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COVID-19 Update: Beijing under control but global case numbers soar as Latin America and key US states reel

by Martin Moodie | | martin@moodiedavittreport.com

For our updates from 27 June click here.

We start each day’s update with this message from DFS Group when the retailer reopened its stores in Macau on 20 February after a 13-day closure.

Published in Chinese, it translates as:

No winter can’t be passed
No spring will not come

26 June

International

The numbers tell their own awful story. Around 23 hours ago we reported that case numbers were stretching towards 9.4 million and the death toll had passed 482,000. Today those grim statistics look even worse. Source: Johns Hopkins University. Click to enlarge.

South Korea

39 new cases in the Republic, 17 of them in Seoul and seven identified through border screening. Source: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Click to enlarge)

Greater China

Macau sees its first case in two months while Hong Kong reports 14 more infections. Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (Click to enlarge)
Macau Daily Times reports on the first local case in two months. The patient, a 57-year-old male Macau resident and Philippines national, took a Cathay Pacific flight from Manila, Philippines, to Hong Kong on Thursday. Click on image to read full article.
A boost for travel retailers Ever Rich Duty Free and Tasa Meng as international travellers can now transit through the island following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions from yesterday. Click here to read full article.

25 June

Asia Pacific

Preliminary May 2020 traffic figures released today by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed that the COVID-19 pandemic continued to weigh heavily on international air passenger and cargo markets. The travel and tourism sectors are being crippled by widespread lockdowns and travel restrictions, AAPA said.

In aggregate, the region’s airlines carried only 785,000 passengers in May, a -97.5% collapse compared to the same month last year. The slump in demand, combined with a -92.5% fall in available seat capacity, led to a 50.4 percentage point decline in the average international passenger load factor to just 28.4% for the month.

US

CNN reports that California, Texas and Florida all set records for the number of new daily COVID-19 cases. Click on image to read full CNN report.

Greater China

The situation in Beijing, such a concern a few days back after the food market outbreak, appears increasingly under control. Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (Click to enlarge)

South Korea

The Korea Herald dedicates its usual homepage treatment to the COVID-19 crisis, now seemingly easing again after a deeply concerning new series of outbreaks. South Korea reported 28 new cases yesterday, chiefly in the Seoul metropolitan area. Click on image to read full article.

International

Case numbers stretch towards 9.4 million; the death toll passes 482,000. As China and South Korea, the countries hit hardest earliest, react with impressive control in arresting their latest outbreaks, the crisis deepens alarmingly elsewhere, most notably in the Americas and India. Source: Johns Hopkins University. Click to enlarge.

24 June

International

The Brazilian death toll climbs fast as the disease rages in much of South America. Over 9.2 million people have now been infected worldwide and more than 477,000 killed. Click here for a constantly updated country-by-country infection and death count. Source: Johns Hopkins University

Greater China

As COVID-19 rages out of control in many western countries, the situation in Beijing continues to improve with just seven new cases reported. Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (Click to enlarge)

South Korea

12 more cases picked up at border entry as the South Korean authorities continue to battle hard against the virus. 51 new infections are reported nationwide. Source: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Click to enlarge)

23 June

Greater China

Hong Kong reports 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases, its highest single-day spike in over two months. Most were returnees arriving on a chartered flight from Pakistan. The news from Beijing is much better though with just 13 new infections reported. Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (Click to enlarge)

South Korea

46 new cases in the Republic but note that 26 were identified at border entry, the same issue as in Hong Kong. Source: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Click to enlarge)

International

Over 9 million cases globally and more than 472,00 deaths. Click to enlarge and here for a constantly updated country-by-country infection and death count. The US, Russia, Brazil and India continue to see surging case numbers. Source: Johns Hopkins University

22 June

International

COVID-19 continues to spread globally with almost 9 million cases and nearly 470,000 deaths. Click to enlarge and here for a constantly updated country-by-country infection and death count. Source: Johns Hopkins University

Greater China

New infections in Beijing fall below 20 as the crackdown on the latest outbreak appears to be working. Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (Click to enlarge)

South Korea

Better news out of South Korea as just 17 cases are reported. Source: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Click to enlarge)

21 June

Greater China

The Beijing authorities have moved with impressive speed to confine the latest outbreak though new cases continue to remain in the twenties. Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (Click to enlarge)

South Korea

The latest new case numbers out of South Korea, where for so long the COVID-19 crisis seemed well under control, underline just how difficult it is to curb fresh outbreaks. The Republic reported 48 new confirmed infections yesterday. Source: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Click to enlarge)

International

Over 464,000 deaths worldwide and nearly 8.8 million cases. Click to enlarge and here for a constantly updated country-by-country infection and death count. South America now has three countries in the ten most-affected nations. Source: Johns Hopkins University

20 June

International

South America now occupies three positions in the top ten countries by case numbers, as the pandemic spreads fast in Brazil, Peru and Chile. China no longer ranks in the top 20. Over 460,000 deaths have occured worldwide and case numbers are approaching 8.7 million. Click to enlarge and here for a constantly updated country-by-country infection and death count. Source: Johns Hopkins University

South Korea

The Korea Herald dedicates its lead story to the latest alarming spate of new cases. “Transmissions are happening at eateries and pubs… if there is a patient present, there is a high possibility of virus spread at these crowded and confined places where people consume food and drinks, and engage in conversations without wearing their masks,” Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Jung Eun-kyeong tells a media briefing. Click on image to read full article.
Bad news out of the Republic as 67 new cases are confirmed, 36 of them in the greater Seoul region and 18 at border entries. Source: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Click to enlarge)

Greater China

“Beijing’s tough measures have stemmed transmission routes of the virus,” Wu Zunyou, the Chief Epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, tells Global Times. “It is difficult for the virus to spread further under such air-tight prevention measures.” Wu said the measures will be relaxed once no new infections are reported for two weeks. [Click on image to read full article]
New cases in Beijing continue to hover in the twenties, with 22 of the 27 confirmed infections in Mainland China reported in the capital. Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (Click to enlarge)

19 June

International

A global pandemic rages: Over 454,000 deaths worldwide and more than 8.5 million cases. Click to enlarge and here for a constantly updated country-by-country infection and death count. Source: Johns Hopkins University

South Korea

Concerns about the latest outbreak persist in South Korea as 49 new cases are reported. Source: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Click to enlarge)

Greater China

21 of the 28 new cases in Mainland China were reported in Beijing. Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (Click to enlarge)
Global Times in China reports that an initial epidemiological survey shows the coronavirus strain detected at the Xinfadi market in Beijing came from Europe. However, the strain has existed longer than the current coronavirus strain circulating in Europe, Chinese virologists inferred. They say it is possible that the virus did not mutate during transport as it has been sealed in frozen food, and stored in cold and damp conditions. Click on image to read full article.

18 June

International

Almost 450,000 people worldwide have died from COVID-19 out of a total of nearly 8.4 million cases. Click to enlarge and here for a constantly updated country-by-country infection and death count. Source: Johns Hopkins University

South Korea

Not the homepage that anyone wants to see as 59 new cases are reported in the Republic. The Greater Seoul area, which includes Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, reported the most patients, 39. Click on the image to read The Korea Herald report.

Greater China

Beijing accounted for 21 of the 28 new cases reported yesterday on the Mainland. Hong Kong sees a small spike. Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (Click to enlarge)

17 June

US/Canada

The border between the US and Canada will remain closed to non-essential travel for at least another 30 days.

The restrictions were set to expire on 21 June, but Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this would now be extended until at least 21 July.

Barbara Barrett, the Executive Director of the trade body representing Canadian border stores, the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA), had said on 3 June that she expected the closure to be extended beyond 21 June.

“Until the border opens, only 25% of our stores are open and those that are open are only serving essential workers moving across the border for supply chain. That means there’s very little traffic and revenues are reduced for even the stores that are open,” she added.

Greater China

Beijing accounted for 27 of the 40 new reported cases as the authorities step up efforts to limit the outbreak in the capital. Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (Click to enlarge)
Chinese state media Global Times reports that Beijing has raised its emergency response to level II and so far announced one high-risk and 27 medium-risk neighbourhoods. People from these areas and those with connections to the Xinfadi food market, source of the latest outbreak, are not allowed to leave the city. The ‘soft lockdown’ is aimed at reducing travel as much as possible, the report says. Click on image for full article.

South Korea

The Korea Herald reports that community spread accounted for 31 of the 43 new COVID-19 cases, including 25 in the capital area (12 in Seoul, 11 in Gyeonggi Province and two in Incheon). According to Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 12 imported cases, of which seven were diagnosed at airport checkpoints. Click on image for full article.

International

In the 23 hours since we last showed this chart, 4,767 people have died of COVID-19 and a further 139,479 have been infected. Click to enlarge and here for a constantly updated country-by-country infection and death count.
Worldometer provides a daily update of reported cases and deaths by country, territory, or conveyance. It notes today that COVID-19 is affecting 213 countries and territories around the world and two international conveyances. The day is reset after midnight GMT+0. The list of countries and territories and their continental regional classification is based on the United Nations Geoscheme. Click to enlarge to view the worst-affected areas (numbers vary from those of Johns Hopkins University above due to different reporting times).

16 June

China

Beijing has locked down 29 communities as more cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in the city.

Parts of the Chinese capital have been fenced off, with security checkpoints set up, and indoor sporting and entertainment venues have been ordered to close.

High-risk people – such as close contacts of diagnosed cases – are prevented from leaving the city. Taxis have also been banned from leaving the Beijing area.

Global Times is reporting the cluster of infections has been described as “very grim” by the Beijing government.

A top epidemiologist with China’s Center for Disease Control & Prevention said the next three days will be critical for Beijing to curb the outbreak.

World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergencies Programme Executive Director Michael Ryan commented: “A cluster like this is a concern and it needs to be investigated and controlled. That’s exactly what Chinese authorities are doing.”

International

The global case total passes 8 million with almost 4373,000 lives lost. Source: Johns Hopkins University. Click to enlarge and here for a constantly updated country-by-country infection and death count.

Greater China

Amid intensive efforts to curb the new outbreak in Beijing, the capital accounted for 27 of the 40 new cases reported yesterday. Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (Click to enlarge)

South Korea

The Korea Herald reports 34 new cases amid an uptick in cases with unknown sources and small-scale clusters in the capital area. 12,155 cases have now been recorded in the Republic, with the death toll up by one to 278, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

15 June

Germany

Frankfurt Airport welcomed just 272,826 passengers in May, a decline of -95.6% year-on-year. For the first five months of the year, passenger traffic slumped -57.2%. This trend continued to be driven by travel restrictions and plummeting demand in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, said airport owner Fraport.

Fraport’s Group airports worldwide have also been buffeted by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the reporting period, most of them were still subject to comprehensive restrictions on travel and some remained under complete lockdowns imposed by local authorities. The passenger volumes were between 89.5% and 99.9% beneath the levels of May last year.

Only Xi’an Airport in China experienced a significant recovery in May, serving 2.2 million passengers – a drop of -44.4% year-on-year.

Greater China

Beijing accounted for 36 of the 49 new cases reported yesterday. Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (Click to enlarge)


[Click on the icon to view Chinese state-controlled media Global Times Editor in Chief Hu Xijin saying that Beijing will control the epidemic at a lower cost to society]

South Korea

37 new cases are reported in South Korea amid intensive efforts to control the recent clusters. Source: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Click to enlarge)

International

Around the same time yesterday, we reported that the global case total was nearing 7.8 million. Today it is approaching 8 million with over 433,000 lives lost. Source: Johns Hopkins University. Click to enlarge and here for a constantly updated country-by-country infection and death count.

For our earlier daily reports dating back to mid-January click here.

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