Covid-19 Cases Surging   Â
Government officials across many countries are concerned about rising COVID-19 case counts within their borders and are reinstituting restrictions to prevent spread.Â
Fears of a new lockdown have spread among Italians after new cases have surged. Last week, Italy recorded more than 500 new cases in a day for the first time since May and has had three days in a row with more than 500 new reported cases. The rise led to officials creating a new mask mandate and closing night clubs.Â
One of the most concerning situations is in New Zealand. The country has been one of the most successful at fighting the pandemic and had gone more than three months without any community transmission of the virus. However, a new outbreak this week has led to more than new 30 confirmed cases in the country.Â
These new challenges come while other countries have been easing lockdowns because of falling case count numbers. South Africa recently removed some restrictions after the government announced the country is past the inflection point of the curve.Â
 These recent events have reminded the world that the battle with COVID-19 will not be a straightforward path, but there will be many ups and downs. Questions about how well a vaccine will work and who would get it make it likely that these ups and downs will be the new normal for at least a few years.Â
I am not a financial advisor and my comments should never be taken as financial advice. Investments come with risk, so always do your research and analysis beforehand.