Global COVID-19 Cases Surpass 3 Million... "Far from the End of the Pandemic" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide surpasses 3 million, countries across Europe and the United States are beginning to ease lockdown measures. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) and infectious disease experts warn that the situation remains dangerous and that premature easing could lead to greater harm. Since there are still no vaccines or treatments for COVID-19, reinfection cases continue to emerge, and it remains uncertain whether immunity develops from antibody production, experts argue that it is too early to be complacent.

On the 27th (local time), WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned during a virtual briefing held in Geneva, Switzerland, that "the pandemic is far from over," adding, "The increasing trend of COVID-19 cases in Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and some Asian countries is concerning, and vigilance must not be relaxed." Ghebreyesus's warning is interpreted as a caution against the second wave of infections amid the ongoing easing of lockdown measures in Europe and the United States.

On the same day, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who returned to work, issued a public statement saying, "It is still too early to lift COVID-19 restrictions such as movement limitations," and warned that "premature easing of lockdown measures risks leading to a second peak of the virus." Johnson was the first major world leader to test positive for COVID-19; after his symptoms worsened, he was moved to intensive care but was discharged on the 12th and has since been focusing on recovery.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

However, most countries in the United States and Europe have announced phased lifting of lockdowns as the daily increase in confirmed cases slows. Italy lifted lockdown measures for export companies and construction firms, including those using vehicles, starting today, and plans to resume production activities in most manufacturing sectors from May 4. In Norway, the school closure order was lifted for students in grades 1 to 4 starting today, while France announced it will lift movement restrictions from May 11 and resume restoration work on the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The European Union (EU) plans to hold a virtual meeting on the 28th to discuss easing and lifting border controls among member states.

This easing of lockdowns is based on optimism that COVID-19 has already spread widely and many people have developed immunity. In the US and Europe, plans are underway to issue immunity certificates or immunity passports based on large-scale antibody testing to accelerate the lifting of restrictions, but medical experts continue to raise concerns about a second wave. According to CNBC, Mike Ryan, head of WHO's Emergency Response Team, stated, "Antibody tests determine whether someone has been infected, but they do not mean that the person is immune or that they cannot transmit the virus to others," warning, "Many studies are still ongoing, and we know very little about immunity formation for COVID-19."

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

COVID-19 continues to cause confusion as asymptomatic cases and secondary infections keep emerging, and precise infection symptoms remain unclear. According to The New York Times (NYT), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added six new symptoms to its official website beyond the previously known signs of fever, cough, and shortness of breath: chills, persistent shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell. These additions reflect the diverse and unpredictable symptoms observed by doctors in actual patients and differ somewhat from the symptoms previously announced by WHO.

Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has exceeded 3 million as of today. According to COVID-19 statistics from Johns Hopkins University, as of the 27th, the global number of confirmed cases reached 3,029,452, with 210,374 deaths. The United States has nearly 1 million cumulative confirmed cases at 983,848, followed by Spain (229,422), Italy (199,414), France (162,220), Germany (158,389), and the United Kingdom (158,347).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.