The U.S. has had its deadliest day of summer so far with nearly 1,500 COVID-19 deaths reported Wednesday while Spain’s Galicia region banned smoking in public to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and U.S. initial unemployment claims dipped to less than 1 million for the first time since late March.

The highest death toll that the U.S. has seen since the pandemic started was in mid-May with more than 2,900 COVID-19 deaths, the World Health Organization’s data indicated. The U.S. has more than 5.1 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus and more than 166,000 COVID-19 deaths, Johns Hopkins University data show.

Since March, at least 200,000 more people have died in the U.S. than traditionally would have been seen for a death count if the pandemic had not occurred, New York Times’ data indicated, likely adding more than 30,000 to the already staggering COVID-19 death toll. The number may be even higher with states weeks, and, in some cases, months behind in reporting their coronavirus numbers, the Times said.

The death toll in the Northeast makes up nearly half of all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., led by New York, which has been able to reduce the infection curvve.

A JAMA Network Open study found the first 61 days of the coronavirus pandemic was equal to the two peak months of the 1918 flu epidemic when 50 million people died -- about a third of the world population at the time, far smaller than the current estimated world population of 8 billion. Of these deaths, 675,000 were in the U.S.

The study compared New York during the height of the coronavirus crisis and during the peak flu epidemic, finding the death counts nearly even: flu, 31,589; COVID-19, 33,465.

“Because baseline mortality rates from 2017 to 2019 were less than half that observed from 1914 to 1917 ... the relative increase during early COVID-19 period was substantially greater than during the peak of the 1918 H1N1 influenza pandemic,” the authors of the study said.

Johns Hopkins data puts the worldwide death toll from COVID-19 so far at more than 751,000.

Coronavirus cases are also surging in Europe and nowhere more so than Spain. The country’s Galicia region, northwest of Madrid, has issued a smoking ban to help curtail the spread of the coronavirus.

The ban comes amid research from the health ministry that indicated droplets are formed when inhaling smoke can contain COVID-19, causing the spread of the virus. The research also suggested a link between the coronavirus and COVID-19 that can cause it to spread from the hands to the mouth to a face mask.

While the ban will prevent residents of the Galicia region from smoking on public streets and in restaurants and bars, the World Health Organization said there is no definitive link between smoking and the coronavirus. WHO suggested, however, those who do smoke are at greater risk of contracting the virus.

Also on Thursday, the U.S. reported initial unemployment claims at fewer than 1 million for the first time since late March, according to a report from the Labor Department. The number of unemployed dropped to 28.25 million for the week ending July 25, down more than 3 million from a week earlier, but still representing 18% of the U.S. workforce.

In other coronavirus news:

  • The Dallas Cowboys are implementing a plan to accommodate crowds in the stands when they play at home. The plan, which was introduced Thursday, calls for limited seating, in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines, with tickets sold in pods. Face masks also will be required, and tickets will be digital to avoid touchpoints.
  • Presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden and running mate Sen. Kamala Harris have urged governors across the U.S. to issue a face mask mandate, saying as many as 40,000 lives could be saved. “Let's institute a mask mandate nationwide starting immediately and we will save lives," Biden told a press conference alongside Harris in Wilmington, Delaware. “Be a patriot. Protect your fellow citizens. Do the right thing.” The move by Biden and Harris to fight the coronavirus contrasts to President Trump’s stance, who is rarely seen wearing a face mask.
  • Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has withdrawn his lawsuit against the city of Atlanta’s face mask requirement, saying instead he would sign an order Saturday to specify that local governments cannot order private businesses to require face masks, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. He is also expected to remove a provision that prevents cities and counties from requiring face masks, the AJC said. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said she was “grateful that this lawsuit has been withdrawn and the time and resources of city and state can be better used to combat COVID-19.”
  • Qatar Airways extended curfews for cabin crews after some flight attendants were accused of breaking the country’s curfew orders, a memo to employees obtained by the AFP said. Qatar has some of the world’s strictest coronavirus mandates, including a limit of five people at gatherings and a face mask requirement in public. Curfew hours will extend from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., effective immediately and until further notice. Previously, the curfew hours were from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m.
  • The Rev. John MacArthur defended his right to hold worship services at Grace Community Church in Los Angeles, despite violating California’s orders to limit worship services to 25% of a building’s capacity or 25 people, whichever is less. As many as 7,000 people showed up to the church on Sunday for services. “We don't orchestrate this. This is a church. We don't ask people to make a reservation to come to church,” MacArthur told CNN, adding, the church is considering legal action after receiving a cease-and-desist order.
  • Latin America is expected to see its economy suffer a “record-breaking contraction” this year, Goldman Sachs said. The region is now the epicenter of the global coronavirus pandemic, with more than 3 million people infected with the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University. Argentina, Peru and Mexico are anticipated to suffer double-digit contractions of their gross domestic product in 2020, said Alberto Ramos, Goldman Sachs’ head of Latin America economic research, .
  • An American Airlines gate agent was struck by a woman after the latter was denied boarding for refusing to wear a face mask at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. A video captured the incident, which was circulated on social media. In the video, the woman can be seen yelling profanities at the agent until police arrived and escorted her from the gate. American Airlines has said it will deny boarding to any traveler who does not follow its face mask policy.
  • The International Energy Agency warned global energy demand will be cut even more than expected because of the coronavirus pandemic. IEA said it expects global demand to drop to 91.1 million barrels a day, down 8.1 million barrels a day year-over-year, and a decrease of 140,000 barrels a day. For 2021, IEA said it lowered its global oil demand estimates by 240,000 barrels per day to 97.1 million barrels per day.
  • AMC Theatres is reopening two-thirds of its cinemas on Aug. 20. The news coincides with the release date of Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” film and will include a series of safety measures, including a face mask requirement, limited audience capacity and upgraded ventilation systems. The movie chain will also hold a promotion at 100 locations, selling tickets for just 15 cents to celebrate its 100-year anniversary.
  • U.S. corporate bankruptcies could reach a 10-year high in 2020 under the weight of the coronavirus. S&P Global Market Intelligence said 424 public and private companies filed for bankruptcy protection through Aug. 9 – a number that it hasn’t reached since 2020. The retail sector, along with the industrial and energy industries, felt the biggest hit from the pandemic and filed the most bankruptcies.
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covid-19 test for college students Gerd Altmann - Pixabay
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