KEY POINTS:
- Total Global Cases: 1,853,357
- Total Global Deaths: 114,253
- Total Global Recoveries: 423,692
- Active Cases: 1,315,412 (1,264,553 in mild condition; 50,859 in critical condition)
- Closed Cases: 537,945 (423,692 recovered; 114,253 deaths)
- The COVID-19 pandemic is now affecting 210 countries and territories around the world, as well as 2 international conveyances – the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship and the Holland America’s MS Zaandam Cruise Ship.
- COVID-19 death toll nears 300 as cases rise to 4,648 in the Philippines.
- United States’ confirmed COVID-19 passes the 500,000 mark.
- After 3 days of decline, Spain’s daily death toll rises to 619.
- Germany reports more recovered COVID-19 patients than people still infected.
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson out of hospital, says the NHS saved his life.
- Turkey’s COVID-19 death toll rises to 1,101, major cities under lockdown.
Below are some of the latest news and updates regarding the COVID-19 pandemic that has swept across the world.
Philippines. On April 12, the Department of Health reported 50 new deaths due to COVID-19, bringing the total death toll to 297. The department also reported 220 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the country’s total number of cases to 4,648. Meanwhile, the number of people who have recovered have reached 197, with the department reporting 40 more recoveries.
On April 13, the Manila City government has announced that it can now conduct targeted mass testing for COVID-19 – they can do over 1,600 tests a week. Dr. Gap Legaspi, UP-PGH Director, assured the Manila City government that results can be released within two to three days.
In a Facebook post, Manila PIO said that the following health facilities can take at least 232 swab tests each day or 1,624 each week:
- MHD/Delpan Quarantine Facility — 50 tests per day
- Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center — 50 tests per day
- Ospital ng Sampaloc — 50 tests per day
- Sta. Ana Hospital/MIDCC — 30 tests per day
- Ospital ng Maynila — 20 tests per day
- Ospital ng Tondo — 17 tests per day
- Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital — 15 tests per day
United States. On Saturday, the United States surpassed Italy as the country with the highest reported COVID-19 confirmed cases and death toll. To date, there have been a total of 560,433 confirmed cases and 22,115 deaths since the outbreak began in the country. The U.S. has seen its highest death tolls to date due to the COVID-19 pandemic with about 2,000 deaths per day reported for the last four days in a row – most of which come from New York City.
Public health experts have warned that the U.S. death toll may reach 200,000 over the summer if stay-at-home orders that have closed businesses and schools, and kept most Americans indoors are lifted when they expire at the end of the month.
Spain. After three days of decline, Spain’s daily death toll from the COVID-19 outbreak rose to 619 on Sunday. Spain, one of the worst hit by the pandemic, now has 166,831 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 17,209 deaths due to the disease. The daily death toll was up from 510 on Saturday, compared with a record 950 deaths as recently as April 2.
Although health officials say that the pandemic has already peaked, they have urged people to strictly abide by the national lockdown which was put in place on March 14 in order to mitigate the spread of the disease. The restrictions – which prevent people from going outside except to buy medicine, buy food, briefly walk their dog, or go to work if they can’t work from home – will remain in place until April 24, although the government has made it clear that it may be extended for another two weeks.
Germany. Germany reported more recovered COVID-19 patients than people still infected with the virus for the first time. As of Sunday, the Robert Koch Institute reported 60,200 recoveries compared to the 57,606 current COVID-19 infections, raising hope that the country’s measures to fight the pandemic were effective.
The institute recorded a total of 120,479 COVID-19 cases so far, including outstanding infections, those who have recovered, and those who have died. As of Sunday morning, the country’s death toll reached 2,673, with 129 new deaths reported by the local health authorities. Germany has the fifth-highest number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in the world, ranking behind the United States, Spain, Italy, and France; however, its death toll is significantly lower than those other hard-hit countries.
United Kingdom. On Sunday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson left the London hospital where he received treatment for COVID-19. PM Johnson, 55, was admitted to St. Thomas’ Hospital on April 5 after experiencing persistent COVID-19 symptoms. He spent three nights in the intensive care unit, where he received oxygen treatment but did not require to be put on a ventilator. The sudden deterioration of his health has alerted some Britons and sparked concern for his well-being and the country’s leadership amid the pandemic.
PM Johnson left intensive care and returned to a regular ward on Thursday. On Sunday, he was officially released from the hospital. A spokesperson said that PM Johnson would continue his recovery at home, on the advice of his medical team.
Turkey. Ankara, Istanbul, and other major Turkish cities remained locked down for two days in a curfew implemented to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Turkey ordered citizens to stay at home for 48 hours across 31 cities starting midnight on Friday until Sunday midnight. Bakeries, pharmacies, and health facilities were among places excluded from the ban, allowing people to meet essential needs.
However, early on Sunday, Turkey reported 98 new deaths due to COVID-19, bringing the country’s death toll to 1,198 just hours before the end of a weekend lockdown that kept around 61 million people quarantined to their homes. The results of the 35,720 tests administered in the last 24-hours reveal that another 4,780 people tested positive for the virus. Out of Turkey’s 56,956 confirmed cases, 1665 remain in intensive care while 3,446 people have recovered.
