Overseas Situation Report Monday 24th 2021
By Mike Evans
“When I hear somebody sigh, “Life is hard”, I am always tempted to ask, “Compared to what?”” – Sydney Harris
Today’s Overseas Report is concentrating on the latest information and news from the World Health Organisation (WHO). They are to host the annual World Health Assembly starting today (24th May 2021). The Health Assembly is WHO’s highest decision-making body and is 
attended by delegations from all around the world. It will also be open to Associate Members, observers, invited representatives of the UN and other participating inter-governmental organizations, and non-State actors. This year’s session will run from 24 May to 1 June 2021 and be held virtually.
In a year when Covid-19 threatens the health and well-being of everyone on the planet, the seventy-fourth session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) will stress the urgency of ending the current pandemic and preventing the next one by building a healthier, safer and fairer world.
The pandemic has hit all countries hard, but its impact has been harshest on those communities which were already vulnerable, who are more exposed to the disease, less likely to have access to quality health care services and more likely to experience adverse consequences (such as loss of income) as a result of measures implemented to contain the pandemic.
But the pandemic is far from over and the global response is at a critical phase. Stark contrasts still undermine progress, with vaccine inequity being one of the most urgent issues, posing a threat to ending the pandemic and to global recovery – over 75% of all vaccine doses have been administered in only 10 countries; the lowest income countries have administered less than half a percent of global doses.
“This year’s World Health Assembly will play a vital role in shaping the global health architecture of the future, and in strengthening WHO to fulfil its mission and mandate”, said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The Assembly’s agenda will focus on the health-related Sustainable Development Goals and WHO’s Triple Billion targets of one billion more people benefitting from universal health coverage; one billion more better protected from health emergencies; and one billion more enjoying better health and well-being.
So, what sort of initiatives are the WHO promoting to help get rid of Covid-19? Last Friday, World leaders met at the Global Health Summit, co-hosted by the European Commission and Italy as part of its G20 presidency, to adopt an agenda to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic, and develop and endorse a Rome Declaration of principles, at a time when the virus is surging and spreading uncontrollably in many parts of the world.
With nine people losing their lives to Covid-19 every minute, and as the risk of even more transmissible and dangerous variants increases, the Global Health Summit comes at a critical juncture. The future of the pandemic is in the hands of the G20 leaders. The ACT-Accelerator was launched just over a year ago in response to the G20’s call for a global mechanism to accelerate the development of tests, treatments and vaccines and to ensure their equitable distribution. Hosted by the World Health Organization, the ACT-Accelerator offers the only end-to-end multilateral solution to speeding up an end to the acute phase of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ACT-Accelerator welcomes the commitments made at the Global Health Summit and will work with countries to rapidly operationalize these pledges, both financially and – crucially – for over 100 million doses of scarce vaccines. Current financial commitments are reflected in the ACT-Accelerator interactive funding tracker. However, a significant funding gap remains.
Speeding up an end to the pandemic through the ACT-Accelerator would cost less than 1% of what governments are spending on stimulus packages to treat the consequences of the pandemic. As the economic and social costs of the pandemic continue to escalate, the case for global solidarity grows even stronger. The world now needs the G20 to ACT.
So, what is the ACT-Accelerator? – the proven, up-and-running global collaboration to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to Covid-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines. It was set up in response to a call from G20 leaders in March and launched by the WHO, European Commission, France and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in April 2020.
The ACT-Accelerator is not a decision-making body or a new organization but works to speed up collaborative efforts among existing organizations to end the pandemic. It is a framework for collaboration that has been designed to bring key players around the table with the goal of ending the pandemic as quickly as possible through the accelerated development, equitable allocation, and scaled up delivery of tests, treatments and vaccines, thereby protecting health systems and restoring societies and economies in the near term. It draws on the experience of leading global health organizations which are tackling the world’s toughest health challenges, and who, by working together, are able to unlock new and more ambitious results against Covid-19. Its members share a commitment to ensure all people have access to all the tools needed to defeat Covid-19 and to work with unprecedented levels of partnership to achieve it.
The eventual aim is for the four areas of work (which include Therapeutics) to develop better drugs to treat the sufferers, vaccines to combat the spread of Covid-19 in the world, and to streamline the collaboration between countries to speed up delivery and access of these drugs.
So Worldwide let’s see what is happening statistically regarding the Virus and Vaccinations.
Globally, in the past week, the number of new cases and deaths continued to decrease with just over 4.8 million new cases and just under 86,000 new deaths reported; a 12% and 5% decrease respectively compared to the previous week. Despite a declining trend over the past three weeks, the incidence of cases remains at some of the highest levels since the start of the pandemic. All regions reported a decline in new cases this week, apart from the Western Pacific Region, where the incidence of new cases was similar to the previous week.
The European Region reported the largest decline in new cases this week, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean. These regions also reported the largest decline in new deaths over the past week. South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions reported a similar number of new deaths as the previous week.
The highest numbers of new cases were reported from India (2,387,663 new cases; 13% decrease), Brazil (437,076 new cases; 3% increase), the United States of America (235,638 new cases; 21% decrease), Argentina (151,332 new cases; 8% increase), and Colombia (115,834 new cases; 6% increase)
Looking at the various regions, first The Africa Region, The African Region reported over 40,000 new cases and over 900 new deaths, a 4% and a 9% decrease respectively compared to the previous week. Case incidence continued to decrease for a fourth consecutive week while the number of deaths has reflected similar trends during this period. The highest numbers of new cases were reported from South Africa (16,326 new cases; 27.5 new cases per 100,000 population; a 36% increase), Botswana (3,745 new cases; 159.3 new cases per 100,000; a 153% increase), and Ethiopia (3,615 new cases; 3.1 new cases per 100,000; a 13% decrease). Cases in South Africa comprised 41% of cases reported in the Region.
The Region of the Americas reported over 1.2 million new cases and over 31,000 new deaths, a 3% and a 7% decrease respectively compared to the previous week. The number of cases decreased for a fourth consecutive week, and the number of deaths decreased for a second consecutive week. The highest numbers of new cases were reported from Brazil (437,076 new cases; 205.6 new cases per 100,000; a 3% increase), the United States of America (235,638 new cases; 71.2 new cases per 100,000; a 21% decrease), and Argentina (151,332 new cases; 334.8 new cases per 100,000; an 8% increase).
The Eastern Mediterranean Region reported over 220,000 new cases and over 4,700 new deaths, a 22% and a 16% decrease respectively compared to the previous week. Case and death incidences have decreased steeply for the past four and two weeks respectively. The highest numbers of new cases were reported from the Islamic Republic of Iran (99,205 new cases; 118.1 new cases per 100,000; a 20% decrease), Iraq (28,359 new cases; 70.5 new cases per 100,000; a 26% decrease), and Pakistan (20,511 new cases; 9.3 new cases per 100,000; a 29% decrease).
The European Region reported just under 685,000 new cases and over 16,000 new deaths, a 26% and a 16% decrease respectively compared to the previous week. The number of cases and deaths continued their downward trend for a sixth and fifth consecutive week respectively. The highest numbers of new cases were reported from France (93,546 new cases; 143.8 new cases per 100,000; a 24% decrease), Turkey (90,721 new cases; 107.6 new cases per 100,000; a 46% decrease), and Germany (73,105 new cases; 87.9 new cases per 100,000; a 29% decrease).
The South-East Asia Region reported over 2.5 million new cases and over 30,000 new deaths, a 12% decrease and a 7% increase respectively compared to the previous week. Case incidence decreased after nine consecutive weeks of increases, although the absolute number remains at its highest level since the beginning of the pandemic. Death incidence continued to increase for a ninth consecutive week. The highest numbers of new cases were reported from India (2,387,663 new cases; 173.0 new cases per 100,000; a 13% decrease), Nepal (61,814 new cases; 212.2 new cases per 100,000; an 8% increase), and Indonesia (26,908 new cases; 9.8 new cases per 100,000; a 27% decrease).
The Western Pacific Region reported over 132,000 new cases and over 1,700 new deaths, both increasing by 4% compared to the previous week. Both weekly case and death incidences were the highest reported in the Region since the beginning of the pandemic. The highest numbers of new cases were reported from Japan (44,961 new cases; 35.5 new cases per 100,000; a 26% increase), the Philippines (43,339 new cases; 39.5 new cases per 100,000; a 10% decrease), and Malaysia (29,386 new cases; 90.8 new cases per 100,000; a 16% increase). These three countries comprised 89% of all cases reported in the Region in the past week.
Whilst numbers are showing a decline on a regular weekly basis it is also important to see that for many countries there is a fear that the virus may be making a comeback, something we must all be aware of and we must do all we can to combat it.
So, until the next time Stay Safe.
Total Cases Worldwide – 167,534,501
Total Deaths Worldwide – 3,478,602
Total Recovered Worldwide – 148,574,424
Total Active Cases Worldwide – 15,481,475 (9.2% of the total cases)
Total Closed Cases Worldwide – 152,053,026
Information and resources:
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/weekly-trends/#countries
In a press release, the Council explains that the Member States have agreed to allow more travellers from third countries to enter the block, in particular vaccinated travellers, who have been inoculated with a Covid-19 vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
So, what is happening around Europe regarding opening up to tourist?. First to Denmark – the Danish authorities have announced that phase three of the gradual reopening of travel activities to and from Denmark began on May 14.
Coveney stressed that international movement into Ireland depends on vaccination and the ability of passengers to prove vaccination status. According to him, the country’s government still needs to formalize schemes on reopening restriction-free travel between the United States and Ireland.
Portugal is part of the EU Schengen Visa scheme. Schengen refers to the EU passport-free zone that covers most of the European countries. It’s the largest free travel area in the world. However, since the pandemic the free rein that citizens had was removed in order to keep the spread of Covid-19 down throughout Europe.
Furthermore, the Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, said that the country is prepared more than ever to welcome tourists. Italy also plans to allow travellers from the United States, Canada, and Japan to enter the country without being subject to any entry restrictions provided that they are fully vaccinated against the Covid-19, as the country aims to attract more tourists during this summer to help the travel and tourism sector find a way out of the current financial crisis. In relation to this, Draghi said that it is possible for the country to ease some of its restrictions and allow more persons from overseas to visit Italy.
With the establishment of a so-called “vaccine passport”, Macron pointed out that the country would be able to control the virus and maximise the vaccination rates, which would allow lifting the measures progressively. On the other hand, Macron explained that the country would impose more stringent restrictions against travellers from any country where the Coronavirus variants have spread widely.
Inland, the next stop is Switzerland – As Switzerland prepares to enter the third phase-out of lockdown, travellers who have recovered from Covid-19 and those who have already received their anti-virus jabs will no longer be required to enter quarantine.
In addition, the Cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel approved a proposal to change the existing rules that apply to non-vaccinated persons and allow them to end their self-isolation period earlier, provided that they submit a negative test result. The new measures were established to facilitate the travelling process during the summer, particularly for families with vaccinated parents who have unvaccinated children, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Let’s start with Europe and the first country which is soon to open up to Tourists is Greece. The country formally opened to visitors on Saturday, kicking off a summer season it hopes will resurrect its vital tourism industry battered by the coronavirus pandemic.
On the island of Mykonos, one flight was given a water salute upon landing. Four islands in the south Aegean, including Mykonos, received 32 international flights on Saturday from countries including Sweden, Germany and Qatar. All the foreign tourists were either completely vaccinated, tested negative for the virus, or could show that they had antibodies against it. Corfu, in the Ionian sea, also welcomed visitors from Germany and France.
One of the most exotic of all holiday spots in the world has to be The Maldives. A chain of 26 atolls (small islands) surrounded by amazing coral reefs and in recent years has become a “go to” place for weddings and anniversaries for people from all over the world.
Some individuals paid more than $65,000 for a one-way ticket for a charter flight to the Maldives in April, Mehra added.
This April, officials announced plans to offer vaccinations to tourists on arrival, once all Maldives residents had received their shots. So far, around 25% of locals have been fully vaccinated. By May, Maldives was introducing new restrictions. All new arrivals were required to show proof of a negative test taken within 96 hours of their departure for the islands. Then, visitors from South Asia were only allowed to stay on inhabited islands. Mehra, the air charter CEO, said that had reduced demand for charter flights to the destination.
In Lithuania, since the pandemic started, they have seen 262,355 cases of Covid-19 and 4,071 deaths. In a population of just under 2.7 million, the number of deaths is slightly lower per 1 million than Portugal. Since November 2020 the country has been in a state of lockdown and this is due to continue until the end of May 2021.
According to the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Nikolina Brnjac, at the online seminar “Croatia-safe and attractive” of the European Association of Travel Agencies and Tour Operators-ECTAA on Tuesday, Croatia is ready for the tourist season.
Away from the Southern Countries of the EU/EEA the next highest rate of infection is The Netherlands with a 14 day rate of 565.33. Currently anyone arriving form the Netherlands into Portugal is required to quarantine for 14 days on arrival as well as have a negative PCR test. With this high rate of infection we do wonder if this will remain when the new decree is announced this weekend.
Let’s start with some statistics first. In the USA they have now administered over 261 million doses of vaccine. Over 110 million citizens have received two doses of the vaccine, making up over 30% of the population. The country where the vaccine programme first started off, Israel has now vaccinated almost 60% of the country with two doses edging closer to the “magical” 70% number required, according to scientists, for the herd immunity to start kicking in.
At the small hospital where Dr. Oumaima Djarma works in Chad’s capital, there are no debates over which coronavirus vaccine is the best. There are simply no vaccines at all.
The Farcha provincial hospital in N’Djamena is a gleaming new campus in an outlying neighborhood, where camels nibble from acacia trees nearby. Doctors Without Borders has helped supply oxygen for Covid-19 patients, and the hospital has 13 ventilators. The physicians also have plenty of Chinese-made KN95 masks and hand sanitizer. Still, not a single employee has been vaccinated and none has been told when that might be possible.
COVAX, the U.N.-backed program to ship Covid-19 vaccines worldwide, is aimed at helping low- and middle-income countries get access. A few of the countries, though, including Chad, have expressed concerns about receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine through COVAX for fear it might not protect as well against a variant first seen in South Africa.
The concert was hosted by Selena Gomez and performers included Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin and H.E.R.
$39.6 million in commitments pledged by corporate and philanthropic partners in support of COVAX, the worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines. These pledges have been matched in funding to the value of $23.6 million, totaling $63.3 million. This funding is set to help procure almost 12.66 million Covid-19 vaccines.
Testing will be expanded to all workers at two Changi Airport terminals and a connected shopping mall after three employees came up positive in recent days, the health ministry said. At a junior college where a student also tested positive, about 2,200 people will undergo swab tests by Monday, while just over 100 close contacts will be quarantined.
European Union leaders urged U.S. President Joe Biden to lift restrictions on exports of Covid-19 vaccines to address the desperate needs of developing countries before embarking on complex discussions about patent waivers. At a summit in Porto, Portugal on Friday and Saturday, shortly after the U.S. suggested suspending intellectual property rights to boost the supply of Covid shots, German’s Angela Merkel, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Italy’s Mario Draghi appealed to the U.S. to follow the EU example and start shipping significant numbers of vaccines.