Coronavirus: From first to second million in just 13 days
What's the story
In what serves as another reminder of how contagious the coronavirus is, the worldwide cases topped 2 million (20 lakhs) on Wednesday. Across the globe, 2,064,115 have contracted the infection and 137,020 have died. What's worrying is that the infections touched the 2 million mark in just a matter of 13 days. It took 93 days to reach the first million.
Data
Coronavirus has battered Europe and United States
Experts believe the number of infections could be much higher as not enough people are getting tested. According to reports, the United States and Europe have contributed the most to the infections. These areas make up for 78% of the worldwide infections and 86% of the fatalities. Countries like Italy, Spain, France continue to reel under the virus, and the US is worst-hit.
Doubling rate
Reason to cheer: Coronavirus' doubling rate could be slowing down
During pandemics, the doubling rate holds a high significance. As the name suggests, the doubling rate takes into account the number of days in which the infection doubled. And it looks like, coronavirus is wearing down. On January 22, the global COVID-19 cases stood at 555. A little over two months later, on March 26, they touched 529,591. On April 2, the number of cases reached 1,013,466.
Numbers
Data paints a picture that provides some satisfaction
Data has shown that in the first 80 days, the number of infections reached 250,000. A week after that, it reached 500,000 on March 26. From there, it doubled in just seven days. Then, a drop was witnessed. When the cases touched 1.5 million on April 8, the rate dropped to nine days. And the global numbers touched 2 million in 13 days.
Countries
Germany is easing curbs, India isn't taking chances
The numbers could be the reason why some countries feel the worst is behind them. Germany started lifting the restrictions but other countries aren't taking the risk. In India, the nationwide lockdown, scheduled to end on Tuesday, was extended for another 19 days. The second bout of restrictions will last till May 3. However, agricultural activities and select industries were allowed to function.
Details
Trump thinks his strategy worked, is looking at reopening US
In the US too, President Donald Trump is convinced the situation won't get worse than this, despite the fact that over 28,000 have died. Trump told reporters that the "bullish strategy" against the virus was yielding results and that "the data suggest that nationwide we have passed the peak on new cases". He could ease restrictions in less-affected places before May 1.
Fears
But there's a concern about re-emergence of the virus
In some countries, there's a fear that the virus will return. Gean Carlo Minaya, a deliveryman in Madrid, Spain (one of the worst-affected nations) said, "I think people should still hold out a little longer because I think it's going to come back again, not as intensely, but the pandemic is going to come back a little bit." And UN Secretary-General said only a vaccine will help restore normalcy.