AFP, published on Wednesday 01 July 2020 at 3.10 p.m.
New assessments, new measures, highlights: an update on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.
– The EU reopens its borders … –
On the threshold of summer, Europeans reopen their borders on Wednesday to travelers from 15 countries whose epidemiological situation is deemed sufficiently secure for the resumption of travel. The criteria used notably exclude the United States, the country most heavily affected.
The list of 15 countries, which will be revised every two weeks, includes Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, the South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.
China, registered under conditions, promised to restore the entry of European nationals, but without committing to a date.
– … Spain and Portugal their land border –
Spain and Portugal reopened their land border on Wednesday, closed on March 16 on the initiative of Lisbon.
After three and a half months of closing its only land border, Portugal remains one of the European countries most spared by the Covid-19.
– More than 511,000 dead –
The pandemic has killed at least 511,312 people worldwide, according to a report compiled by AFP from official sources Wednesday at 11:00 GMT.
The United States totals 127,425 deaths for 2.6 million cases. This is followed by Brazil (59,594 dead), the United Kingdom (43,730), Italy (34,767) and France (29,843).
With 1,199 additional deaths in 24 hours, the daily death toll in the United States started to rise again. The threshold of a thousand dead had not been crossed since June 10.
– Worrisome situation in Latin America –
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has warned that the death toll in Latin America and the Caribbean, currently around 114,000, could almost quadruple by October 1 in the absence of strengthened health measures.
At the current rate, “Latin America and the Caribbean are expected to have more than 438,000 deaths from Covid-19” by October 1, said Carissa Etienne, director of PAHO.
– Airbus in difficulty –
Airbus has announced the abolition of around 15,000 jobs, or 11% of its workforce, and does not rule out layoffs to deal with the “unprecedented crisis” suffered by the air transport sector.
This plan has been deemed “excessive” by the French government, which hopes to “save” 2,000 aid from the 5,000 jobs that the group intends to cut in France.
– Burundi turnaround –
New Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye has declared Covid-19 as “the greatest enemy of Burundians”, operating a complete flip-flop in a country that had largely ignored the epidemic so far.
His predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza died suddenly on June 8, officially from cardiac arrest.
– Rush on purchases in Saudi Arabia –
The Saudis rushed to consumer goods before the tripling of the VAT which passes Wednesday to 15%, an unpopular austerity measure imposed in the middle of the economic crisis due to the pandemic of Covid-19 and the collapse of the prices of oil.
– Protective measures extended in Canada –
In order to prevent the spread of the pandemic, Canada extended the measures to close its borders to foreigners, except Americans, until July 31.
The compulsory quarantine and isolation measure upon entry into the country is also extended until August 31.
– The Netherlands opens brothels –
Closed since mid-March, brothels in the Netherlands, including those in the famous Amsterdam Red Light District, reopened on Wednesday.
All “contact occupations” are again permitted in the Netherlands, an authorization which concerns in particular sex workers.
– No meetings for Biden –
New twist in the American presidential campaign: the democratic candidate Joe Biden gave up organizing meetings because of the pandemic, unlike his republican rival Donald Trump.
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