World map of coronavirus cases as of March 15, 2020. – John Hopkins Hospital
More than 160,000 cases, 6,500 deaths and 150 countries affected. More than ever, the pandemic of coronavirus is progressing worldwide, especially in Europe, which passed the 2,000 death mark on Sunday, mainly in Italy. In France, the milestone of 5,000 cases and 120 deaths has been crossed, and uncertainty hangs over the second round of municipal. Faced with the threat of covid-19, many governments have announced new containment measures, and in the United States, the Fed has cut interest rates to near zero.
Over 1,800 deaths in Italy
Italy registered a record 368 new deaths in 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 1,809 in the country, the most affected in Europe by the pandemic. Starting point for the epidemic, China remains the country with the highest number of deaths (3,199), but it is now in Europe that the epidemic is progressing rapidly, with 2,291 deaths, most of it in Italy and Spain, where the number of contaminations identified has jumped, with 2,000 additional cases in 24 hours.
And there are now more deaths recorded elsewhere in the world (3.221) than in China which seems to have now stopped the spread of the virus (20 new infections on Sunday). A total of 6,420 people have officially died from Covid-19 disease, out of 159,844 cases worldwide, according to a report by the AFP from official sources on Sunday evening.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Europe, which sees its health systems under strain, is “the epicenter” of the disease. The European Union has imposed restrictions on the export of protective medical equipment, unless “specifically authorized by EU governments”.
5,423 cases and 127 deaths in France
The second most affected country in Europe, Spain has confined its population and declared a state of alert for 15 days. Several cities canceled the famous Holy Week processions in early April.
Faced with the inexorable progression of the pandemic, closings, travel restrictions and event cancellations continued to be announced in cascade
Stopped since Sunday – restaurants, bars, nightclubs, cinemas, schools and universities closed – France, where the level of 5,000 cases and 120 deaths was crossed on Sunday, is preparing to gradually reduce its long-distance transport (trains , buses, planes). It nevertheless maintained its municipal elections on Sunday, but participation collapsed by almost 20 points.
Austria (602 cases, Saturday) has banned gatherings of more than five people and has limited travel to what is strictly necessary. The leading winter sports destination in Europe, it had already announced the early closure of its ski resorts, followed by France and Switzerland (1,355 cases, 11 deaths).
Border closures
The Netherlands and Luxembourg also ordered the closure of places and shops welcoming the public on Sunday and Ireland that of pubs after closing the St. Patrick’s Day parades.
Faced with the increasingly marked global economic slowdown, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged governments around the world to work together to prevent a recession. The Fed cut rates drastically, bringing them down to near zero.
Many countries seek to protect themselves by increasing isolation, even inside the EU, undermining the principle of free movement. Germany and France will thus partially close their common border by only allowing the passage to cross-border workers and the transport of goods.
Germany will do the same with its borders with Switzerland and Austria. Poland, the Czech Republic and Denmark had already closed their borders with their neighbors or introduced strong restrictions.
Russia (45 cases, no deaths) closed its land borders with Norway and Poland to foreigners on Sunday. Denmark and Lithuania have closed their borders, while Latvia, Estonia and Monaco adopt drastic restrictions. Norway will close its ports and airports.
In Italy, the authorities in Lombardy (north) are now worried about the capacity of their hospital system to absorb the influx of patients.
In Rome, “all the liturgical celebrations of Holy Week will take place without the physical presence of the faithful”, according to the Vatican, as will the general audiences of the Pope until April 12. The sovereign pontiff nevertheless left the Vatican Sunday to go to pray first in a basilica, then in a church where there is a “miraculous” crucifix which in 1522 was carried in procession in the districts of Rome to end the “Great Plague ”. Greece, which reported a fourth death, announced that it had arrested around 100 people who did not comply with anti-coronavirus measures.
The United States also concerned
Outside Europe, the measures are also tightening. In the United States, the new controls for Americans returning from Europe have caused chaos at airports: long queues of several hours, very dense, in defiance of health recommendations on “social distancing”. Schools will close in New York and 29 states, and California will close its bars.
Israel is also closing restaurants, shopping malls, cafes and gyms from Sunday, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial has been postponed due to the epidemic.
Iran, the third most affected country in the world, has announced 113 additional deaths (724 dead in total, 13,938 cases). Authorities asked residents to “cancel all their trips and stay at home” and closed the heart of the Shiite Shrine of Machhad.
In Africa, which has so far been little affected, the pandemic is now progressing, like almost everywhere else. A first case was diagnosed this weekend in Congo, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic and Seychelles. Independence Day celebrations have been canceled in Senegal (22 cases), and Kenya has announced the closure of its borders and South Africa is banning the entry of nationals from the countries most at risk.
Colombia prohibits entry of foreigners, while in Chile all ports are now closed to cruise ships after two of them were quarantined with around 1,300 people on board. Another ship, with 3,700 people, is in New Zealand, which also banned cruise ship calls until June 30.
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