Summary
- Mainland China has been witnessing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, and on 28 July 2020, the country saw its highest number of daily cases since mid of April.
- As per the country’s National Health Commission, there have been 84,060 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 4,634 deaths as on 28 July 2020.
- China reported the highest number of local COVID-19 infections in more than 3.5 months as it fights outbreaks in its western and north-eastern regions.
- Out of the 101 new cases, the Xinjiang region in Western China accounted for 89.
SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus, has infected over 16.34 million people worldwide and claimed 650,805 lives across the world as reported to the WHO (as of 4:52 PM CEST, 28 July 2020). While the pandemic continues to wreak havoc in most parts of the world, the geographies which had succeeded in containing the spread are facing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases as the crisis worsens.
Most of the countries are in the eye of the storm when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic-induced economic impacts. Moreover, there has also been a troubling uptick in the cases in Asia. On 28 July 2020, Mainland China, where the COVID-19 pandemic started, saw its highest number of daily cases since the middle of April.
As per the Chinese health authority, the National Health Commission, there have been 84,060 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Mainland China, including 4,634 deaths as on 28 July 2020.
While there are many companies around the globe in the late stages of clinical development with their vaccine candidates, so far, there is no approved treatment or vaccine available to combat this deadly virus. In a scenario where the number of COVID-19 is continuously escalating and no suitable preventive or therapeutic measure to COVID-19 yet, the resurgence of cases in regions which had tackled the spread would be traumatic for the world.
New COVID-19 Cases Continue to Increase in China’s Xinjiang
Mainland China reported the highest number of domestic COVID-19 cases in almost 3.5 months as the country fights outbreaks in the western and north-eastern regions, amid growing concerns of a severe resurgence. The country has been battling a significant rise in daily cases this month.
Mainland China reported 101 new COVID-19 cases on 28 July 2020, up from 68 cases a day earlier, as stated by the National Health Commission. Of these new infections, 89 cases were reported in China’s northwestern region of Xinjiang.
After the Wuhan outbreak containment, Mainland China reported very few locally transmitted COVID-19 cases for a few months. However, new cases arose following the lifting of lockdown restrictions. As per the experts, the second wave of COVID-19 has been reported in the country.
What is the second wave of coronavirus?
The second wave of COVID-19 is not a scientific term with well-specified factors. Instead, it is used for describing a subsequent, severe surge in the cases of coronavirus that occur after the first wave has been suppressed.
Due to resurgence of coronavirus cases in June, China’s capital revealed the closing of in-person classes for all schools on 16 June 2020 in preparation for a new wave of COVID-19, in effect from 17 June 2020.
As many countries across the globe have lifted lockdown restrictions for economic recovery, fear of the second wave of coronavirus arising in several geographies has alarmed the whole world. Asian nations are affected the most with the second wave of COVID-19 and are closing again to try to contain this deadly infection.
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Some studies say that a mutant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, has emerged that appears to cause more severe infection. Scientists also warned about the appearance of a mutant of the novel coronavirus, that is a more contagious strain of SARS-CoV-2. In addition to propagating more quickly, this new strain may make individuals vulnerable to a second infection after the first attack with COVID-19.
ALSO READ: Virus Mutation, Second Wave of Infection and Latest Vaccine Developments
Meanwhile, several healthcare companies and researchers are burning the midnight oil to find a safe and effective vaccine/drug against COVID-19.
In China, two healthcare companies are in the late-stage vaccine development. Biotech player Sinovac Biotech is conducting Phase 3 clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate in Brazil. Another company, Sinopharm, has launched Phase 3 trial of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate in UAE.
TO KNOW MORE, DO READ: Your Complete Guide: Companies Hitting the COVID-19 Vaccine Charter
With the escalating cases of COVID-19, and no authorized vaccine or treatment so far, the situation is getting worse day by day. The debates coming for the second wave of COVID-19 as well as its mutation appears to be a terrifying nightmare.
While China is conducting COVID-19 testing at a massive scale and is implementing lockdown measures to curb the spread, the daily increase in new cases indicate that containing the virus for the second time will take longer than expected.
