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Interfor International – Covid-19 Update – December 8

Interfor’s Covid-19 Updates – December 8

Latest numbers (as of 9am est):

Total Reported Cases: 67,719,720 (14,955,947 in United States)

Total Deaths: 1,547,487 (283,746 in United States)

United States

The United States reported at least 102,148 current Covid-19 hospitalizations on Monday, setting a new record high since the pandemic began.
Most of California has been placed under a lockdown for three weeks after hospital ICU capacity fell below a 15% threshold that triggered the new measures. These include closures of non-essential businesses, and a ban on travel except for essential activities.
The Navajo Nation implemented a stay-at-home lockdown for the next three weeks. The lockdown requires all residents to “remain at home 24-hours, seven days a week, with the exceptions of essential workers.”
New York has ordered hospitals in the state to increase capacity by 25% and warned that indoor dining would be limited if hospitalizations keep rising.
President-Elect Biden will ask Americans to wear a mask for the first 100 days of his administration.
Wyoming issued a statewide mask order that requires people to wear masks in indoor public spaces across the state.

International

The United Kingdom began administering the first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine outside clinical trials, launching a public health campaign to vaccinate tens of millions of people in a matter of months.
South Korea plans to buy coronavirus vaccines for 44 million people. The government is allocating 1.3 trillion won($1.2 billion) for vaccines from COVAX, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen. The vaccines are expected to be brought in by March, and will be prioritized for those considered high risk.
Australia extended restrictions on overseas travel until March 17. The restrictions limit cruise vessels’ movements and outbound international travel.
Denmark announced a partial lockdown in 38 of its 98 counties until January 3, to curb rising coronavirus infection rates in harder-hit areas. Additionally, existing nationwide restrictions are extended until February 28.
Greece will extend its coronavirus restrictions through Christmas to stem the spread of Covid-19. A nighttime curfew and a ban on movement between regions will remain in place until January 7.

RECOMMENDATIONS/OBSERVATIONS

Based on recommendations from ranking epidemiologists, all non-essential travel should be reconsidered.
Wear a mask. There is no downside and projected deaths in the United States are considerably lower if the populace wears masks, according to several studies.
You can download Interfor’s return to work guidelines here.

WARNING: Be sure to vet ALL information and rumors.