| | | | | | What you need to know about the coronavirus today |
| Positive test rates top 25% in some U.S. states
The number of tests coming back positive for COVID-19 is topping 25% in several states in the U.S. Midwest as cases and hospitalizations also surge in the region, according to a Reuters analysis.
North Dakota’s positive test rate has averaged 30% over the past seven days compared with 6% the prior week. The rate has risen to 26% in South Dakota from 17% the previous week, according to the analysis using testing data from The COVID Tracking Project.
Minnesota and Montana are averaging 7% of tests coming back positive, but Montana’s positivity rate rose on Sunday to 20%, according to the analysis.
Track the spread of the virus with this state-by-state and county map. | | | | | | |
| Herd immunity hopes dashed in Brazil
The largest city in Brazil’s Amazon has closed bars and river beaches to contain a fresh surge of coronavirus cases, a trend that may dash theories that Manaus was one of the world’s first places to reach collective, or herd, immunity. University of Sao Paulo researchers suggested that a drastic fall in COVID-19 deaths in Manaus pointed to collective immunity at work, but they also believe that antibodies to the disease after infection may not last more than a few months.
Travel rebound in China
China expects a significant rebound in domestic travel over the upcoming Golden Week holiday after the sector was pummeled by the coronavirus for months, with some flights selling out and travel platforms reporting a surge in hotel bookings. The pent-up demand is fueling optimism the Chinese travel industry has reached a turning point, with hopes the eight-day holiday from Oct. 1 will supercharge a tentative pickup seen in recent months, even as some trepidation over the virus lingers.
Open for Christmas
Australia’s city of Melbourne, its hotspot in the second wave of coronavirus infections, is on track to return to near normal by Christmas, strengthening hopes for major summer sporting events to go ahead amid a general economic revival. Southeastern Victoria state recorded a single digit rise in new cases for the first time in three months on Monday, with the lifting of some of the toughest curbs in its capital of Melbourne, such as a night-time curfew, Premier Daniel Andrews said.
UK eyes tougher restrictions
The British government is mulling tougher restrictions in England to tackle a swiftly accelerating second wave of the coronavirus outbreak, possibly outlawing more inter-household socializing. “We don’t want to bring on new restrictions but of course we keep a constant eye on what is going on with the COVID rate,” Junior Health Minister Helen Whately told Sky News. “We were looking at what we might be able to do.”
The spread
COVID-19 infections are still rising in 60 countries and there have been over 32,960,000 reported infections. Track the daily global statistics. | | |
| Reuters reporters and editors around the world are investigating the response to the coronavirus pandemic.
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