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 Positive test rates top 25% in some U.S. states
The number of tests coming back positive for COVID-19 is topping 25%
in several states in the U.S. Midwest as cases and hospitalizations
also surge in the region, according to a Reuters analysis.
North Dakota's positive test rate has averaged 30% over the past
seven days compared with 6% the prior week. The rate has risen to
26% in South Dakota from 17% the previous week, according to the
analysis using testing data from The COVID Tracking Project.
Minnesota and Montana are averaging 7% of tests coming back
positive, but Montana's positivity rate rose on Sunday to 20%,
according to the analysis.
Herd immunity hopes dashed in Brazil
The largest city in Brazil's Amazon has closed bars and river
beaches to contain a fresh surge of coronavirus cases, a trend that
may dash theories that Manaus was one of the world's first places to
reach collective, or herd, immunity.
University of Sao Paulo researchers suggested that a drastic fall in
COVID-19 deaths in Manaus pointed to collective immunity at work,
but they also believe that antibodies to the disease after infection
may not last more than a few months.
Local authorities on Friday enforced a 30-day ban on parties and
other gatherings, and restricted restaurant and shopping hours, a
setback for the city of 1.8 million after the worst of the pandemic
seemed to be behind them.
Travel rebound in China
China expects a significant rebound in domestic travel over the
upcoming Golden Week holiday after the sector was pummelled by the
novel coronavirus for months, with some flights selling out and
travel platforms reporting a surge in hotel bookings.
The pent-up demand is fuelling optimism the Chinese travel industry
has reached a turning point, with hopes the eight-day holiday from
Oct. 1 will supercharge a tentative pickup seen in recent months,
even as some trepidation over the virus lingers.
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Few people, however, are expected to venture abroad due to various
quarantine requirements around the world and a dearth of overseas
flights.
Open for Christmas
Australia's city of Melbourne, its hotspot in the second wave of
coronavirus infections, is on track to return to near normal by
Christmas, strengthening hopes for major summer sporting events to
go ahead amid a general economic revival.
Southeastern Victoria state recorded a single digit rise in new cases for the
first time in three months on Monday, with the lifting of some of the toughest
curbs in its capital of Melbourne, such as a night-time curfew, Premier Daniel
Andrews said.
"That is a very, very significant set of numbers. We are well ahead of
schedule," Andrews told a daily news conference, anticipating a move to "COVID
normal", with most curbs eased.
UK eyes tougher restrictions
The British government is mulling tougher restrictions in England to tackle a
swiftly accelerating second wave of the novel coronavirus outbreak, possibly
outlawing more inter-household socialising.
"We don't want to bring on new restrictions but of course we keep a constant eye
on what is going on with the COVID rate," Junior Health Minister Helen Whately
told Sky News. "We were looking at what we might be able to do."
"This is the moment when we have an opportunity - we have a choice for the
country - to get this back under control," Whately said. "We have to break these
chains of transmission."
(Compiled by Linda Noakes; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
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