Coronavirus: the state of the world facing the pandemic on Sunday, March 29

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The pandemic of the new coronavirus has killed at least 31,412 people worldwide since its appearance in December in China, according to a report established by AFP on Sunday. More than 667,090 cases of infection have been officially diagnosed in 183 countries and territories since the start of the epidemic. On Saturday, Uruguay, New Zealand and Mali announced the first virus-related deaths on their soil.

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• France : 5 million masks expected this Sunday

A plane from China, conveying 5.5 million medical masks, was expected at Roissy airport this Sunday, the day after the government announced a massive order for equipment against the Covid-19. However, concern is growing in the face of a probable shortage of drugs essential for resuscitation of patients. Meanwhile, the largest evacuation operation for patients infected with the new coronavirus in France was launched on Sunday to transfer 36 patients from the east of the country, particularly affected by Covid-19, to a region in the west.

The coronavirus made a first victim in the national political landscape with the death of former Minister Patrick Devedjian on the night of Saturday to Sunday. Aged 75, the former UMP minister was placed under observation Wednesday in a hospital in Hauts-de-Seine, department of which he was president of the General Council.

Patrick Devedjian was a fighter. He had courageously overcome many trials. The one who won was the most devious because the most invisible. I salute his memory and that of all the victims of this scourge. The struggle engaged calls for the greatest national unity.

Spain recorded 838 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, a new daily record after 832 the previous day, bringing the toll of the pandemic to 6,528 dead, according to figures released Sunday by the Ministry of Health. In addition, until April 9, at least, and from this Monday, Spain will be practically stationary on the economic level. Under a new decree-law of the government of Pedro Sanchez, which renews and accentuates the state of emergency decreed 15 days ago, the executive prohibits activities considered non-essential, according to our correspondent in Madrid , François Musseau.

In the United Kingdom, the British must prepare for a " long period " of containment, warned Sunday the right arm of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The government decreed a general containment of the population on Monday for at least three weeks, in an attempt to stop the spread of the epidemic which left 1,019 dead and contaminated 17,089 people in the United Kingdom. But the deputy head of health services, Jenny Harries, considered that it would be " dangerous " to suddenly remove this containment, even if it proves effective in slowing the progression of the disease, because it could lead to a resurgence of the virus. . The UK may not resume normal life for six months or more, she warned.

• Pope calls for global ceasefire

Pope Francis joined this Sunday in the appeal launched by the UN in favor of an immediate and global ceasefire in order to preserve, facing the coronavirus, the most vulnerable civilians in countries in conflict. " Dear brothers and sisters, the Secretary-General of the United Nations has launched these days an appeal for a global and immediate cease-fire all over the world because of the current crisis due to Covid-19, who knows no boundaries, ”said the pope after his Sunday prayer from the Angelus. " I associate myself with all those who have accepted this appeal and I invite everyone to follow it by ceasing all forms of hostility, by promoting the creation of corridors for humanitarian aid, openness to diplomacy and pay attention to those who are in a situation of great vulnerability, "added François, who spoke by video from the library of the apostolic palace and not from the balcony overlooking Saint Peter's Square

In Italy , the epidemic is timidly slowing down. For the third consecutive day, the country recorded a drop in positive cases (+5,217 this Sunday, or -5.6% over 24 hours). But the almost complete cessation of economic activity is starting to weigh heavily on many households. Saturday evening, the head of the Italian government announced new measures of more than 4 billion euros to help municipalities, and food stamps for the poorest Italians, informs our correspondent in Rome, Eric Sénanque . In addition, the players and the coach of the first team of Juventus Turin have agreed to give up 30% of their annual salary to compensate for the losses generated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Pope Francis alone celebrated Sunday Mass at the Vatican. Vatican Media / Handout via REUTERS

• Sale of alcohol prohibited in Greenland

The Greenlandic government announced on Saturday evening a ban on the sale of alcohol in its capital Nuuk and its region during the confinement linked to the epidemic of the new coronavirus to limit violence. “ In such a special situation, we must take many precautions to avoid infection. But the heart of my decision is to protect children, they must have a safe home , "said Greenlandic head of government Kim Kielsen in a statement. On the huge Arctic island, an autonomous territory in Denmark, almost one in three people were victims of sexual abuse during their childhood, a scourge mainly linked to the consumption of alcohol and drugs and the ignorance of human rights. 'child.

In Belgium , faced with the influx of patients suffering from coronavirus, requiring respiratory assistance, medical personnel in Brussels are now transforming diving masks to relieve the lungs of the sick. The idea was born in Italy, the country most bereaved by the pandemic, with more than 10,000 dead. Hospitals in other countries have followed the Italian example, each going with their little adaptation, as at the Erasme hospital, located in the outskirts of Brussels, the Belgian capital.

In Israel , Jewish and Arab doctors are working together, side by side, on the front line to fight the coronavirus epidemic and also silence the propagators of "hate". Near Tel Aviv, Sheba Hospital is ranked among the best in the world, and officials say it's because of the work that Arab and Jewish caregivers do, in a society marked by division.

• Saudi Arabia : Ryad Seizes Five Million Illegally Stored Masks

More than five million illegally stored protective masks have been seized in recent days by Saudi authorities, the country's official agency, the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic among Arab Gulf states, reported on Sunday ( 1,300 cases). This announcement comes after the seizure on Wednesday of more than four million medical masks stored in Jeddah (west), " in violation of commercial regulations ", according to the same source. The masks will be redistributed on the market and " legal measures have been taken against the offenders ".

In Iran , the epidemic has already killed 2,640 people, authorities said on Sunday, warning the population that it would probably have to prolong " a certain time " the " new way of life " adopted to counter the disease.

Singapore citizens are now facing jail time if they don't keep a distance of one meter between them in public spaces. A measure that arrives at a time when the nation-state, hailed from the start in its management of the coronavirus epidemic, still refuses to contain its population. But with an alarming increase in cases in the countries of the zone, Indonesia and Malaysia in particular, in recent weeks, the number of Singaporean cases has fatally increased. It is in this context that this new measure was implemented, informs our correspondent in Southeast Asia, Gabrielle Maréchaux . Singaporeans who do not comply with it now face up to six months in prison and a $ 7,000 fine.

In Oceania, Australia is stepping up measures to fight the epidemic. Prime Minister Scott Morisson announced this Sunday the ban on gatherings of more than two people, the closure of sports halls, and asked the population to limit their outings to the bare minimum, shopping, medical visits, assistance to the elderly. He also recommends that people over 70 should not leave their homes. To maintain access to social services, the government also announced an exceptional budget of one billion Australian dollars, or 552 million euros. It will support telemedicine, mental health but also the fight against domestic violence, which has been on the rise since the start of the coronavirus crisis.

Peruvian police on patrol in full containment in Lima. March 28, 2020. REUTERS / Sebastian Castaneda

• Expert evokes 100,000 to 200,000 deaths in the United States

An American infectious disease expert, Donald Trump's advisor on the coronavirus, spoke with caution on Sunday of a range of 100,000 to 200,000 potential deaths in the United States linked to Covid-19. " Depending on what we see today, I would say between 100,000 and 200,000 ," said Dr. Anthony Fauci on CNN of the possible number of deaths. He also mentioned " millions of possible cases ".

Further north, the Government of Canada is trying to help small and medium-sized businesses hit hard by the economic downturn imposed by the state. After having decided to take charge of 10% of the salaries of SMEs, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau changed his mind. In a few days, the government will cover three-quarters of salary-related expenses, explains our Quebec correspondent, Pascale Guéricolas .

In Peru, Peruvian soldiers and police who patrol to enforce the quarantine against the coronavirus will be exempt from criminal responsibility if they kill or injure by " self defense " in a " danger " situation, authorities announced on Saturday.

In Brazil , justice intervenes in the debate on the coronavirus: it has forbidden the government to broadcast a video which opposed the containment measures imposed during the pandemic. She also opposed a decree that allowed places of worship and lottery offices to reopen, which comes after Jair Bolsonaro invited people to return to work, against the advice of his own. Minister of Health, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, reports our correspondent in Sao Paulo, Martin Bernard . Brazil officially has 114 deaths and nearly 4,000 suspected cases.

In Uruguay , the state is tightening its belt to finance the fight against the coronavirus. While the country records 274 cases of Covid-19 contamination on its territory, the salary of the president, ministers and civil servants will be temporarily lowered, informs our correspondent in Asunción, Théo Conscience . The measure concerns all sectors of the Uruguayan public service with the exception of the health sector. In all, 15,000 civil servants earning more than 80,000 pesos a month, or about $ 1,900, will see their wages decrease by 5, 10, 15 or 20% over the next two months.

( With AFP)

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