WHO Releases Troubling New Coronavirus Report Showing Record Surges

Americans have been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus crisis for a vast majority of this wild year known as 2020, and fears of a mighty second wave are now gaining momentum.

It has been since March that the US has been largely in the grips of this maddening pandemic, and still no vaccine or surefire treatment has emerged.  Medical experts warn that such a game changer may not come into play until early next year – or later.  As cool temperatures arrive in the northern hemisphere, driving individuals indoors where the virus tends to spread more easily, these same experts are growing concerned that the second wave of the virus is about to be upon us.

Data from Europe seems to confirm these fears are warranted.

The World Health Organization reported a record one-day increase in global coronavirus cases on Thursday, with the total rising by 338,779 in 24 hours led by a surge of infections in Europe.

Europe reported 96,996 new cases, the highest total for the region ever recorded by the WHO.

Global deaths rose by 5,514 to a total of 1.05 million.

The previous WHO record for new cases was 330,340 on Oct. 2. The agency reported a record 12,393 deaths on April 17.

As a region, Europe is now reporting more cases than India, Brazil or the United States.

India reported 78,524 new cases, followed by Brazil at 41,906 and the United States with 38,904 new infections, according to the WHO, whose data lags the daily reports by each country.

Viral pandemics have been historically more troublesome in their second and subsequent waves, making the push for a vaccine all the more important in the coming months.