Coronavirus Updates
US President Joe Biden tested negative for COVID-19, after he tested positive for a second time in what is being called a breakthrough case. He must test negative for a second time before he comes out of isolation. Biden first tested positive on July 21 and then emerged from isolation on July 27 after two negative tests. But he tested positive on July 30, which has happened to some people who, like Biden, have taken the anti-viral drug Paxlovid.
New Zealand fully reopened its borders to international visitors. a restriction that was put into place at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The borders partially reopened in February to allow the free movement of New Zealand citizens, and in May allowed tourists from more than 50 countries to visit. Tourists from non-visa waiver countries, international students, and cruise ships were permitted to enter New Zealand at midnight on Sunday. Visitors will still be required to be vaccinated against the coronavirus and take two tests after arrival; they will not be required to quarantine.
North Korea reported no new cases of the coronavirus for the first time since mid-May, when in uncharicaristic fashion it publicly announced its first outbreak of COVID-19. State media reported on Saturday that there were zero patients with what it calls cases of “fever” in the most recent 24-hour period. According to the state emergency anti-epidemic center, the total number of cases in North Korea since the start of the outbreak is about 4.8 milion, with a 99.99 % recovery rate. Some 74 people have died from COVID. The nubers are suspect, however,
US President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday. The new positive test comes three days after the US president came out of isolation following a previous coronavirus diagnosis. According to the White House, President Biden has has a case of rebound, following treatment with the anti-viral coronavirus drug Paxlovid. President Biden has not experienced a reoccurance of virus symptoms, according to his doctor. Biden will remain in isolation again for at least five days. The president’s wife, Jill Biden, has remained at the family’s home in Wilmington, Delaware since President Biden’s diagnosis. She has continued to test negative for the coronavirus. Generally, patients who experience rebound after taking Paxlovid have only mild symptoms.
China’s Wuhan province, where the coronavirus first emerged, ordered businesses and public transportation to close for at least three days after discovering four COVID-19 cases, in keeping with China’s zero COVID policy. The Jiangxia district of Wuhan, which has nearly 1 million residents, on Wednesday announced a ban on large group events and dining at restaurants, and said that it would close public entertainment venues and agricultural markets, and suspend bus and subway services. Residents were encouraged to not leave the province during the three days, while travelers were called on to not enter the area.
The coronavirus originated in an animal market in China’s Wuhan province ,which would mean that it moved naturally from animals to humans, according to two new studies. The two studies were published in the journal of Science and underwent peer review prior to appearing in the journal. Some have suggested that the spread of the virus was a result of a lab leak.
A record number of people in Australia have been hospitalized with COVID-19. Some 5,450 were in hospital on Monday, most likely infected with the new and very contagious omicron sub-variants, as the national health care system has been stretched to the limit. Exacerbating this is the factt that many hospital workers are sich with the virus or in isolation. Daily death tolls have risen as well, with 100 recorded on Saturday, also a record. Meanwhile, more than 1,000 retirement homes have suffered outbreaks. Some 95% of Australians have been fully vaccinated, and some 71% have had booster shots.
US President Joe Biden, who last week announced that he had contracted COVID-19, continues to improve, according to his doctor, Keven O’Connor. His primary symptoms are a sore throat, runny nose, cough and body aches, O’Connor said. President Biden, who is taking Pfizer’s Paxlovid antiviral pill and medicating himself with Tylenol, likely contracted the highly contagious BA.5 variant, according to the White House. The US president’s vital signs, such as blood pressure and respiratory rate, “remain entirely normal,” according to his doctor, and his oxygen saturation levels are “excellent” with “no shortness of breath at all.” President Biden is fully vaccinated and twice-boosted, and has been isolating in the White House residence.
The Chinese territory of Macau closed all its casinos for the first time in more than two years due to the coronavirus. The over 30 casinos were closed on Monday for at least a week as the territory attempts to curb the spread of COVID-19, which has broken out in cities throughout China. Macau has seen about 1,500 cases since mid-June. Another 19,000 people are in mandatory quarantine. Police will be on duty to ensure that only people with essential reasons for travel leave their homes or arrive in Macau. Many of the casinos had already been operating with minimal staffing in the last three weeks,
Australia has begun offering a 4th shot against the coronavirus for ages 30 and over. The new round of vaccines come as the numbers of people hospitalized due to the virus rose across the country. There are about 4,000 people hospitalized across Australia due to COVID-19. Most are believed to be the new omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. The last wave occurred in February. “The pandemic is not over, we are entering a third wave that is placing enormous pressure on our health and hospital system,” Health Minister Mark Butler told reporters in announcing the new vaccines, which began on Monday. Australians over 65 already were able to get the 4th vaccine dose.