New assessments, new measures, highlights: an update on the latest developments in the pandemic linked to the new coronavirus in the world.
The pandemic has killed at least 266,919 people worldwide since its onset in December in China, according to a report compiled by AFP from official sources Thursday at 7:00 p.m. GMT.
Over 3,806,440 cases have been diagnosed in 195 countries and territories.
The United States is the most affected country in terms of number of deaths and cases, with 74,844 deaths for 1,244,119 cases. This is followed by the United Kingdom with 30,615 deaths, Italy (29,958), Spain (26,070) and France (25,987).
EUROPE
United Kingdom
Prime Minister Boris Johnson compared the Second World War to the “new fight” against the coronavirus pandemic in a letter to veterans published on Friday, the anniversary of the surrender of Nazi Germany. “On this anniversary, we are engaged in a new fight against the coronavirus which requires the same spirit of national effort that you embodied 75 years ago,” wrote Boris Johnson to veterans.
Because of the distancing measures taken to fight the pandemic, “we cannot pay homage to you with parades and street celebrations as we have done in the past, your loved ones may not be able to visit you”, said the conservative leader. “But allow us, proud compatriots, to be the first to convey our gratitude, our heartfelt thanks, and our solemn oath: we will always remember you.”
In the United Kingdom, the commemorations will begin at 11:00 local time with a moment of national meditation and two minutes of silence. Queen Elisabeth II will address the British in a taped speech to be broadcast by the BBC at 9:00 p.m., the exact time her father King George VI spoke on the radio in 1945.
Austria
Austria has announced the healing of Covid-19 patients treated with blood plasma transfusion from patients who have contracted the disease, a protocol tested in several countries but for the development of which more medical data are needed.
AMERICA
United States
The United States deplored more than 2,400 additional deaths from the coronavirus in 24 hours on Thursday, bringing the total toll of the epidemic in the country to more than 75,500 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University count. These 2,448 additional deaths were recorded between 8:30 p.m. local Thursday and the day before at the same time by the university, which updates its data continuously. The United States also has more than 1.25 million officially diagnosed cases (+27,300 in 24 hours). Some 195,000 people are declared cured.
More than 8.1 million screening tests have been carried out in the country, from the same source. Daily reports in the United States have not fallen below 1,000 since April 1. After having recorded more than 3,100 deaths in 24 hours in mid-April, the country is today blocked on a “plateau” from which it cannot get back down.
If the epidemic is now slowing in New York, which remains the epicenter with more than 20,000 confirmed or probable deaths in the state, other foci have appeared, such as the region of the American capital, Washington. The United States is by far the most affected country in terms of both the number of deaths and the number of cases detected, according to official data. Donald Trump has however regularly accused China of lying on its balance sheet.
“America is engaged in a fierce battle against a terrible disease,” said the American president on Thursday. “We pray that scientists and researchers will innovate treatments, find therapies and vaccines, and find them quickly.”
ASIA
China
China (excluding the territories of Hong Kong and Macao), where the epidemic started at the end of December, officially counted a total of 82,885 cases (2 new between Wednesday and Thursday), including 4,633 deaths (0 new), and 77,957 cures.
OCEANIA
Australia
Australia unveiled a three-step roadmap on Friday to ease restrictions on the coronavirus crisis. The authorities wish to restart the country’s economy before July.
“Today we are putting Australia back into working order,” said Prime Minister Scott Morrisson from Canberra. “And our goal is to take these steps to achieve a free economy of covid-19 before the month of July,” he added.
In the first phase of flexibility, Australia will reopen its cafes, restaurants, shops, libraries, swimming pools and playgrounds. Australians will be allowed to receive up to five people into their homes and public gatherings of up to ten people will be allowed, as will non-essential interstate travel.
The second step will consist of authorizing groups of up to twenty people as well as reopening sports halls, beauty salons, museums and cinemas. Finally, in the third stage of deconfinement, up to a hundred people will be able to meet publicly, in pubs, discos and nightclubs, saunas and food courts.
The Prime Minister has not disclosed specific dates for each stage and leaves it to each State to decide on the introduction of deconfinement measures on their territory. However, he said the plan would be reviewed every three weeks. Australia has counted more than 6,900 coronavirus patients on its territory since the start of the crisis, of which less than 900 are still sick today. At least 97 people died there as a result of the Covid-19.
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