Coronavirus: the state of the world facing the pandemic on Saturday, May 23

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According to an AFP count from official sources, more than 5,250,000 cases of the new coronavirus have been officially declared worldwide, including more than two thirds in Europe and the United States. The disease is now responsible for nearly 340,000 deaths worldwide.

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• Religious ceremonies resume in France

French authorities have authorized the resumption of religious ceremonies this Saturday, following a decision of the Council of State on May 18. The faithful must respect physical distance, wear a mask and disinfect their hands. At the entrance to each place of worship, a person will have to regulate the flow. This decision especially pleased the Catholics, the other religions considering a more gradual recovery. Thus, while Eid el-Fitr will take place this Sunday, May 24, prayer cannot be held in mosques, given the context of the pandemic. The French Council for Muslim Worship specifies that religious ceremonies could resume as early as June.

Democratic life resumes. The municipal councilors appointed in the first round of municipal elections (March 15) took office this Saturday to elect their mayors. France remains the fifth most affected country in the world in number of deaths (more than 28,000). The number of people in intensive care continues to drop, with 36 fewer patients in 24 hours, for a total of 1,665. Regarding mortality, the next update of the data collected by Santé Publique France will take place on Monday, due from the Ascension Bridge.

• In the United Kingdom, a fortnight imposed on all travelers, even French

The United Kingdom, the second country in the world most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic (more than 36,000 dead), has decided to establish from June 8 a fortnight for all travelers arriving on its soil. A measure that will be reviewed every three weeks. The goal is to fight the spread of the coronavirus, and avoid a second peak, announced the Minister of the Interior. Some exceptions will be made for road carriers and medical personnel ... But not for the French. The French government has announced that it is "  ready to put in place a reciprocity measure  ".

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure, and voices are increasing to demand the dismissal of Dominic Cummings. This advisor, a fervent defender of Brexit, is suspected of having broken the rules of confinement. The 48-year-old politician had left London to visit his parents in Durham, in the north-east of England, when he had symptoms of Covid-19. Before this affair, the United Kingdom had already known two resignations resounding for non-respect of the rules of containment in force since March 23 (that of a scientific adviser of the government and that of the head of the Scottish health services).

• Deconfinement: life resumes in Europe

Madrid and Barcelona are back in Spanish time. So far excluded from the deconfinement, the two largest cities in the country will be able to reopen the terraces of bars, hotels and museums from Monday. Tourists will be able to return in July, and La Liga, the famous football championship, will resume on June 8. Spain is the fourth country in the world most affected by the pandemic.

On the contrary, Iceland has been fairly spared and has acted as a model. Discos, bars and gyms will once again be able to welcome the public from Monday.

The cathedral in Florence, Italy , has reopened and already has thousands of reservations. The Romans are them back to the beach, after more than two months of confinement. They can swim, walk and play sports, but not yet sunbathe in the sun. Very dependent on tourism, Cyprus will reopen its airports to commercial flights from around twenty countries from June 9.

• Eid el-Fitr, a party under control all over the world

After Easter, Passover and Ramadan spent under confinement, it is the turn of Eid el-Fitr to be subject to restrictions. This great religious holiday, which will be celebrated on Sunday, usually allows Muslims to gather with family and friends for the end of Ramadan. Not this year. In any case not in Turkey , subject to strict confinement restrictions . For example, people over 65 are not allowed to leave their homes, but will be allowed to do so on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., while their younger compatriots will spend the first day of Eid confined to their homes. 

In Saudi Arabia , a full curfew is in place until Wednesday. While in Iran , the Ministry of Health asks its citizens to avoid all unnecessary travel. The country has had 7,300 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

In the Gaza Strip , life goes on: cafes and restaurants still serve their customers, and mosques have reopened for the last Friday of Eid el-Fitr. However, the number of cases is increasing sharply in the territory (35 new infections in a few days). A curfew is however envisaged by the authorities. A first death was also recorded this Saturday in Gaza. The situation has greatly deteriorated in the overpopulated and subjugated enclave since the return of 1,500 stranded Palestinians to Egypt and others from Israel.

• In the United States, Donald Trump calls for the reopening of places of worship

Very popular with evangelical Christians, American President Donald Trump asked the governors of the country to reopen places of worship. "  I see churches, synagogues and mosques as essential places that provide essential services  ," he said on Friday.

"We need more prayer, not less." pic.twitter.com/eTEEILk50G

The head of state even threatened to do it himself if they did not comply. The United States is by far the country with the most cases of Covid-19 (1.6 million) but also the most deaths (more than 96,000). To honor the memory of the victims, the flags were flown at half-mast until Sunday.

• Auto giant Hertz bankrupt in North America

The world famous car rental company Hertz has filed for bankruptcy . A procedure that concerns the company only in the United States and Canada, but which illustrates the extent of the economic crisis due to the Covid-19. Demand collapsed during the period, and Hertz has already announced the elimination of almost half of its global workforce.

• South America, the new epicenter of the pandemic

The spread of the virus on the continent is inexorable, especially in Brazil , the third most affected country in the world behind the United States and Russia, according to the American University Johns Hopkins. At least 330,000 Brazilians contracted the virus, which killed 21,000 people. South America is also the "new epicenter" of the pandemic, according to the World Health Organization. The Peru also struggling to stem the spread of the virus. The confinement, in force in the country since March 16, was extended by President Martin Vizcarra until June 30 with "  compulsory social isolation  ".

• No new cases in China

The pandemic seems to be contained in China. In this country, where the virus appeared in mid-December 2019, no new cases were identified between Friday and Saturday. A first since Beijing began publishing data on the epidemic in January. A total of 82,971 cases were recorded in the Middle Empire, for 4,634 deaths.

• Burma journalist convicted of false coronavirus information

Zaw Ye Htet, reporter and editor of a Burmese website, had mistakenly reported the death of a coronavirus patient. A mistake that cost him dearly: the journalist was sentenced to two years in prison . A decision which testifies to the repressive laws still used against this profession in Burma.

• In Japan, cuddly toys to enforce social distancing

In the cafe restaurant of Shizuoka Zoo, on the peaceful coast of the Japanese island of Honshu, it is impossible for customers to sit side by side. One in two places is occupied by a plush capybara, this huge rodent from South America, emblem of the animal park. An original idea which obliges each consumer to respect a distance of at least 2 meters.

The cafe at Izu Shaboten Zoo in Shizuoka, Japan uses stuffed Capybaras to enforce social distancing

(Photos by @ chacha0rca) pic.twitter.com/g15HTL2IG0

This initiative is not isolated. In Thailand , a restaurant in Bangkok opted for large panda-shaped toys, while in Virginia , in the southeast of the United States, these are disguised models who keep customers company for their lunch.

• Chloroquine ineffective, study finds

Neither chloroquine nor its derivative hydroxychloroquine have been shown to be effective against Covid-19. After a large study, the British medical journal The Lancet even shows that these molecules increase the risk of death and cardiac arrhythmia in hospitalized patients. The scientific publication recommends not to prescribe them outside of clinical trials.

Our selection on the coronavirus

• Listen to our Coronavirus Info column 

• Our  explanations  :
→  What we know about the mode of contagion
→  Disparities and inequalities in the face of the coronavirus: what must be remembered
→  Triple therapy, Discovery… update on research
→  The race for the vaccine is in full swing
→  How to make a mask and use it well

• Our series  :
→ “  The response, country by country  ”
→ “  Nurses  ' words ”

• After Covid-19, towards a new world?

• Each evening, find the State of the world and Africa facing the pandemic

• See also the files of RFI Savoirs on the Covid-19:
→  Birth of a pandemic
→  Everyday life put to the test
→  The history of epidemics
→  Science facing the Covid-19
→  The geopolitical consequences

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