Despite many countries taking drastic action to try to slow the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus the number of cases and number of deaths continues to surge.
Current totals from the Johns Hopkins University Corona Resource Centre:
- Total Confirmed 441,187 (yesterday 407,485)
- Total Deaths: 19,784 (yesterday 18,227)
– 3 hours later this has jumped to 20,807 - Total Recovered: 111,933 (yesterday 104,234)
So that’s a jump of about 1500 deaths in about 22 hours (I got those numbers from about 9 am yesterday).
While there are quite a few recovered there are a large number who must be still suffering from the virus, and potentially able to transmit it to other people.
It is certain that all these official totals will be less than the actual numbers, especially the number of cases. It now seems accepted that people without symptoms can be contagious.
Spain’s reported death toll (3,343) is now greater than China’s. Their total cases is less than China, Italy and the US (now 60,115 with 827 deaths). US cases have just jumped to 62,086 in 3 hours
MSN/AFP: One third of humanity under virus lockdown
More than one billion Indians went into lockdown Wednesday, leaving a third of the planet now under orders to stay at home, as the United States vowed to spend $2 trillion to counter the economic harm of the coronavirus.
Europe remains at the heart of the epidemic, with first Italy and now Spain’s death toll overtaking that of China, while Britain’s Prince Charles became the latest prominent figure to test positive for the COVID-19 disease.
Coronavirus cases are also spreading in the Middle East, where Iran’s death toll topped 2,000 on Wednesday, and in Africa, where Mali joined all seven of its neighbours in declaring its first cases — two nationals who arrived home recently from France.
Government policies and the capacity for virus testing vary widely around the world, so the true extent of the pandemic is difficult to estimate, but more than 404,000 cases have been declared in 175 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December.
What is in less doubt is the number of deaths, with more than 19,000 attributed to the new coronavirus strain since the outbreak began.
Some people (including Donald Trump) are downplaying the death toll and saying things like ‘what about flu deaths’, or cancer deaths, or suicide deaths. I think this is diversionary and misguided. Sure people who die from Covid-19 would die from something else sooner or later, but if nothing was done to limit the spread of Covid-19 there would be a lot more people dying prematurely.
It would be just as silly saaying we shouldn’t do anything about road safety because people die from accidents, or die from heart attacks.
Prince Charles is reported as having Covid-19 – Prince Charles tests positive but ‘remains in good health’ – he’s getting into the high risk age group (he’s 71) but will have much better health care available than most people. I hope he hasn’t been out shaking hands lately.
Officially Russia been unusually low numbers (currently CRC data shows 658 cases and just 2 deaths) but there are other signs of having been affected: Coronavirus delays Russian vote on Putin staying in power
Russian President Vladimir Putin has postponed a vote on constitutional change that would allow him to stay in power, because of coronavirus concerns.
Later on Wednesday Russia confirmed the deaths of two people who had been diagnosed with the virus. The 88- and 73-year-olds had pre-existing conditions, Ria Novosti reported. Russia has a total of 658 cases.
“The absolute priority for us is the health, life and safety of people. Therefore I believe that the vote should be postponed until a later date,” Mr Putin said.
Mr Putin had seemed to be delaying the decision, though, hoping Russia would somehow escape the worst of Covid-19.
Some suspected the statistics were being massaged to make it seem that way, a claim officials here have denied repeatedly. But the number of confirmed cases is now climbing in Russia, like everywhere else.
A ninth death in Australia: Ninth COVID-19 victim is 68-year-old man from Queensland
A 68-year-old man from Toowoomba has become Australia’s ninth coronavirus victim.
The man died on Wednesday afternoon in intensive care at Toowoomba Hospital.
It’s understood the man contracted COVID-19 onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that docked in Sydney last week.
I was working in Toowoomba earlier this week (remotely). It’s a nice city inland from Brisbane, a similar size to Dunedin (I stayed there on holiday a few years ago).
Mixed reports from the US:
Your NZ 
Duker
/ 26th March 2020What is surging is those people who have from feeling ‘blah’ to coughs and a very sore throat.
The people in hospital is the only number that matters.
Europe’s odd man out: Sweden refuses to bring in lockdowns despite 2,272 infections, keeps bars open and even ENCOURAGES people to go out
Sweden is staying at what seems to be a Level 2 , which primary schools open along with bars with some distancing
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8151111/Swedish-people-disregarding-Covid-19-lockdown-going-pint.html
Kitty Catkin
/ 26th March 2020The number with it worldwide is less than twice the number with flu here each year.
The deaths are a fraction of the flu deaths, even at the lowest estimate of these.
The total number of deaths worldwide makes it obvious that the PM’s hysterical cries about tens of thousands of deaths in NZ are incredibly unlikely.
Kitty Catkin
/ 26th March 2020What are people supposed to do if they genuinely believe that they have it ? Doctors’ surgeries are not open. I have heard people saying that they went to the surgery for appointments already made and were not allowed in.
Pete George
/ 26th March 2020It has been well publicised that they should first try to ring Healthline, or ring their doctor first before going.
When should I seek medical advice?
If you are concerned about any COVID-19 symptoms you are experiencing, please contact Healthline (for free) on 0800 358 5453 or your doctor.
https://covid19.govt.nz/help-and-advice/for-everyone/access-to-healthcare/
Duker
/ 26th March 2020‘Having it ‘ isnt even a problem that can be fixed by a GP .
Unless you have difficulty breathing all the other symptons can be dealt with at home or maybe via a phone consult.
Sweden isnt even testing those ‘with symptoms’ any more unless that are health care workers or a critical group with age related or other underlying symptoms.
And even with 60 deaths is just at ‘level 2’ restrictions with most places open but distance rules
Pete George
/ 26th March 2020I’m not sure what you’re getting at. Do you think 60 or 30 deaths here would be an acceptable death toll?
Cases in Sweden 2,526 – do you thing that sort of level would be acceptable here?
Guardian: Swedish PM warned over ‘Russian roulette-style’ Covid-19 strategy
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/23/swedish-pm-warned-russian-roulette-covid-19-strategy-herd-immunity
Monday – 25 deaths
Wednesday – 62 deaths
That looks lie a risky strategy to me.
Pink David
/ 26th March 2020“I’m not sure what you’re getting at. Do you think 60 or 30 deaths here would be an acceptable death toll?”
What’s the basis for ‘acceptable? We accept deaths for many things, and in much greater numbers. Car accidents kill 300, injure 12,000 every year. That is ‘accepted’ because cars bring great benefits.
How many deaths is the entire NZ economy worth? An accepted number for valuing this is $10m per life. Therefor, 60 deaths is ‘worth’ $600m.
NZ GDP is $205bn. Is it a 10% hit, or 30% hit from this? Is it worth $10bn to save 1,000 lives? How many lives could be saved using this money in different ways?
Duker
/ 26th March 2020Sweden is doing what its doing for its own reasons, they seem to have more restrictions than a very bad flu season. But I dont know what their annual death rate is for flu and related illnesses.
Do you know those numbers to say ‘its risky’, or is there a’ no risks are acceptable’ some sort of medical workable strategy ?
duperez
/ 26th March 2020Other sites with stats:
https://ncov.dxy.cn/ncovh5/view/en_pneumonia?from=dxy&source=&link=&share=
Chinese one:
https://ncov.dxy.cn/ncovh5/view/en_pneumonia?from=dxy&source=&link=&share=
I guess the difference in numbers is to do the time of the day they’re in.
Pete George
/ 26th March 2020Some leaders rise to challenging occasions…
…and others further reveal their self interest and flaws.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 26th March 2020Surely it’s better to reveal it than conceal it like our elite?
Gezza
/ 26th March 2020Trump’s coronavirus task force briefing of today – just a few hours ago. I’ve watched a few of these rambling affairs. These really have to seen to be believed. Thank goodness eventually others get to have their say & the rambling stops.
Pete George
/ 26th March 2020I’ve seen reports that some media are not showing his rambling live any more due to too many inaccuracies.
Gezza
/ 26th March 2020Yes, I read that too. There’s no stopping Trump mangling & inflating numbers he’s given, and his usual boasting etc. The guy’s a totally loose cannon.
In this briefing though, some of the reporters’ questions to Trump were nothing to do with what his task force is doing & seem to have just been deliberately pushing his hot buttons to get him to blurt out something that would cause internal or international controversy.
He blunders into the trap sometimes (insults & threatens future trade action against the EU for not buying the best in the world American medical equipmrent & other products) and at other times he manages to be either non-committal or contradictory & avoids the trap – more or less.
He’s all over the place though. Blithering & ad libbing with irrelevant crap. Easy meat for reporters looking to bait him.
Pickled Possum
/ 26th March 2020Kia ora Geeza 😃
A sign interpreter said it was near impossible to translate Trumps words.
The Mexico interpreter said I lie because what he says would offend.
The Japanese lady said sometimes there is no word to translate to. Like … grab them by the ..
14 hrs into Lockdown all going well.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 26th March 2020I don’t think Trump had a translator when he said that. In fact it was off air in a bus with his mate if I recall. So your Japanese lady must have worked hard to be offended by a lack of translation for it even if we believe for a second there is no Japanese equivalent. I’m calling it fake news, Possum.
Duker
/ 26th March 2020Some comments here have been using ‘inflated US death numbers’ Griff and Ishmael, taken from a dodgy website.
I of course only use official numbers updated daily by CDC
Pickled Possum
/ 26th March 2020sori Al I was just replying to Geeza
“He’s all over the place though. Blithering & ad-libbing with irrelevant crap. Easy meat for reporters looking to bait him”.
because I remember watching this …5 interpreters who give their honest opinion.
I think his “We will be open for business at Easter America”
is a bit of a stretch.
duperez
/ 26th March 2020The second best thing is watching the faces of the entourage behind when some of the stuff he says comes out.
The best thing is watching the President when the doings are quite extended and others are at the lectern for a while!
Gezza
/ 26th March 2020Most of his advisers at these task force briefings have developed the knack of thanking him & saying things like “as the President has already touched on” before going on to carefully word how they correct his misinformation or answer a question he’s deflected.
Blazer
/ 26th March 2020interested to know exactly who our ‘elite’ are…?
Patzcuaro
/ 26th March 2020Alan Wilkinson
/ 26th March 2020One of your better ones, Patz. However I think Trumpy has Ford, GM, GE, 3M and Ventec teeing up to start churning them out so pretty soon the hospital carparks will be full of them.
Call me Ishmael...
/ 26th March 2020How about pressing *pause* on the Trumpaganda, Alan…
Alan Wilkinson
/ 26th March 2020Here you go, Ishmael:
https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/24/21192282/ford-tesla-gm-elon-musk-coronavirus-masks-ventilators-pandemic
Terrible, isn’t it? Much better to sit in Wellington doing nothing but closing everything down and putting everyone on the dole for the foreseeable future.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 26th March 2020And in the UK they expect to produce 30,000 ventilators by the end of April and are recruiting huge numbers of volunteers to help hospitals cope:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/coronavirus-uk-lockdown-news-nhs-nightingale-hospital-volunteers/
lurcher1948
/ 26th March 2020Pete George
/ 26th March 2020There must be a few variants. Another one was something like “I don’t know how the earthlings died but they have amazingly clean bums”.
Corky
/ 26th March 2020Have you heard of ‘The Gathering,” Lurchy? The Universe is watching. Planet earth is like a sports event at the moment.
https://www.afterlife-knowledge.com/gatherng.html
Call me Ishmael...
/ 26th March 2020And showing signs of new cycles of outbreaks…
https://www.ft.com/content/859e9336-68db-11ea-a3c9-1fe6fedcca75
Pete George
/ 26th March 2020