North America coronavirus cases surge as pandemic eases elsewhere

(Representative photo)

The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic continued to surge in North America this week even as it eased elsewhere. The average number of new daily cases stabilised globally at 643,100 according to an AFP tally up to Thursday. The pandemic has been gaining ground since mid-June largely due to the highly-contagious Delta variant. The confirmed cases only reflect a fraction of the actual number of infections, with varying counting practices and levels of testing in different countries. While most regions of the world saw an improvement this week, coronavirus cases continued to surge by 11% in the United States and Canada. There were 7% fewer new cases in Africa, 6% less in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 3% less in Asia and Europe. Cases jumped by one-fifth in Oceania, although from a low base. In the Middle East, the situation also worsened by 4%. Kosovo was by far the country where the Covid-19 pandemic picked up most speed, with 189% more cases every day. Azerbaijan followed with 82% more, Serbia 75% more, and Switzerland and Germany 61% more, each. At the other end of the spectrum, Mozambique saw the biggest drop with 36% less new cases, followed by Argentina with 34% less, Colombia and Turkey 32% less each, and Algeria 28% less. The US saw by far the biggest number of new cases last week, up by a one-tenth at 139,100 per day. Iran followed with 38,200, an increase of 2%. On a per capita basis, the country that recorded the most new cases this week was Georgia with 877 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Kosovo with 586 and Israel with 572. Israel stands out as it has one of the most advanced vaccination drives, having already completely inoculated more than 60% of its population and having started to give booster doses to seniors. Indonesia again recorded the greatest number of daily deaths, with 1,281 per day, before the US (859) and Brazil (821). At a global level the number of daily deaths increased by 3% over the week to 9,787 per day. Malaysia led the vaccination race among countries with more than 1mn inhabitants, jabbing 1.54% of its population every day. Panama followed with 1.51% and South Korea 1.39%. While they are vaccinating more slowly, among the countries with the most advanced vaccination drives are the United Arab Emirates which has given out 178 first or second doses per 100 habitants, followed by Israel and Singapore (145 doses each), and Denmark (142).