Global cases of the coronavirus now top 2 million. It only took four months for the nations of the world to confirm 1 million cases and only 12 days for that number to double.
As the world continues to work to contain the spread of the virus, many countries are reporting positive data that the worst of the initial outbreak may be over. Italy had reported its fewest new infections in four weeks on Monday as it follows other European countries in allowing some small businesses return to work. Germany announced on Wednesday that it will begin to reopen its economy on Monday, while President Donald Trump stated that positive data observed by the White House shows that the United States may be beyond its peak outbreak.
However, researchers at Harvard University have warned that in the absence of a vaccine or effective treatment for COVID-19, social distancing measures may need to remain in place at some capacity through 2022. Epidemiologists found that conclusion by studied what is currently known about COVID-19 and other coronaviruses to anticipate possible scenarios for the current pandemic.
"Absent other interventions, a key metric for the success of social distancing is whether critical care capacities are exceeded," the study concluded in its report. "To avoid this, prolonged or intermittent social distancing may be necessary into 2022."
Total Global Cases: Over 2 million
Total Deaths: At Least 130,000
Total Recovered: At Least 540,000
Economic Reopen
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, a group of American business executives warned the White House Coronavirus Task Force that the United Stated would need to increase the availability of coronavirus testing before businesses and workers would feel comfortable returning to work. This warning came during the first of four planned calls for the task force, as well as President Trump, to advise the President on the reopening of the country.
"The people involved in the first call...described current testing levels in the U.S. as inadequate to effectively reopen the economy," the Journal reported.
The White House is scheduled to issue its federal plan for states to reopen on Thursday. Dr. Deborah Birx, health advisor for the Coronavirus Task Force, stated during the White House's press conference on Wednesday that, "We see as a country, we're improving. We see as metro areas, we're improving. We see as communities, as counties and as states, we're improving." However, Birx stressed that the reopening of the economy, "still requires everyone to continue to social distance."
Over in Europe, Germany is planning to reopen their economy gradually, starting on Monday. The country will begin to allow small shops to open next week with schools gradually beginning to hold classes in May. Despite the restart to some normal public life, Germany will still hold most restrictive measures in place and many aspects of public life will be limited, like large social gatherings or many recreational businesses, until August at the earliest.
W.H.O. Responds
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced that he will be suspending funding to the World Health Organization and begin an investigation into what the Trump administration finds to be favoritism towards China and mismanagement. The United States funds 10% of the agency's budget.
"We regret the decision of the President of the United States to order a hold in funding to the World Health Organization," W.H.O. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated. "With the support of the people and government of the United States. the W.H.O. works to improve the health of many of the world's poorest and more vulnerable people. W.H.O. is not only fighting COVID-19. We are also working to address polio, measles, malaria, Ebola, HIV, tuberculosis, malnutrition, cancer, diabetes, mental health and many other diseases and conditions."
Steven Solomon, the agency's legal counsel stated that, "our mandate is to work to promote health of all people, everywhere. This means we work with and for all people everywhere, whether they are in Taiwan, China or any other place."
More Testing
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) announced the launch of its third coronavirus test on Wednesday, stating that it is an antibody test that could be screening up to 20 million people by June.
"Antibody testing is an important next step to tell if someone has been previously infected," It will provide more understanding of the virus, including how long antibodies stay in the body and if they provide immunity," the company stated in its press release. Abbott has created two other tests to diagnose COVID-19. Its antibody test is its first that will evaluate if an individual has already had an infection.