Coronavirus: the state of the world facing the pandemic from May 25 to 31

In a park in New Delhi, India, May 31, 2020. REUTERS / Adnan Abidi

Text by: RFI Follow

The past week has been marked by very strong increases in contamination in Latin America, but also in India. Brazil and the United States were the two countries with the most cases this week. The pandemic, on the other hand, is receding in Europe, which is continuing its deconfinement. The number of confirmed cases worldwide has exceeded 6 million this week, for nearly 370,000 deaths.

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Regions where the pandemic is receding

In Europe, the numbers of contamination and admissions to intensive care are falling. This allows certain countries to gradually return to a "normal" situation.

In France , "  the epidemic is receding, freedom is returning  " assured Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Thursday. In fact, bars and restaurants can reopen this Tuesday, June 2 (with social distancing and tables of 10 people maximum). All departments are now classified green, except those of Île-de-France, Guyana and Mayotte. In these three regions, bars and restaurants can only open on the terrace. Museums and monuments will once again be able to welcome the public (with the wearing of a mandatory mask) and the limitation of travel to 100 kilometers also stops (always on the same date). The parks have reopened this Saturday.

The Italian , one of the countries most affected by the pandemic world, will it reopen its borders . From June 3, European tourists will be able to return to Rome or Florence, where everything is ready to welcome visitors again. Without quarantine! Enough to revive an asphyxiated economy after 70 days of confinement. The Tower of Pisa has already reopened. Italians will also be allowed to circulate without restriction across the country, always from June 3.

The Spain also takes life after one of the strictest in the world confinements, the capital Madrid has allowed the reopening of sidewalk cafes, restaurants and parks. The country's beaches are also accessible again. The Spanish government has also approved the creation of a minimum living income to fight poverty, further exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis, which has caused the demand for food aid to explode. Spain also started a 10-day national mourning on Wednesday, May 27, in tribute to the 27,000 victims of the epidemic. Unheard of since the restoration of democracy in 1977.

Soccer championships are picking up everywhere: the Premier League, the English championship, will restart on June 17. Italian Serie A will resume three days later, while the Spanish Liga will return to lawns on June 11. The French Ligue 1, stopped since March, will not resume this season reaffirmed Thursday the Prime Minister (confirming the cancellation decided on April 30).

Pandemic in Asia recedes, but some countries fear second wave and take containment measures

In China , European expatriates are back! For the first time in two months, a plane carrying Europeans (especially Germans) landed near Beijing. These are mainly managers and employees who work in China, and their families. One of them was also tested positive (asymptomatic) when he got off the plane. The country closed its borders at the end of March to all non-citizens. Only two new cases were reported this Sunday in the country (the very first affected by the coronavirus).

Asia is shrinking, as in Japan , which lifted the state of emergency last Monday. But Asia is also being reconfigured. The South Korea has limited the number of students in class in the Seoul area, and recently lifted restrictions rules were reinstated after the detection of 79 new cases Thursday. The largest increase in the country in almost two months. The Sri Lanka has also reactivated targeted measures containment Sunday, after posting its largest daily increase in new cases. In particular: a huge rally in Colombo for the burial of a former minister this Saturday.

In the Middle East, deconfinement continues. In Iran , the country most affected by the region (380 new deaths this week, 7,797 in total, but downward trend) restaurants have reopened. The number of cases has stabilized (15,000 new infections this week, like last one). Also note this Tuesday the reopening of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem (occupied West Bank). The Saudi Arabia has it reopened mosques on Sunday 31 May, and announced a lifting of curfew from 21 June (except in Mecca).

The regions where the pandemic is progressing

The Brazil , considered new epicenter of the pandemic has overtaken Spain and France in casualties and became the most bereaved fourth largest country by Covid-19. The South American state is also the second in the world in number of contaminations (more than 150,000 new cases this week, for a total of around 500,000). The official figures could be fifteen times lower than the reality estimate the scientists, because the tests are not carried out in a massive way. Political tension is also at its peak: two health ministers resigned in less than a month. In addition, regional governors are in favor of containment measures, unlike far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who considers them disastrous for the country's economy. A great defender of the rules of restrictions, the Brazilian head of state would also like to see the football championships resume in his country. The players are young and athletic, the risk of them dying from the Covid-19 is minimal,  " he said.

Other Latin American states are also very affected, such as Peru . The Andean country is the second in the region in number of contaminations (155,671) and has broken records of new cases daily this week. The epidemic is also "accelerating" in Chile, estimates the World Health Organization (more than 94,000 cases in total). The capital Santiago concentrates 80% of contamination. Finally, much like in Brazil, the regional governors and the president of Bolivia do not agree on the restrictions to apply. Four regions, including Santa Cruz de la Sierra (the most affected by coronavirus) have announced that they will expand containment measures. A decision completely contrary to that of the executive, which wanted from Monday to lift part of the rules in force since March to revive the economy of the country.

The India is also experiencing a strong surge in the number of reported cases (over 50 000 new infections this week, 183,000 in total). The world's second largest population is now the ninth most affected country in the world. India has however announced a relaxation of containment : from June 8, religious buildings, hotels, restaurants and shopping centers may reopen.

Record in Russia : the country recorded this Friday 232 additional deaths in 24 hours, according to official figures. Unheard of since the virus first appeared. The main focus of the epidemic is the capital Moscow, which published its April mortality statistics to respond to suspicions of manipulation. If the number of cases seems to have stabilized in Russia (more than 61,000 new infections this week, against 62,000 the previous one), the number of deaths is clearly increasing: more than 1,150 deaths this week (against 910 that past). However, the Russian authorities estimated last Tuesday that the epidemic peak was now "past".

In Haiti , the toll of contamination is increasing daily. Difficult to assess the extent of the epidemic because few tests are carried out, but the statistics proposed by the health authorities confirm an acceleration of the spread. An expansion difficult to stem, because few patients protect themselves and some Haitians refuse to believe in the existence of the virus .

The health information to remember

The United States will end its relationship with the World Health Organization, US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday. We will redirect these funds to other urgent and global public health needs that deserve them,  " he said. He accuses the UN agency of being too lenient with Beijing since the start of the pandemic.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell "urged" the US "to reconsider its decision".

Donald Trump also announced the postponement of the G7 summit, scheduled for June in the United States. He wanted the meeting of heads of state to take place in the White House, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel had declined. The United States remains largely the first country in the world in terms of contamination and death (1,770,000 against 103,700, provisional figures).

On the other hand, the struggle to find a vaccine is raging. If chloroquine and its derivative hydroxychloroquine (banned by France, suspended by the WHO) never cease to cause controversy, new molecules could appear. Like anakinra, this drug against rheumatic diseases, which gives "encouraging" results for severe forms of Covid-19, estimates a French study, published in the specialized journal The Lancet Rheumatology. Anakinra would reduce the risk of death but also the need to be placed on a ventilator in intensive care.

China has announced that it will be able to market a vaccine by the end of the year. Five prototypes are currently under study, tested on more than 2,000 people in clinical trials. A Chinese government body announced on May 29 on the Chinese social network WeChat that the vaccine could be marketed in late 2020 or early 2021.

Unusual info

RB Salzburg won the Austrian Cup on Friday, beating Austria Lustenau 5-0 in the final. But beyond the result, it was above all the presentation of the trophy that caused a stir. The players were indeed subjected to a very strict protocol, and had to celebrate their victory by respecting social distancing, in front of an empty stadium. Which gave rise to an atypical scene to say the least.

🇦🇹🏆 Jesse Marsch has his first silverware in Austria, as RB Salzburg take a 5-0 win over SC Austria Lustenau in the Austrian Cup final! pic.twitter.com/lb9yIEXAtP

  beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) May 29, 2020

Austrians decidedly inventive, since classical musicians gave them a concert in the courtyard of a Viennese hotel, in front of spectators at the windows of around forty rooms of the establishment. A sold-out performance, respecting barrier gestures. The country, despite a reopening of shops in mid-April, has not experienced a second wave of contamination. The government is emerging from this reinforced crisis .

Our selection on the coronavirus

Listen to our Coronavirus Info column 

Our  explanations  :
→  What we know about the mode of contagion
→  Disparities and inequalities facing the coronavirus
→  Triple therapy, Discovery… update on research
→  Remdesivir, antibodies and immunity
→  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?

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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  • Coronavirus: the state of the world facing the pandemic