Coronavirus: the state of the world facing the pandemic on Thursday, March 26

Text by: Jelena Tomic Follow

Gathered this Thursday at the summit, the G20 decided to inject 5,000 billion dollars into the world economy and to make a "united front" against the coronavirus, a disease which has killed nearly 22,000 people worldwide. In Europe, the health situation is critical and even dramatic in certain countries such as Italy and Spain. In France, the Covid-19 killed 365 people in 24 hours, bringing the total toll to 1,696 dead.

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France: the repatriation of the French will be finalized within three or four days

The last French people still stranded abroad will be repatriated within three or four days, according to the French Secretary of State for Transport. Jean-Baptiste Djebbari estimates that around 10,000 to 15,000 people will be repatriated each day. A total of 130,000 French nationals are still stranded abroad pending their repatriation.

France also carried out an unprecedented medical evacuation by TGV of patients with Covid-19 on Thursday, while the epidemic is still galloping with 365 dead in the last 24 hours, bringing the total toll to 1,696 dead in the country.

Spain, second most bereaved country in Europe

Spain has crossed the 4,000 mark. With 655 new deaths in 24 hours, the balance sheet stands at 4,088 deaths. 56,188 cases of contamination have been confirmed, according to the Ministry of Health. The death toll has quadrupled since Friday , but authorities hope to reach the peak of the pandemic by the end of the week and see the numbers drop soon.

In certain hospitals, like that of Mostoles near Madrid, the number of patients is so great that the nursing staff must select the people who will be admitted to intensive care. Priority is given to younger patients who have the least history.

► Read also: Coronavirus: in Spain, the amazement faced with the number of dead

London hospitals face patient tsunami

Public hospitals in London are facing a " continuing tsunami " of the seriously ill accompanied by an " unprecedented " proportion of suffering staff, according to an official in the British public health system. Authorities have recorded 115 deaths in 24 hours. The total toll is now 578 deaths linked to the disease and 11,658 cases of contamination officially listed.

Switzerland, 5th most affected country in Europe

Switzerland has passed the milestone of 10,000 cases of the new coronavirus, said the government, which intends to detect crowds of people in public space using mobile phones. 161 people died from Covid-19 and more than 10,600 tested positive, according to the Federal Office of Public Health.

In Italy, contagion slows down

The increase in the number of cases in Italy, the hardest hit country in the world with more than 7,500 deaths, seems to be slowing, " but it is still too early to say that the pandemic has reached its peak in this country ", estimated Hans Kluge, the head of the Europe branch of the World Health Organization (WHO). But despite a slowdown in the spread of coronavirus for three days, the anxiety remains, the North fearing that the official figures underestimate the real balance sheet, and the South is frightened by an " explosion " of the pandemic.

Germany: 500,000 screening tests per week

Germany has increased the number of Covid-19 screenings to 500,000 per week, this early detection helping in part to keep the death toll relatively low, said Christian Drosten during a press conference, a virologist from the Charity Hospital in Berlin.

Germany, however strongly affected by the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus with currently officially 36,508 cases listed, on the other hand has only 198 deaths from the disease.

Romanian Minister of Health resigns

Implicated for his management of the coronavirus crisis, the Romanian Minister of Health Victor Costache, resigned Thursday as the epidemic progresses in the country and affects in particular a significant number of health professionals.

According to media reports, the latter himself demanded the departure of his minister when many doctors and nurses have raised a cry of alarm in recent days, criticizing the lack of protective equipment for those working on the front line.

Introduction of a non-working week and suspension of all international flights to Russia

This suspension measure takes effect this Thursday from 21:00 UT, with the exception of planes chartered to repatriate Russian citizens stranded abroad. On Saturday, the city of Moscow closes all non-essential restaurants and shops. The over 65s and those suffering from chronic diseases have been prohibited since Thursday from leaving their homes. Russian President Vladimir Putin has defended these drastic measures, arguing that they could allow the country to overcome the virus in less than three months.

Russia currently has 840 cases of coronavirus contamination and two deaths.

First death in Armenia

The Armenian Ministry of Health announced Thursday the death of a 72-year-old woman, the first death linked to the coronavirus epidemic in Armenia, where 290 confirmed cases have been recorded to date.

Iran bans travel between cities

In an attempt to stem the epidemic, Tehran banned from Thursday travel between Iranian cities. According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, Kianouche Jahanpour, the spread of the virus and the rate of infection " continue to increase " and to announce 157 additional deaths bringing the official toll to 2,234 deaths. Iran is among the countries hardest hit by the new coronavirus epidemic in the world.

► Also read: Coronavirus: Iran's veto on an MSF mission

Iraq: total curfew extended by two weeks. Collective prayers and prohibited gatherings

Baghdad announced on Thursday that it will extend the total curfew for another two weeks.

The country counts 29 dead and nearly 350 contaminated according to a last assessment which could be much lower than reality, Iraq having so far carried out only about 2000 tests on a population of 40 million inhabitants.

While a new Shiite pilgrimage is planned for April 8, the highest Shiite authorities have decided to ban collective prayers and rallies.

Ten thousand prisoners freed within ten days in Afghanistan

To prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, Kabul will release up to 10,000 prisoners within 10 days. According to a presidential decree the measure will concern "women, children, the seriously ill and detainees over 55 years of age".

In the United States, more than 1,000 dead and unemployment explodes

The United States, faced with a meteoric increase in the number of deaths, particularly in New York, is about to overtake Italy in the number of cases of new coronavirus. According to the Johns Hopkins University count, the United States had 1,046 deaths on Thursday morning and 69,210 cases recorded, the country should, at this rate, overtake Italy very quickly.

According to the Labor Department, 3.3 million people applied for unemployment benefits for the first time during the week of March 15-21, 3 million more than the previous week, unheard of.

The previous record dates back to October 1982, when the office registered 695,000 new requests.

China shuts down to foreigners and air traffic

Beijing has decided to " temporarily suspend the entry of foreigners currently in possession of visas and valid residence permits ," the foreign ministry said. The measure will take effect on Saturday at 00:00 local time. Diplomats and dignitaries are exempt from this measure.

The National Civil Aviation Office has announced a drastic reduction in international flights departing from or arriving due to the Covid-19. The measure, which takes effect this Sunday, March 29, will allow a Chinese company to make a single weekly flight from China to a third country. The same measure will be applied to foreign companies.

In Australia, an ocean liner is ordered to leave

A cruise ship aboard which several cases of coronavirus have been declared was ordered on Thursday to leave Australian waters, a few days after an increase in the number of local contaminations ashore following the authorized landing the last week passengers from another ship who were able to roam freely in Sydney.

The "Artania", on which seven of the approximately 800 passengers tested positive, was to continue its journey to South Africa but remains anchored near the Australian port of Fremantle. Its passengers, mostly Germans, are expected to leave Australia by Saturday to return to their country on a specially chartered plane, officials said.

EU seeks common response

European leaders are trying this Thursday during a videoconference to find a common answer to pull the economy out of the doldrums caused by the Covid-19 epidemic, but their efforts are hampered by their divisions.

G20: "united front" and 5,000 billion dollars

The leaders of the G20 member countries have affirmed their determination to form a united front against the coronavirus, speaking of " absolute priority " for which 4.550 billion euros will be injected in an attempt to stem the epidemic which raises the specter of 'a recession. After a 90-minute video conference, the heads of state and government of the world's 20 leading economies affirmed in a joint statement their determination to restore confidence, preserve financial stability and revive Economic Growth.

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