COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 2 November – World Economic Forum

1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now passed 46.5 million globally, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The number of confirmed deaths stands at over 1.2 million.

Japan's largest airport has opened a COVID-19 testing facility for outbound passengers, who need proof they are virus-free when they arrive at their destination.

Oil prices have fallen more than 3%, as concerns grow about widening lockdowns in Europe.

Australia has reported no new COVID-19 cases in the community for the first time in 5 months.

UpLink is a digital platform to crowdsource innovations in an effort to address the worlds most pressing challenges.

It is an open platform designed to engage anyone who wants to offer a contribution for the global public good. The core objective is to link up the best innovators to networks of decision-makers, who can implement the change needed for the next decade. As a global platform, UpLink serves to aggregate and guide ideas and impactful activities, and make connections to scale-up impact.

Hosted by the World Economic Forum, UpLink is being designed and developed in collaboration with Salesforce, Deloitte and LinkedIn.

UpLink is now running the COVID Social Justice Challenge, which aims to tackle social inequalities and injustices within the COVID response and recovery.

Belgium has tightened restrictions on businesses and social life. From today, hairdressers and shops which provide non-essential services will be closed for six weeks. November's school holidays have also been extended by a week, while there are tighter rules for social contacts.

World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said yesterday that he'd been identified as a contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.

The UK has passed the milestone of 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases.

People protesting against COVID-19 restrictions have clashed with police in some Spanish cities.

2. New lockdown in England

On Saturday evening, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new lockdown in England, as cases continue to rise.

From midnight on Thursday morning, people will only be allowed to leave their houses for specific reasons - education, work, exercise, shopping for essentials and caring for the vulnerable.

Unless we act, we could see deaths in this country running at several thousand a day, said Johnson.

Cases have risen rapidly across the UK.

Image: Our World in Data

Pubs and restaurants will close except for takeaways, and outbound international travel is discouraged. Schools and universities will remain open, and elite sport will continue.

It brings England into line with France and Germany, who have also announced national lockdowns.

3. WHO warns against 'natural herd immunity'

World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has issued a warning about pursuing natural herd immunity, after speaking with patients struggling with long-term effects of COVID-19.

Their stories show people need time and care to recover, Tedros said.

"It also reinforces to me just how morally unconscionable and unfeasible the so-called natural herd immunity strategy is," he added.

"Not only would it lead to millions more unnecessary deaths, it would also lead to a significant number of people facing a long road to full recovery. Herd immunity is only possible with safe and effective vaccines that are distributed equitably around the world."

More here:

COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 2 November - World Economic Forum