PARIS: Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
US hits five million cases
The United States has registered more than five million cases in the coronavirus pandemic, Johns Hopkins University’s real-time tally showed Sunday, with more than 162,000 deaths as the country struggles to control the disease.
The US tally reached 5,000,603 cases on Sunday morning and 162,441 deaths — both totals by far the highest of any country in the world.
More than 100,000 dead in Brazil
The coronavirus death toll in Brazil has topped 100,000 from three million infections, crossing the grim milestone after President Jair Bolsonaro said he had a “clear conscience” over his response to the outbreak.
With 100,477 fatalities and 3,012,412 cases, the South American country of 212 million people is the second hardest-hit by the global pandemic after the United States.
More than 10,000 dead in Chile
Chile’s death toll has topped 10,000 five months after the virus first appeared in one of the worst affected countries in Latin America.
With a population of just 18 million, the death toll ratio works out at 523.7 dead per million inhabitants, higher even than Brazil’s 472.7.
S. Africa tops 10,000 dead
More than 10,000 people have died from Covid-19 in South Africa.
The continent’s most industrialised economy has registered 553,188 infections, more than half of the continental caseload, and the fifth biggest number of cases in the world.
Global cases near 20 million
The novel coronavirus has killed at least 727,288 people since it emerged in China last December, with at least 19,674,290 cases, meaning the 20 million mark is likely to be breached in the next few days.
According to an AFP tally, some 11,665,200 people are now considered to have recovered from the illness.
France increases use of masks
French regions have increased the compulsory use of protective masks against the coronavirus in busy public spaces where social distancing is more difficult. Paris adopts the same measure from Monday.
Anyone walking along the Seine in the heart of the city, visiting the tourist hub of Montmartre or shopping in some of the busier streets will have to wear a mask, facing a fine of 135 euros ($160) if they refuse, as the number of cases edges up around the country.
Belgian resorts shut doors to day trippers
Several resort towns on the Belgian coast say they will bar day-trippers after fights broke out between police and youths told to leave a beach for refusing to respect coronavirus safety measures.
Knokke-Heist and Blankenberge, two popular towns on the Flemish northern coast near the border with the Netherlands, say they took the step to “guarantee public security”.
New Zealand marks case-free 100 days
New Zealand on Sunday marked 100 days with no recorded cases of the coronavirus in the community.
There are still 23 active cases in the country, but all were detected in people entering the country who are being held in managed isolation facilities. – AFP
