Covid-19: Our World in August 2021

August nuggets from around the world.

• 1. China:

The first case of delta variant appeared in China on  20th July. It rapidly spread to 1200 in 17 provinces, when China clamped down on the virus. It is said that in the index city which has 1 million population, every person was tested more than 12 times.

Today, China has achieved Zero transmission. But at what cost ?

• 2. Australia: 

The country was least affected with the alpha surge in the first wave. Towards the end of June, ( identical to China) Delta appeared in NSW state for the first time. Widespread lockdown was enforced. Sydney, the capital of NSW is in its 9th straight week of lockdown since June 2021. But nothing seems to work.

As on Wednesday, Sydney had reported its all time high daily case numbers. Its health care system is under strain. So unlike China!

It seems only China has got the special knack to tackle the virus.

• 3. Japan:

By the end of August, new daily cases in Tokyo recorded 3 time higher than their previous peak. Any suggestions ?

Is it related to the super spreading event, Olympic 2020 ?

• 4. Israel:

Israel has vaccinated 80% of its above-12 population. It is the first nation to start vaccination in children below 18. It is also the First Nation to have already administered 1.6 million booster doses. 60% of its above 60 people have got the third booster. 80% of 70-79 have received their 3rd shot.

Though cases in Israel have started mounting, the R naught “R0” factor among the above 60 years age group has fallen below 1. This strongly indicates that the booster dose is protecting the aged in Israel.

• 5. Canada:

Vaccination achieved is quite high: 76% among the adult population. Though hospitalisation has increased from July as everywhere else, the average number of daily death in Canada has fallen only to 15 ( Compare India 460/day and Odisha at 69). 15 is 10 times lower than Canada’s alpha peak of January.

Vaccine seems to have blunted Delta in Canada at least.

• 6. UK:

Vaccination penetration in UK is more than 60%. Yet in the month of august, Delta surge is averaging more than 33,000 new cases daily. 6 months back when vaccination has not reached the present density, in January, UK was reporting 47,000 new cases each day. there is one difference. The daily Hospitalisation and Death numbers today are much less than that in January.

Inference: Vaccination protects.

• 7. US:

The condition in USA is alarming.

Average daily new cases here is above 150,000.

This is an under reporting, as the new regulation does not mandate testing of the asymptomatic cases. Also a large number of people are self testing with  home testing antigen kits which is not reported.

In August, hospital beds have gone scarce in America. As on date, 100,000 cases are admitted in various hospital beds of which 25,000 are in ICU. This is the highest number since the beginning of pandemic. Even daily death numbers now peaks to 1100 which is a quantum jump from 700 last week. As CDC points out most of these people are not vaccinated. The anti-vaxxer lobby has a deep reach in USA. Now the federal government has gone on to punishment mode by not allowing insurance cover to the un-vaccinated. Un vaccinated Health Care Workers are getting terminated. But that only increases the strain on medical services.

What should we learn from the above observations ?

Compiled by Ramakanta Mahapatra