Global coronavirus cases hit highest level yet with 400,000 infections a day as UN warns world is ‘failing the test’
GLOBAL coronavirus infections have surged to their highest ever daily total as the UN warned the world “failing” the test of the pandemic.
Daily new confirmed cases of the killer virus surpassed 400,000 for the first time on Friday as much of Europe introduced tough new restrictions.
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Almost 40million people have now been infected with the Covid-19 and more than one million people have died .
The daily case figure on Friday reached a staggering new high of 413,175.
Huge surges continue to be reported in the US and India, which recorded 54,232 and 62,092 yesterday – with France coming in third with 32,427.
Brazil was in fourth with 22,792 new cases, while Britain was worringly in fifth with 16,171 new cases.
Other European nations rounded out the top ten, with Belgium, Poland and Italy all recording around 10,000 new cases.
Daily case counts are now much higher than during the first peak of the pandemic.
While this is likely down to more testing worldwide, the continued climb is worrying as death tolls also begin to creep up in many hotspots.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned global action is needed to try and overcame the pandemic.
He warned the crisis could lead to millions being pushed into poverty and hunger.
He said: “The Covid-19 pandemic is a major global challenge for the entire international community, for multilateralism and for me, as secretary-general of the United Nations.
“Unfortunately it is a test that, so far, the international community is failing.”
Europe has reported up to 140,000 new cases a day over the past week – reporting more daily cases than India, Brazil and the US.
Of every 100 infections reported globally, some 34 of them were from European countries.
It comes as the continent moves into the winter, with colder temperatures and more time indoors expected to fuel the rise.
Some one million new infections are being reported every nine days in Europe, according to analysis by Reuters.
Britain, France, Russia, the Netherlands, and Spain accounted for almost half of Europe’s new cases in the week to October 18.
France is recording the highest seven-day average with around 19,425 cases per day as it introduced tough new measures.
Social life has shut down across the continent, with France, Spain, Portugal, Germany and many other nations limiting interactions.
Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Germany was heading for “disaster” after regional leaders chose not to approve proposed strict new measures.
New restrictions also came in Britain with a three-tiered lockdown system being introduced as winter begins.
Britain has seen a stark North-South divide develop with the coronavirus outbreak, with regional leaders pushing back against new restrictions.
‘WAKE-UP CALL’
London has been upgraded to Tier 2, meaning that households will now no longer be able to mix – prompting a mass rally from Covid-19 conspiracy theorists on Saturday.
World Health Organisation officials have warned intensive care units in Europe could reach maximum capacity within weeks.
Health chiefs said Europe is facing a “very serious situation” as new cases have doubled in more than half the countries in the EU.
WHO admitted the increase in cases is partly down to more comprehensive testing – but said it was still a “wake-up call”.
Meanwhile, in the US coronavirus cases continue to surge with Texas and Florida both recording more than 4,000 new cases.
Illinois, Tennessee, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, North Carolina and California have all seen coronavirus cases over 2,000 per day.
The US also had a near record day on Friday with 71,688 new cases, just shy of its all time high of 78,943 which was recorded in July.
Coronavirus has become a defining factor ahead of the bitterly fought US election on November 3.
US President Donald Trump pledged he would deliver a massive new economic stimulus package.
The surging cases come as just weeks ago Trump urged Americans not to be “afraid” of the pandemic after he beat his own battle with the virus.
China – where the virus originated – appears to be returning to normal as its economy is back to growing at its fastest rate since the pandemic.
The country’s exports rose 9.9 per cent as the global economy picks up with its firms rushing to grab business from their rivals cripped by the virus.
China’s brisk economic recovery comes after it benefited from relative early end of travel and trade curbs after the ruling Communist Party declared victory over the outbreak in April.
Beijing has been accused of knowing about the virus – which began in Wuhan – from the middle of November but did not inform the World Health Organization until the end of December.
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Meanwhile, Covid-19 has triggered the worst global slump since the Great Depression.
It is believed the world’s economy will contract by as much as 6.1 per cent and world trade is expected fall by 11 per cent amid the ongoing pandemic.
The United Nations’ labour agency estimates as many as 400million people are expected to lose their jobs before the end of 2020.
All hopes are now pinned on a vaccine – with the NHS hopeful the first one could be ready just after Christmas.