Coronavirus News Update – Jan. 13: U.S. Sees Record Deaths, Cuba Daily Cases at New High

By Anna Breuer on 13 January 2021
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Old Havana, La Habana Vieja

The United States set a record for new daily deaths from the coronavirus. Over 4,400 people died Tuesday. The country reported 229,712 new cases on Tuesday, a 37% change over the past 14 days.

Health officials in Cuba said reported a new record for daily coronavirus infections.  On Wednesday, there were 550 new cases and three deaths.  It was the first time since the start of the pandemic that the island nation reported over 500 new cases in a single day.

Switzerland’s president, Guy Parmelin, announced the tightening of restrictions as a response to the new coronavirus variant.  As of Monday, all non-essential shops will have to close, and the current closure of restaurants, bars, hotels, and fitness centers will be extended through the end of February.

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin ordered a “mass vaccination” starting next week.   Putin, in a statement, underscored how the Russian vaccine does not require “unusual conditions for transportation, such as [storing it at] -50° C, -70° C,” comparing it to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine which requires such conditions.

Bundesminister für Gesundheit Jens Spahn told the German Reichstag that the country is in one of the “gravest phases so far” of the pandemic.  Spahn said it’s imperative to reduce the number of infections and deaths, but added that the situation in the country’s intensive care units is slowly improving.

At least two gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to California Governor Gavin Newsome.  The case is the first known instance of apes becoming infected with the virus and it likely came from a zoo staff member who had tested positive.  Gorillas share 98% of their DNA with humans.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)

Accura News