The World, Struggling Against COVID-19

"[Because of the costly impact on the economy and people's well-being, pandemic lockdowns have been resisted by the provincial government]. That's why we plead with people to exercise personal responsibility. I know we're all tired of this, God knows I am. I'm just calling on Albertans to be Albertans, to do what they do best, which is the responsible use of freedom."

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, Canada

In the biggest active outbreak in Alberta, at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, 11 people have died and 86 have tested positive for COVID-19. The latest death makes the outbreak as deadly as the Misericordia outbreak in Edmonton over the summer. (CBC)

"Where transmission is known, household or community contacts appear to be a key driver in spreading the virus throughout the city [of Edmonton]. Social and family gatherings continue to be a factor in virus-spreading events."

"We have also seen several workplace outbreaks where spread between employees has occurred."

"Right now, we're making this voluntary to give Edmontonians the opportunity to turn this tide before it has a significant impact on acute care."

"Edmontonians perhaps haven't had the personal impact of COVID that others in the province may have experienced."

"I especially caution Albertans against planning large get-togethers this [Thanksgiving] weekend."

"Now is not the time to be gathering in large groups, travelling long distances for the holiday or sharing food or utensils with people outside your cohort."

Dr.Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health for Alberta

According to Britain's Health Minister Matt Hancock, the U.K. is at a "perilous moment" with over 17,540 daily COVID-19 cases recorded on Thursday, an increase of over 3,000 from the tally of the previous day. Another 77 people died of COVID-19 effects, with hospitalizations at their highest since mid-June. Every two weeks the count in northwest England doubles -- in the past week alone, an increase of 57 percent.

 

In Spain, the regional supreme court in Madrid blocked an order locking down the capital, claiming it impinged on residents' basic freedoms. Thus throwing the coronavirus response in Europe's worst-hit city into chaos. Last Friday restrictions banning people from non-essential travel in and out of the capital were introduced. There are fears that thousands of residents of Madrid will travel in anticipation of a long weekend for Spain's National Day, Monday. Spain's recorded total stood at 861,112 coronavirus cases, the highest in Western Europe; along with 32,929 deaths.

 

France saw an increase in new coronavirus infections of 20,330 in one day, a record since the start of the epidemic, an increase that brought the cumulative total to 691,977 since the turn of 2020. Deaths from the virus increased by 109, the highest daily number in a week, for a total of 32,630. Still, however, below the highs of 150 that occurred earlier in the month. Lyon, the third-largest city in France, along with three other cities would have to close their bars, just as Marseille and Paris have, in an effort to stem the coronavirus spread amidst climbing numbers. 

Hundreds of restaurant and bar owners in Marseille protest after French authorities announced that they order cafes and restaurants to shut down for two weeks to curb the spread of COVID-19 on Friday. (Noemie Olive/Reuters)

Russia's total cases reached a total of 1,272,238 when it reported 12,126 new infections. No lockdown is in place in the country, the Kremlin not planning to impose one though authorities in Moscow were considering whether to close bars and nightclubs to slow down a second coronavirus wave amidst surging new cases, bringing Friday's numbers to an all-time high. The plans are to begin mass vaccinations in October, of a vaccine whose speedy rollout has incited concerns from scientists respecting its efficacy and safety.

 

Hospitals are so over-stretched in Iran they will no longer be able to admit and treat non-emergency patients. The situation is so dire that military hospitals are to begin admitting civilian coronavirus patients. A record high of COVID deaths were seen with 239 the past week in a third wave of infections to hit the country with the highest official death toll in the Middle East. A lockdown of schools, mosques, shops, restaurants and other public venues was extended for a second week in Tehran. State television featured 211 newly-dug graves in preparation for new COVID-19 victims. 

In India, total coronavirus cases soared by 70,496 in 24 hours to 6.91 million on Friday morning, according to data from the Indian health ministry. Deaths in the country total 106,490 with the addition on Friday of 964 more. The death rate that rose past 100,000 on Saturday marks India as the third country in the world to reach such a milestone, following Brazil at second place and the United States at first place. India's epidemic has given no sign of abating any time soon.

In Ukraine, a record 5,804 COVID-19 cases were registered n the past 24 hours according to its national security council in Kyiv on Friday; an increase from a record of 5,397 new cases reported the day before, leading Prime Minister Denys Smygal to order more hospitals to be in preparation. In some regions medical capacity was full, reflecting the fact that some 900 patients with confirmed cases were being admitted daily, bringing the total cases to 250,538, with 4,779 deaths.