Days it took for COVID-19 deaths to double select countries worldwide as of Dec. 13

The time it takes for the number of COVID-19 deaths to double varies by country. The doubling rate in the United States was 139 days as of December 13, 2020. In comparison, the number of confirmed deaths in Australia doubled from 450 to 908 in the space of 117 days between August 18 and December 13, 2020.

COVID-19: We are all in this together

The commitment of civilians to follow basic hygiene measures and maintain social distancing must continue. The wellbeing of populations cannot be jeopardized, and young people must also engage in the response. In Australia, the 20- to 29-year-old age group accounts for the highest number of COVID-19 cases. With lockdown restrictions lifted, many people have returned to their regular routines and jumped back into socializing. However, there are concerns about complacency and suggestions that young adults could be driving spikes in coronavirus cases.

Receive coronavirus warnings on your smartphone

It is of paramount importance that countries keep a vigilant eye on the spread of the coronavirus. One way of doing so is to invest in track and trace surveillance systems. Electronic tools are not essential, but many countries are using contact-tracing smartphone apps to make the tracking of cases more efficient. In June 2020, a contact-tracing app was rolled out across Japan, and it received nearly eight million downloads in the first month. A COVID-19 alert app was also launched in Canada at the end of July 2020. The smartphone software is initially being piloted in Ontario, but it will soon be possible for people in other provinces to use the app and report a diagnosis.