A record surge of coronavirus cases in the United States is pushing hospitals to the brink of capacity and killing up to 1,000 people a day, the latest figures show.
The US broke its single-day record for new coronavirus infections yesterday, reporting at least 91,248 new cases, as 21 states reported their highest daily number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients since the pandemic started, according to a Reuters tally of publicly reported data.
More than 1,000 people died of the virus yesterday, marking the third time in October that milestone has been passed in a single day. The number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients has risen over 50% in October to 46,000, the highest since mid-August.
The surge has revived some of the worst images of the devastating first wave of the virus in March, April and May, with people on ventilators dying alone in hospital isolation and medical staff physically and mentally exhausted.
"Our hospitals cannot keep up with Utah's infection rate. You deserve to understand the dire situation we face," Utah Governor Gary Herbert said on Twitter, echoing a similar refrain from other state and local officials and public health experts.
Utah is in a very serious situation. COVID-19 is the most devastating when hospitals are overwhelmed and unable to provide good care to everyone who needs it. We have seen this in Italy. We have seen this in New York. We could see this in Utah if things do not change.
— Gov. Gary Herbert (@GovHerbert) October 29, 2020
Utah was among 14 states to report record increases in deaths this month and among 30 states to report record increases in cases.
The United States has recorded over 229,000 deaths and nearly 9 million cases, both the highest single-country totals in the global pandemic.
"We are having some of the largest outbreaks that we've had during the entire pandemic. And nine, 10 months into this pandemic, we are still largely not quite prepared," said Dr Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health in Providence, Rhode Island.
"We don't have the kind of testing that we need. There are a lot of problems with large outbreaks happening in many, many different parts of the country. And of course, we're going into the fall (autumn) and winter, which will, of course, make things very, very difficult," Dr Jha said.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly downplayed the virus, saying for weeks that the country is "rounding the turn," even as new cases and hospitalisations soar.
He maintained his upbeat tone in a tweet today, saying the country is doing much better than Europe in confronting the pandemic.
More Testing equals more Cases. We have best testing. Deaths WAY DOWN. Hospitals have great additional capacity! Doing much better than Europe. Therapeutics working!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 30, 2020
Covid-19 cases in England continue to rise steeply
Cases of coronavirus in England have jumped 47% in one week, according to new data.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) infection survey found cases "continued to rise steeply", with an average of 51,900 new cases per day of Covid-19 in private homes between 17 and 23 October.
This is up 47% from 35,200 new cases per day for the period from October 10 to 16, according to the ONS estimates.
Overall, around one in 100 people had Covid-19 over the course of the latest week.
The figures, based on 609,777 swab tests taken whether people have symptoms or not, do not include anyone staying in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings
Meanwhile, millions more people in northern England face stricter coronavirus rules next week, the government said as it perseveres with a localised response to surging case rates.
From Monday, nearly 2.4 million residents in five districts of West Yorkshire, including in the city of Leeds, will be barred from socialising with other households indoors.
Pubs and bars not serving "substantial meals" must close, alongside casinos, betting shops, soft play facilities and adult gaming centres.
The public has also been told to avoid unnecessary travel.
The Department of Health said the measures were needed as infection rates in West Yorkshire were "among the highest in the country" and rising rapidly.
The move means more than 11 million people or about a fifth of England's population will be under the tightest restrictions from next week.
Covid-19 infections soar across Western Balkans
Covid-19 infections are surging across the Western Balkans with hospitals close to being overwhelmed by incoming patients.
Croatians queued up in hundreds of cars before the Zagreb Fair gate in the capital waiting to get a Covid-19test, with new daily cases approaching 3,000.
Authorities reported 2,776 infections and 20 deaths in Croatia, a nation of 4 million people, over the past 24 hours, but epidemiologists warned numbers could rise to up to 4,000 a day in the coming weeks.
Neighbouring Slovenia, a country of 2 million which earlier this month reimposed a lockdown against the second wave of the global pandemic, reported 1,798 new cases today and a new record of 23 deaths in a day.
To the south, Bosnia reported 1,449 new cases and 30 deaths with officials warning hospital capacities especially in the capital Sarajevo were almost full and the system could face collapse.
In Serbia, 1,384 new infections and 44 deaths were registered yesterday, but officials, wary of further economic damage from the crisis, said new restrictions would not be introduced as yet.
The Belgrade government is financing the construction of two new hospitals with an overall capacity of 1,500 Covid-19 patients, with openings scheduled for December.
Iceland tightens restrictions to curb spike in cases
Iceland further tightened its restrictions to curb a spike in coronavirus infections, lowering its limit on public gatherings to 10 people from 20 and suspending sporting activities and stage performances.
The new restrictions will take effect tomorrow and remain in force until 17 November.
Iceland has an infection incidence of 213 per 100,000 on a two-week average, down from a spike in mid-October to 291.5.
Only 12 people have died with the virus in Iceland.
