Global Cases Top 33 Million; Death Milestone Looms

Global Covid-19 cases topped 33 million as infections in India reached the 6 million mark. The official death toll neared one million worldwide, though experts say the real tally may be almost double that.

The U.K. is preparing to enforce a social lockdown across much of northern Britain and potentially London amid a second wave, the Times of London reported. Russia is also seeing a resurgence of cases. The Group of 20 Leaders’ Summit planned for Saudi Arabia will now be held “virtually” in November.

In Asia, Australia’s prime minister urged the removal of further curbs after Melbourne eased its curfew. Thailand moved to extend its emergency rules through October.

Beijing’s city government is requiring companies to stop importing frozen food from countries with serious coronavirus outbreaks, according to a statement on the local commerce bureau’s website. The statement didn’t name any nations.

The G-20 summit gathers leaders of the world’s largest country together for a multi-day summit meeting. The agenda this year “will focus on protecting lives and restoring growth, by addressing vulnerabilities uncovered during the pandemic and by laying down the foundations for a better future,” according to the statement.

Infections in the U.K. increased by 5,693 after rising by more than 6,000 for the previous four days. Reporting has lagged on the weekends, however. Another 17 people died within 28 days of testing positive. More than 10 million people have downloaded the National Health Service’s Covid-19 tracking app since Thursday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Twitter.

Global Cases Top 33 Million; Death Milestone Looms, Bloomberg, Sep 28