Saturday July 25, 2020 ~ GLOBAL | NATIONAL | BC
by Mary Brooke, B.Sc. | West Shore Voice News
As of Thursday July 24 the World Health Organization (WHO) in their 186th COVID-19 Situation Report reports a global total of 15,296,926 cases of COVID-19 (284,196 new in the last 24 hours) and 628,903 deaths (9,753 new).
Although all countries have been affected, intense transmission is occurring in less than a dozen countries. Almost 10 million cases, or two-thirds of all cases globally, are from 10 countries, and almost half of all cases reported so far are from just three countries, it was stated by WHO yesterday.
For the United States where they are having overall difficulties in containing the spread of COVID-19, WHO reports 3,938,094 cases (69,641 new in 24 hours) and 142,4553 deaths (1,074 new in 24 hours).
For cases across Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) reports 113,206 cases (up 534 from 112,672 cases in 24 hours) and 8,881 (up by seven from 8,874 the day before). PHAC is keeping an eye on Alberta’s growing number of cases (presently tallied at 10,086 which is a jump of 111 cases in one day).
The BC Centre for Disease Control reports 3,419 cases in BC at July 24 with 27 of those being new since the previous day. To date there have been 191 deaths from COVID-19 in BC (up one in 24 hours).
On Vancouver Island there have been 142 cases of COVID-19, with one of those new on July 23 and no new cases reported on July 24. On Vancouver Island there have been no cases in children under the age of 10, but eight cases among teens (age 10 to 19).
Awaiting treatment or vaccine:
Living with COVID-19 as ‘the new normal’ is necessary until there is an effective treatment or vaccine against the SARS-COV2 virus.
This week Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry said that orders and guidance about behaviours to keep people safe during the pandemic will continue to change and adapt as circumstances change.
Most health experts say a vaccine is not likely to be found before 2021, and it could take until the fall/winter of 2021-2022 before mass distribution of a vaccine (if one is found and developed) is available widely.