RationalWiki:What is going on with the coronavirus?/August 2020

August 2020
Online outrage at footage from a recent pool party in Wuhan showing thousands of revellers enjoying themselves without social distancing or face masks Peru has become the country with the highest mortality rate from Covid-19 Around 18,000 take part in an ‘anti-corona’ protest in Berlin, marching against the Covid restrictions imposed by the government. It comes as new infections in Germany (and much of Europe) continue to increase. Coronavirus-denier arrested in Spain for inciting hatred and violence on social media. Because of asinine diplomatic rules, New Zealand can't require diplomats actually quarantine the same way everyone else is required to do for entry, they can only ask them to do so. United States ambassador and his wife have declined their request, will instead quarantine at their residence near Wellington. Three people are jailed because they failed to self-isolate for 14 days after returning to the Isle of Man from the UK Top Trump officials made the CDC change their testing recommendations: Those in close contact with an infected person should only be tested if they show symptoms, are a high risk for infection, or at the direction of local health officials. Previous guidance said anyone in close contact should be tested. Anthony Fauci wasn't consulted on these changes, as he was in the middle of having surgery done and unconscious. He doesn't agree with the changes. A yougov poll reveals that 57% of Republicans think that 170,000 Covid 19-related deaths is acceptable Whilst it was initially believed that the first UK transmission of Covid took place on 28 February, new evidence suggests the virus had circulating undetected before this case, possibly as far back as early February. As the new academic year rolls around, face masks in corridors will be compulsory in Scotland, with speculation that England could be about to introduce similar rules. Update: England will also have compulsory mask-wearing in corridors The first proven case of somebody being reinfected with Covid-19 is reported in Hong Kong. Due to a rise in coronavirus cases, all schools in the greater Seoul area are closed again until at least 11 September. Update on. It has been revealed that one of the attendees European Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan, before arriving at the dinner collected personal belongings in a lockdown area thus breaking COVID rules and used his mobile phone while driving en route. County Kildare was in the midst of a county lockdown, no one was to leave the county let alone travel to the other side of the country to attend something that shouldn't have been held in the first place.

Update: [https://www.politico.eu/article/phil-hogan-resigns-as-eu-trade-boss-over-golfgate-scandal/ Hogan has now resigned as EU Trade Commissioner. ]  Organisers of illegal raves will now face a whopping £10,000 fine as the government attempts to crack down on blatant ignoring of social distancing. Around eighty politicians and VIPs broke COVID rules which limit the number of people dining in a confined space, after reports that they attended a private dinner of the Oireachtas Golf Society earlier this week. Two of the attendees, the Agricultural Minister Dara Calleary has resigned, and Jerry Buttimer left his position of Leas-Cathaoirleach [deputy speaker of the Seanad]. Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar has withdrawn the three senators including Buttimer who attended the dinner of their whips. Update: The police are now investigating the incident and the Leader of the Opposition Mary Lou McDonald is calling for a recall of the Dáil. The family of low-pay frontline NHS and social care workers who die of coronavirus will be stripped of eligibility to welfare benefits if they recieve a payout from the government's Covid-19 compensation package Trump doubles down comparing US efforts to those in New Zealand - August 18 new cases: New Zealand 12, USA 43,999. And again in a speech being televised (Twitter link) adding in South Korea - on a day when New Zealand and South Korea had fewer than 300, and the USA had over 43,000 new cases. The number of confirmed and probable cases in the US exceeds New Zealand’s entire population by almost 500,000. Israeli Supreme Court rules that Palestinian prisioners have no right to social distancing Once hailed as heroes and essential, grocery workers are now suffering from low morale, pay cuts, unsafe working conditions and high risk of contracting Covid-19. Trump says New Zealand has a "big surge" in Covid cases... for New Zealand that's up to 9 new cases per day and holding. Meanwhile the USA has 42,000. A reminder - NZ has a population of about 5 million, USA about 330 million. If NZ had the same rate per population it would be having about 600 per day. If the US had the same rate as NZ there would be 630-640/day. Tennessee lawmakers pass a series of controversial bills that target protestors and discourage COVID-19 related lawsuits Anti-mask rally in Madrid...  starter for 10:  how many people can you count in the picture wearing masks? How many wearing them properly? New Zealand's general election is postponed from 19 September to 17 October due to a spike in coronavirus cases. Brazil, India and the United States account for half of the world's Covid-19 cases Because it involves breathing out lots of droplets and touching your face, smoking has been effectively banned in all public places in Galicia and the Canary Islands. A study in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene says that coronavirus-related misinformation has caused the deaths of at least 800 people around the world, including people who died after drinking cleaning products. Majority of Americans (69%) believe that the states are reopening too quickly and that the reasons why the number of confirmed cases is rising is because of new infections and not more testing New Zealand records 4 new cases in Auckland after being virus free for 102 days. The second wave begins.... An analysis of different types of masks showed that gaiter-type masks, bandanas, knitted masks, and N95 masks with exhalation valves were not likely to be protective for viral spread (paywall) Once praised for taming the pandemic, Asian-Pacific nations worry about a new wave of infections. The exceptions are New Zealand and Taiwan who heavily test and quarantine returning citizens and residents, a task aided by their oceanic isolation. Russia announces the worlds first Covid-19 vaccination, with Putin saying his own daughter has been vaccinated. Scientists are sceptical, saying it could have been rushed and could be unsafe and/or ineffective. One in six people in the UK say they are unlikely to or definitely wouldn't get a Covid-19 vaccination. Stupid bloody antivax tossers! New Zealand celebrates 100 days free of community transition of the virus. The recent confirmed cases have all been from returning travellers who were quarantined at the border. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/08/08/asymptomatic-coronavirus-covid/ Forty percent of people with coronavirus infections have no symptoms. Might they be the key to ending the pandemic? New research suggests that some of us may be partially protected due to past encounters with common cold coronaviruses.] Also mask-wearing appears to be protective insofar as giving the wearer a greater likelihood of asymptomatic infection rather than COVID-related symptoms. Student suspended from school after making social media posts showing high school hallways packed with maskless students. UPDATE: Suspension has been lifted. Keeping Antarctica Covid-free means that scientific research there has to be scaled back this year. Wearing face coverings is now mandatory in just about all indoor public places in England and Scotland. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine tests positive for coronavirus using a antigen test, in preparation to meet with Trump. He does not currently have any symptoms. UPDATE: A second, more reliable PCR (diagnostic) test came back negative. He will be tested again using the PCR test on Saturday to confirm the negative result. Donald Trump is penalized by Facebook and Twitter for posting a video in which he falsely claimed children were "almost immune" to Covid-19. The latest side effect of COVID-19, i.e. short term hair loss or density. Anti-maskers in Melbourne are calling themselves "sovereign citizens" and forcibly resisting health regulations Iran may have covered up 2/3rds of its actual fatalities. A state of disaster is declared in Victoria and strict lockdown conditions are imposed, including a nighttime curfew. Up to 20,000 attended a protest against coronavirus restrictions in Berlin. "Corona, false alarm" and "We are being forced to wear a muzzle" were among some of the slogans painted on placards.