Coronavirus is still spreading throughout the world, more than six million people have contracted this disease in 188 countries, out of which more than 370,000 people have succumbed to it. The novel Coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease named as Covid-19, was originated in the city of Wuhan, China, in November 2019. From there it spread quickly across the world in early 2020.
The following data is collated by Johns Hopkins University. As per the data the US has by far the largest number of cases, the US consist around one-third of the total cases around the world. Not only the number of cases but the figures of death is also highest in the U.S. After U.S., nations like Russia, Brazil, UK, Italy, France, Spain and India are the worst-hit countries. If we talk about the origin i.e., China, the official number of deaths is 4,600 out of 84,000 confirmed cases, these figures are believed to be underestimated though.
The Covid-19 outbreak was declared as a global pandemic by on 11 March. This is when an infectious disease is passing easily from person to person in many parts of the world at the same time. However, the WHO was badly criticised by many countries for making delay in declaring it as global Pandemic. At present, there is no proven drug or vaccine for this novel disease and there is no hope in the near future as well. The WHO has already warned that this outbreak is not going to end soon, and there will be a second wave of the outbreak in those countries where lockdown measures are easing. The actual figures of cases are thought to be much higher than the reported figures, as many of those with milder symptoms have not been tested and counted.
Around 4.5 billion population is living under lockdown restrictions, these restrictions have had a big impact on the world economy. According to the International Monetary Fund, the world is facing the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The worst is that the pandemic could almost double the number of people suffering acute hunger as per the United Nations World Food Programme.
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Though some countries are observing a fall in the number of confirmed cases and deaths after strict lockdown measures like New Zealand, the others are now seeing a hike in cases like Brazil and India. A sharp hike in cases of Latin America has led the WHO to say the Americans are currently at the centre of the pandemic. Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro continues to downplay the risks of the virus is new hotspot and concern for the world. There are now more than 500,000 cases in Brazil, and at least 29,000 people have died. And according to a projection by the University of Washington, the death toll could cross the mark of 125000 in early August.
Another country worth concern is Russia, it has seen a sharp rise in the last few weeks and now has the third-highest number of confirmed cases worldwide. India is also on the same track as the number of cases is rising significantly, there are more than 190000 cases by far with more than 5000 deaths and this number is expected to rise much faster after new relaxations. However many countries have passed their peak and the curve in these countries is sloping down but there is very much possibility of the second wave, so precaution is much needed.