Coronavirus News Update for Oct. 14 – U.S. Sees Resurgence of Cases, U.K. Under Lockdown

A home in the Cotswolds

Parts of the United Kingdom went on “very high” alert Wednesday as part of the country’s new three-tier system including the city of Liverpool.  Restrictions in these zones include a ban on meeting individuals from other householders indoors as well as the closure of bars, restaurants, and pubs.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland announced a strict lockdown, closing schools for two weeks and bars and pubs for four, with the exception of takeout and delivery. Shops will be permitted to remain open. The move comes after health officials recorded an average of 900 new daily cases this week, a nine-fold increase over the 100 per week during the height of the first wave of the pandemic in the spring.

In the United States, health officials reported 54,512 new cases in the past 24 hours and the 14-day change in new cases is up 21%.  Sixteen states each added more new daily cases over the past seven day period than they had in any other similar period since the start of the pandemic. The majority of the states are in the Midwest and West.

The European Union said it would extend until March 27 a waiver of the requirement that airlines use 80% of their take-off and landing slots in order to keep them.  The move is intended to help the struggling airline industry during the pandemic.

Finally, the number of people who tested positive after attending the September 26 Rose Garden event at the White House where President Trump announced his nomination for the Supreme Court incremented upwards.  The Labor Department announced Monday that the Trish Scalia, wife of Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia, tested positive for the coronavirus.  The secretary has tested negative, a spokesman said, but will remain home in isolation.  At least 12 people including the president and the first lady as well as two senators have tested positive after attending the event.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)