The ECDC issued its latest update to the Rapid Risk Assessment on COVID-19 in the region on Oct 23, with both France and Spain now reporting more than 1 million cases (and ranking fifth and sixth globally in total case numbers). More restrictions and even nationwide lockdowns are under consideration in many European nations. The Oct 27 WHO epidemiological update noted Europe’s ‘33% increase in cases compared to the previous week – contributing nearly half of all new cases reported worldwide this week’ as the global total closes in on 44 million, according to Johns Hopkins tracking. The only week-on-week declines were seen in the WHO SE Asian and Western Pacific regions. Highest case numbers in the African region were reported in South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia while in the Eastern Mediterranean region, the top three countries are Iran, Jordan and Bahrain. Also this week, the Oct 26 JH newsletter flagged French Polynesias’s per capita daily incidence which had increased by more than 80 percent, taking it to #4 globally, just behind Andorra, the Czech Republic and Belgium. A view of the epidemic curve of confirmed cases for the duration of the pandemic by WHO region can be found here.
In related news:
-The US CDC’s definition of close contact with a COVID-19 infected individual has been updated and is now characterised as 1.5 metres for 15 minutes’ exposures cumulative over a 24-hour period. Read more
-Published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases on Oct 17, a study based on a formal, placebo-controlled trial involving the use of hydroxychloroquine to protect healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients from becoming infected found that pre-exposure prophylaxis with once or twice weekly hydroxychloroquine ‘did not significantly reduce laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 or Covid-19-compatible illness among healthcare workers’.
-A Stat News video shows how messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines work.
-In Japan, PCR tests are to be offered (for a fee) to travellers departing from Narita airport next month with results in around two hours. Read more
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.