US, WASHINGTON (ORDO NEWS) — New York plans to resume part of its activities soon although it remains the city most affected by the Covid-19 in the world, while Europe continues its deconfinement, encouraged by a ebb of the pandemic .
However, the death toll has increased further in Russia and Asia, especially South Korea, fears a relapse.
In five months, since its declared appearance at the end of December in Wuhan (China), the Covid-19 disease has killed 360,419 people and infected more than 5.8 million according to official figures, probably below the reality.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Friday that the containment for New York will be partially lifted the week of June 8, provided public health indicators are satisfactory.
This easing would only affect part of the economy, mainly construction and manufacturing, as part of the first phase of a reopening plan.
New York is by far the city most affected by the coronavirus in the world, which has killed more than 21,000 people.
Russia, for its part, recorded a new daily death record (232), bringing the total to 4,374 deaths and 387,623 cases, the latter figure making it the third country in the world most affected for the number of infections behind the United States and Brazil. According to data published Friday, the progression of the epidemic seems to have stabilized, with 8,572 new cases in 24 hours, a level stable for ten days.
Russia’s main epidemic outbreak, Moscow, which plans to ease containment starting Monday, revised its April data to respond to suspicions of statistical manipulation, bringing the death toll in the capital to 1,561.
Europe, hard hit with more than 176,000 deaths and 2.1 million cases, continues its deconfinement, after having seen the spread of the virus slow down.
Denmark announced Friday that it would reopen its borders on June 15 to German, Norwegian and Icelandic nationals.
Greece will open its airports in Athens and Thessaloniki (north) to tourists from 29 countries from June 15, the start of the tourist season.
It is also from June 15 that the wearing of the mask will cease to be compulsory in stores in Austria.
But the external borders of the European Union remain closed. And its internal borders reopen out of order, thwarting the loves of unmarried international couples. “It’s really hard not to be able to physically feel any intimacy, even to be able to just kiss,” said AFP Melinda Schneider, a 26-year-old Canadian who has not seen her Danish friend for more than four months.
– Europe gets back into soccer –
Turkey partially reopens its mosques on Friday and Austria, with great care, its hotels and tourist infrastructure. In Vienna, the usual hotels popular between March and June by business travelers expect a filling of only 5 to 10% in June, largely below the breakeven point of 77%, according to the Chamber of Commerce of the capital.
British schools and businesses will be able to reopen from Monday, but dental offices will have to wait until June 8. In the meantime, some people buy kits on the internet to treat their teeth: “it’s easy to use and it’s not too scary,” says Susie in Salisbury (South).
French museums, parks, cafes and restaurants will reopen Tuesday – only on the terrace in Paris – and it will also be the end of the ban on going more than 100 km from home. The Paris department store at Galeries Lafayette reopens on Saturday, with masks and safety distances required.
The coronavirus also degrades the economy. In Italy and France – which is entering a recession -, Gross domestic product fell 5.3% in the first quarter compared to the previous one, and 2.9% in Austria.
The Canadian economy contracted 8.2% year-on-year in the first quarter, the largest decline since early 2009.
The Indian economy experienced its weakest growth for 20 years in the January-March quarter, while Brazil’s GDP fell 1.5% in the first quarter compared to the last three months of 2019, according to official figures released Friday.
In Spain, the crisis has exacerbated poverty, pushing the government to approve the creation of a minimum living income on Friday.
Europe is starting to play football again – except in France. After Germany in mid-May and Spain, England and Italy announced in turn Thursday the resumption in June of their championships. For the Premier League, the most followed in the world, it will be on June 17, shortly after the Spanish Liga (week of June 8) and just before Italy (June 20).
– Rapid spread on the American continent –
On the American continent, the virus is still spreading rapidly with again more than 1,000 deaths in 24 hours in both the United States and Brazil.
The United States, which has crossed the 100,000 mark, remains by far the most affected country in number of cases (over 1.7 million) and deaths (101,621 including 1,297 Thursday).
The capital Washington, relatively spared, begins Friday a lifting of restrictions.
Brazil deplored Thursday, for the sixth time in a row, more than 1,000 dead in 24 hours – 26,754 in total – with a daily record of contamination (26,417) or nearly 440,000 in total. The actual numbers could be fifteen times worse, according to scientists.
Chile and Peru recorded new national records on Thursday evening, the first in terms of death (49), the second of contamination (5,874).
By cons Bolivia will relax its containment from Monday.
In the Middle East, Iran, which has eased its restrictions since mid-April, posted the largest daily increase in cases in almost two months (2,819 for a total of 146,668).
– Alerts in Asia –
Asia, the first hit and which seemed to be getting rid of the virus, is experiencing two alerts.
South Korea, often cited as an example for curbing the disease, reinstated restrictions as it began to return to normal life.
After an outbreak of cases on Thursday, parks and museums are closed for two weeks and the number of students accommodated in Seoul is reduced.
Sri Lanka will reactivate targeted containment measures on Sunday after its largest daily increase in cases, mostly Sri Lankans returning from Kuwait and sailors from a base near Colombo.
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