1,238, unchanged for 70 days.

Belgium has the second highest number of deaths per million members of the population, 849, unchanged for four days. It is followed by the United Kingdom with 680, and Andorra with 673 (unchanged in 49 days).  Spain reported 608 (unchanged in 15 days), Italy, 582, while Sweden and France reported 568 (unchanged for 3 days) and 464, respectively.

The Netherlands, Ireland, Canada, and Switzerland have reported 359 (unchanged in 6 days), 357 (unchanged in 8 days), 236 (unchanged in 3 days), and 229 (unchanged in 6 days), respectively.  In Germany the figure is 110 (unchanged in 14 days), while in Austria it is 80 (unchanged in 3 days).

The number of deaths per million members of the population in the United States is now 479.  It continues to be three in China, according to official figures there, which are believed to be an undercount.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)