Despite US COVID-19 deaths approaching 100,000, crowds still gathered in many parts of the United States over the Memorial Day weekend, as the World Health Organization (WHO) today announced a pause on global hydroxychloroquine studies that it is leading.
Crowds flock to US vacation spots
After states began lifting coronavirus restrictions ahead of the holiday weekend, even as cases are still rising in different parts of the country, the Washington Post reported people crowding yacht clubs, outdoor bars, and hotel pools in Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks.
On the East Coast, where Washington, DC, reported a spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths after 12 days of declines, the Washington Post published photos of a crowded Ocean City, Maryland, boardwalk and of the Virginia governor among the throngs at a beach. And CBS News reported that hundreds of people were partying on a crowded Daytona Beach, Florida, boardwalk.
The US total is 1,653,904 COVID-19 cases with 97,948 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins online dashboard.
US limits travel from hard-hit Brazil
Yesterday the White House issued travel restrictions, effective May 29, on travel of foreign nationals—not US citizens or legal residents—from Brazil because of its massive coronavirus outbreak. The move is meant to limit spread of the virus from Brazil, which has the world's second most cases, at 363,211—behind only the United States—and 22,666 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.
Meeting yesterday's deadline imposed by Congress to deliver a national coronavirus testing strategy, the Trump administration reiterated that states—not the federal government—are responsible for testing, according to the Washington Post. But the White House did pledge to distribute 100 million swabs for testing to states by year's end.
Yesterday a Washington Post analysis showed that COVID-19 is shifting to rural US areas, many of which have crowded meatpacking plants, remote prisons, and limited hospital capacities. And the 60 million Americans who live in those areas tend to be poorer and older and have more underlying diseases than urban residents.
After 8 weeks of online-only operations, the New York Stock Exchange will reopen its trading floor tomorrow to 25% of its trading workforce, according to CBS News. But personal protective equipment such as face masks and social distancing will be required, and plastic barriers and hand sanitizer dispensers will be common sights.
Cautioning against what they claim as potential massive mail-in voter fraud, the Republican National Committee and other groups are suing California in a bid to stop absentee voting for the November general election, CNN reports. The move comes after California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said that the state would urge all voters to vote by mail.
Hydroxychloroquine trial paused over safety concerns
At a media briefing today, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said that a WHO drug trial executive group has recommended a temporary pause to allow the Data Safety Monitoring Board of the Solidarity trial to review the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine for treating the novel coronavirus.
The move follows the publication of a recent observational study in The Lancet that found that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine were associated with a higher risk of death and serious heart rhythm complications, The executive group met on May 23 to review the data.
The Solidarity trial is a large international randomized controlled trial to test the safety and efficacy of four drugs and drug combinations against COVID-19. The trial launched 2 months ago to generate rapid, robust data, and so far 3,500 patients have been enrolled in 17 countries.
Tedros reiterated that the drugs are accepted as generally safe for treating autoimmune diseases or malaria, and WHO officials said today that the pause isn't related to any problems flagged so far in the Solidarity trial, but officials are taking a pause to look at safety in the hydroxychloroquine arm out of an abundance of caution.
Also, Tedros and other health officials marked the observance of Africa Day during today's briefing. He praised African countries for their battle against COVID-19, noting that so far, the continent appears to be the least affected region. He noted, however, that testing capacity is still being ramped up and there are still some gaps, with hospitals in many nations lacking infection prevention and control programs and standards for water and hygiene.
Hospitals on the brink in India, Chile
India is facing a surge in COVID-19 patients, overwhelming hospitals in Mumbai, as the government begins lifting coronavirus restrictions such as allowing domestic air travel, according to Reuters. Today the country reported 144,741 cases, including 4,162 deaths. Yesterday it reported 6,767 new cases, its largest 1-day increase, surpassing Iran and pushing it into the top 10 hardest-hit countries.
Today the global total rose to 5,462,447 cases and 344,533 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.
Chile is in a predicament similar to India's, with President Sebastian Pinera saying yesterday that the country's hospitals are nearing capacity, with more than 1,000 people hospitalized, Reuters reported. Amid a rapid uptick, Chile reported 3,709 new cases yesterday. Today it reported 73,997 total cases and 761 deaths.
Today Syria announced 20 new coronavirus infections, its largest 1-day increase, Reuters reports. New cases have increased recently with the return of residents from abroad. Although Syria has maintained an overnight curfew, it has begun lifting coronavirus restrictions, worrying doctors and relief agencies in a country with a medical infrastructure ravaged by war.
South Korea issues new cautions
South Korea has instituted new COVID-19 rules, including requiring all bars to register patrons and residents to wear face masks on public transit and in taxis and planes, CBS News reported today. After curbing its outbreak of 500 new cases a day in early March with aggressive tracking and testing, the country has seen a rise in cases since easing physical distancing guidelines amid warm weather early this month.
Other countries continued to reopen, Reuters reports, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lifting the state of emergency for the entire country. Japan was able to control its epidemic within 2 months after reporting 16,550 infections and 820 deaths.
Meanwhile, New Zealand continued lifting restrictions, allowing crowds of as many as 100 people, up from 10, according to a Reuters report yesterday. Widely hailed for its early and aggressive containment measures, that country has reported only 1,504 cases and 21 deaths.
News editor Lisa Schnirring contributed to this report.
