New York City raises Covid-19 alert level to high

Railway station staff disinfect the Pyongyang station premises. Pic/AFP

New York City, the largest city in the United States, raised its COVID-19 alert level from medium to high on Tuesday, as infections continue to go up in recent weeks.

The rating means there is a high COVID-19 community spread and pressure on the health care system in the city is substantial. "New York City has transitioned to a high COVID alert level, meaning now is the time to double down on protecting ourselves and each other by making choices that can keep our friends, neighbours, relatives and coworkers from getting sick," said Dr Ashwin Vasan, the city health commissioner. The guidance requires New Yorkers to wear a mask in public indoor settings and crowded outdoor settings and avoid higher-risk activities.

N Korea reports another jump

North Korea on Wednesday reported 2,32,880 new cases of fever and another six deaths as leader Kim Jong Un accused officials of immaturity and slackness in handling the escalating COVID-19 outbreak. The country's anti-virus headquarters said 62 people have died and more than 1.7 million have fallen ill since late April.

3,74,912 No. of new cases reported globally in the past 24 hours
52,01,02,852 Total no. of cases worldwide
62,68,956 Total no. of deaths worldwide

Source: WHO/Johns Hopkins

Portugal records monkeypox

Portuguese authorities said on Wednesday they had identified five cases of the rare monkeypox infection and Spain's health services are testing eight potential cases after Britain put Europe on alert for the virus. The five Portuguese patients, out of 20 suspected cases, are all stable. European Health authorities are monitoring any outbreak of the disease since Britain reported its first case of monkeypox on May 7 and found six more in the country since then.

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