COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 17 August

Aug 17, 2020

A healthcare worker wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) takes a swab from a police officer for a rapid antigen test as others line up at a special testing center for Gujarat Police, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Ahmedabad, India, August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Amit Dave - RC2KFI9PGBEX

India has nearly 2.65 million confirmed cases of COVID-19. Image: REUTERS/Amit Dave

Joe Myers

Writer, Forum Agenda

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COVID-19

This daily round-up brings you a selection of the latest news updates on the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as tips and tools to help you stay informed and protected.
Top stories: US passes 170,000 deaths; Indian death toll passes 50,000; New Zealand postpones election.

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1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now reached more than 21.6 million globally, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The number of confirmed coronavirus deaths now stands at more than 775,000.

Japan suffered its biggest economic contraction on record in the second quarter of this year. GDP shrank 27.8% from April to June - the sharpest decline since 1980.

India's death toll has passed 50,000. The country has nearly 2.65 million confirmed cases.

Health chiefs in Ireland are meeting to decide if further restrictions are needed. The country has seen an increase in cases over the last two weeks.

New confirmed coronavirus cases have risen above 3,000 for the second day in a row in France. On Sunday, 3,015 cases were reported, down from 3,310 on Saturday.

More than 3,000 new cases were also recorded in the Philippines. The country registered 3,420 on Sunday.

The United States has now recorded more than 170,000 deaths from the virus, with more than 5.4 million cases.

coronavirus cases US United States America COVID-19

The U.S. has more confirmed cases than any other country. Image: Our World in Data

2. New Zealand postpones elections

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has postponed New Zealand's election after the emergence of new coronavirus cases in the country. Election day has been moved from 19 September to 17 October.

“Ultimately, the 17th of October ... provides sufficient time for parties to plan around the range of circumstances we will be campaigning under,” she said at a news conference.

She'd come under pressure after some parties complained they could not campaign properly, with nearly a third of the population under lockdown in Auckland.

New Zealand recorded nine new cases on Monday, taking active cases to 78. Investigations are ongoing to uncover the source of the new outbreak.

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What is the World Economic Forum doing about the coronavirus outbreak?

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic requires global cooperation among governments, international organizations and the business community, which is at the centre of the World Economic Forum’s mission as the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.

Since its launch on 11 March, the Forum’s COVID Action Platform has brought together 1,667 stakeholders from 1,106 businesses and organizations to mitigate the risk and impact of the unprecedented global health emergency that is COVID-19.

The platform is created with the support of the World Health Organization and is open to all businesses and industry groups, as well as other stakeholders, aiming to integrate and inform joint action.

As an organization, the Forum has a track record of supporting efforts to contain epidemics. In 2017, at our Annual Meeting, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) was launched – bringing together experts from government, business, health, academia and civil society to accelerate the development of vaccines. CEPI is currently supporting the race to develop a vaccine against this strand of the coronavirus.

3. Italy closes nightclubs

Italy is introducing new restrictions, as cases of coronavirus increase across the country - especially among younger people.

The country will close discos and clubs, and in some areas, it will become compulsory to wear a mask outdoors during the evening and night. They'll be required between 6pm and 6am in areas close to bars and where gatherings are more likely.

“We cannot nullify the sacrifices made in past months. Our priority must be that of opening schools in September, in full safety,” Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Facebook.

Four-hundred-and-seventy-nine new cases were confirmed on Sunday, down from 629 on Saturday.

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