This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 29th, 2020.

It’s a full nationwide lockdown for France. And in Germany, it’s “lockdown lite,” a partial four-week lockdown and the first curfew in Berlin in 70 years. The World Health Organization says the European region, which includes Russia, Turkey, Israel, and Central Asia, accounted for almost half the new cases reported globally last week. Virus-related deaths were also on the rise in Europe, with about a 35% spike from the previous week.

The U.S. government issued rules for insurance coverage to ensure every American will have access to free COVID-19 vaccines once approved. Workplace and individual insurance plans will cover the vaccine as a preventive service, with no cost sharing. Those vaccinating the uninsured will be paid through a federal fund.

Cause to celebrate, safely, in Melbourne, Australia. The country’s second-largest city has emerged from one of the world’s longest, most severe lockdowns yesterday. It lasted 111 days, but no new infections were recorded Monday. So yesterday, thousands of stores, cafes, restaurants, and beauty salons reopened.

On the flipside, one of the last nations on Earth to never have had one coronavirus infection, has lost that honor. Two cases were confirmed on the remote Marshall Islands. Both were workers on a US military base.

The Dodgers clinched the World Series. But not before it was learned during the seventh inning third baseman Justin Turner tested positive. He was pulled from the game and put in isolation, but when the team won, he joined his team on the field for the celebration.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bon Homme, SD. Norton, KS. Elliott, KY. Okfuskee, OK. Kusilvak Census Area, AK. Carter, MT. Buffalo, SD. Oglala Lakota, SD. Eddy, ND. And Faulk, SD.

There are 2,954,409 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Texas overtakes Missouri, then Maryland, and Illinois overtakes Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana, and Idaho.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Vermont, Wyoming, Rhode Island, Minnesota, and New Mexico. There is only one state with a retransmission rate below 1 and that is Mississippi.

There’ve been a total 227,673 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.61%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 97. Florida 64. California 63. Illinois 51. Wisconsin 45. Massachusetts 36. North Carolina, Tennessee, and South Carolina with 34. And Indiana 33.

Globally, there are now 10,845,371 active cases.

There are 452,310 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, against a high of 499,200 on October 23.

The five countries with the most new cases: United States 81,581. India 49,912. France 36,437. Brazil 28,852. And Italy 24,991.

There have now been 1,173,270 deaths worldwide. Up 16% over 14 days.

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