380,000 new Covid-19 cases, 6790 deaths in 24 hours

An Australian health chief has revealed just how dangerous a challenge the Covid-19 pandemic remains across the rest of the world.

Australia’s deputy chief medical officer has provided a stark insight into how Covid-19 is continuing to devastate the world.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Professor Michael Kidd addressed the outbreak at the Summit Care residential aged care facility in Sydney, while urging people to get vaccinated.

“Three of the new (Covid-19) cases in NSW are residents of the Summit Care residential aged care facility in Baulkham Hills,” he said.

“All reported as being fully vaccinated and all these people are being transferred to the Westmead Hospital.”

He said authorities were taking the outbreak at the facility “very seriously”.

“The Commonwealth is working in partnership with NSW and the facility staff,” he said.

“The facility is in full lockdown and additional workforce supports have been activated and testing of all residential and staff has been activated.

“Today all but one of the 2566 residential aged care facilities across the country have received their first and second dose at Covid-19 vaccination clinics through the national vaccine rollout program.

“This level of vaccination has increased the protection levels for older people living in our nations residential aged care facilities.”

He also took the opportunity to remind Australians that we are not alone in fighting Covid, highlighting the massive challenge the entire globe is facing.

“Globally, in the past 24 hours, there have been nearly 380,000 new cases of Covid-19 reported and 6790 deaths reported,” Prof Kidd said.

That’s an astounding 263 new cases and approximately five deaths every minute.

According to the World Health Organisation’s latest figures (WHO), there have been a total of 18 million confirmed cases and almost four million reported deaths worldwide since the pandemic began.

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This transmission electron microscope image from the National Institute of Allergy and Diseases shows the virus that causes Covid-19. Picture: AFP

Prof Kidd said upping the nation’s vaccination rate is critical as Australia continues to grapple with pockets of outbreaks.

“We know this is a worrying time for many people across Australia,” Prof Kidd said.

“These vaccines protect you and your family and the wider population against the risk of serious illness and death.

“They keep people out of hospital, they keep people out of intensive care units and they reduce the risk of transmitting Covid-19 to other people especially with the new variants of the virus, some of which are more transmissible.”

He reminded Australians not to get complacent, even if they have been vaccinated.

“Even if you’ve been vaccinated it still remains extremely important to practice covid safe procedures.

“We are now approaching the middle of winter and this is a time when people may develop symptoms of cold or flu, but please do not ignore these symptoms as it may be Covid-19, please arrange to get tested.

“I also acknowledge that many people are feeling quite fatigued after all we’ve been through and it’s understandable if many people are struggling, significant restrictions can be difficult … reach out if you need help, speak to your loved ones, speak to your GP, call a hotline or view the resources available at headtohealth.gov.au.”

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Patients affected by Covid-19 at Sao Paulo state, Brazil. Picture: AFP

Most concerning factors in the global Covid-19 battle

The world is well into the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the WHO says the situation remains “highly fragile”.

“While at the global level, trends in cases and deaths have been declining in recent weeks, there is significant variation by region, by country and within countries,” the organisation noted in a recent report.

“In all WHO regions, there are countries reporting sharp increases in cases and hospitalisations.”

The WHO said of most concern in the fight against the virus were a combination of factors including more transmissible variants, increasing social mixing, suboptimal vaccination coverage and relaxation of public health and social measures, which “will slow this progress and delay the end of the pandemic”.

According to the latest statistics, the African region recorded a sharp increase in incidence (33 per cent) and mortality (42 per cent) in Covid cases this week when compared to the previous week.

However, the highest numbers of new Covid-19 cases were actually reported from Brazil (521,298 new cases; 3 per cent increase), India (351,218 new cases; 12 per cent increase), Colombia (204,132 new cases; 5 per cent increase), Russian (134,465 new cases; 24 per cent increase), and Argentina (131,824 new cases; 11 per cent decrease).

India has upped its efforts to vaccinate its 1.39 billion-strong population after a devastating second wave ripped through the subcontinent earlier this year, bringing the country’s total death toll to over 400,000 this week.

Cemetery workers in protective suits carry the coffin of a Covid-19 victim to be buried at Vila Formosa cemetery in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Picture: Getty Images

Meanwhile, the highest numbers of new cases per 100,000 population over the past week were reported in the Seychelles with 708, Namibia with 509 and Mongolia with 491.

Globally, cases of the Alpha variant have been reported in 172 countries, territories or areas, Beta in 120 countries, and Gamma in 72 countries.

Meanwhile, 96 countries (11 new countries) have reported cases of the Delta variant, though the WHO says this is likely an underestimate. A number of these countries are attributing surges in infections and hospitalisations to this variant.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom in the war against covid. The UK, which has been dealing with the Delta variant, has reported a drop in covid cases in the last 24 hours, with 24,855 Brits testing positive compared to 27,125 reported yesterday.

Deaths have also fallen, with 18 reported, that’s compared to 27 yesterday.