The US remains the hardest hit country with 32.7 million cases and 585,700 deaths. It reported another 42,100 infections on Saturday.
India, the world’s second biggest epicenter, has 16.9 million infections, including 192,300 deaths. On Saturday it confirmed 350,000 new infections, a record single day figure since the pandemic broke out in the country. It has been the third consecutive day India reported more than 300,000 cases per day. India’s healthcare facilities are running out of beds, drugs, and oxygen. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government will support all states and strictly deal with illegal speculation and trade of essential drugs.
In Europe, the first case of the Indian variant of COVID-19 has been discovered in Switzerland, involving a passenger who was in transit at an airport.
Switzerland has added India to the list of countries at risk due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus variant.
In Belgium, 21 Indian students who arrived in mid-April via Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport tested positive for the variant and were placed in quarantine.
New Zealand on Friday paused its newly opened travel bubble with Australia. The decision came after Western Australia announced that the regions of Perth and Peel were entering a three-day lockdown after 2 people, who were active in the community, were tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday.
Cambodia on Saturday recorded 509 new cases and 10 deaths. This has been the highest number of deaths in a single day since the country reported the first fatality relating to a community infection incident on February 20. Phnom Penh remains the hardest hit locality with 318 new cases, followed by Preah Sihanouk (126 new cases) and Kandal (44 new cases).
The same day, Laos confirmed 88 new infections including 84 in Vientiane. This is the 2nd consecutive day that Laos has recorded a double digit rise in infections. At least 10 of 18 provinces and cities across Laos, including many provinces bordering Vietnam, have been locked down.