Coronavirus: the world faces the pandemic on Friday May 8

Text by: RFI Follow

Several international leaders want to recover the spirit of 1945 against the pandemic on this day of commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazism while the numbers continue to rise: 3.89 million cases and 271,000 deaths. 

Publicity

France records 243 deaths in 24 hours, or 26,230 in total. There are fewer serious cases in intensive care (2,868), a hundred fewer than yesterday. The pressure on resuscitation services continues to ease but 22,724 people are still hospitalized. The country lives its last cloistered weekend before a gradual deconfinement from Monday and celebrates May 8 in restricted format. In Paris, Emmanuel Macron chairs the ceremony on Place de l'Étoile, without an audience.

On this anniversary, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier urges the international community to learn from the end of the Second World War by moving towards "  more cooperation  "in the fight against the pandemic.

In a more national register, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also draws a parallel . "  On this anniversary, we are engaged in a new battle against the coronavirus that requires the same spirit of national effort that you incarnate it 75 years ago  " , writes Boris Johnson to veterans.

The Welsh government announces "  modest adjustments  " to containment two days before a speech by Boris Johnson on next steps in England . Welsh Prime Minister Mark Drakeford announces that the restrictions imposed in March will continue for another three weeks. But starting Monday, the Welsh will be able to go out and exercise more than once a day, without leaving their homes. Garden stores may reopen. The population is called upon to continue working from home. The epidemic left 626 more dead in 24 hours in the UK, where the death toll is now 31,241.

• Spain opens its beaches, Portugal welcomes its diaspora

In Spain , Barcelona is reopening its beaches, which have been closed since the start of containment in mid-March. But they are only accessible if you practice a sport and only between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. Subject to strict confinement since March 14, the 47 million Spaniards have enjoyed some relaxation since the end of April. Spain is one of the countries most affected by the pandemic. It has killed more than 26,000 people in the country. The gradual and prudent deconfinement, in four phases, should continue until the end of June.

► Read also: Coronavirus: in Spain, a deconfinement in pain

In Portugal , the government ensures that everything is done so that its diaspora can visit the country during the summer holidays, despite the restrictions. The country has started a phased deconfinement plan, which is to last throughout May, and the government plans to gradually restore air links. TAP Air Portugal has also resumed two flights to London and Paris this week. Portugal has more than 10 million inhabitants and some 2.2 million nationals living around the world. Relatively spared from the epidemic , the country has 1,114 deaths and just over 27,000 officially declared cases.

• Encouraging signs in Italy, angry hoteliers in Poland

Italy passes the 30,000 dead mark caused by the coronavirus, announced the Civil protection in its daily assessment. It is the second European country, after the United Kingdom on Tuesday, to exceed this symbolic threshold, even if the other figures - increase in the number of deaths, total number of sick or number of people in intensive care, are encouraging."  The curve is falling, it continues and it is a positive development,  " said the president of the Higher Institute of Health, Silvio Brusaferro.

In Poland , a hundred hoteliers and employees of travel agencies, demonstrate in Swinoujscie, near the border with Germany, to demand the opening to foreign tourists. The hotels can reopen in Poland from next Monday. However, visitors will still be subject to a two-week quarantine on arrival.

• Multiplication of tests in Russia

The Russian records for the 6th consecutive day over 10,000 infections, of which more than half in the capital Moscow, where the confinement has been extended to May 31 The country now counts 187,859 cases, but the number of deaths remains low with 1,723 deaths. The surge in the number of cases since a week is explained, the authorities assure, by the multiplication of the tests carried out (5 million) and not by an acceleration of the propagation. The objective of this screening policy is to track down asymptomatic or mild cases, then put them in quarantine to stop the spread. This approach also partly explains the low mortality rate in relation to the number of cases, say the authorities.

Authorities in Belarus confirm that the next presidential election will be held on August 9, despite the risks associated with the virus that President Alexander Lukashenko continues to minimize.

• Record unemployment in North America

The US economy has had its highest unemployment rate in 50 years.  20.5 million jobs were destroyed in April. President Trump, who advocates resumption of activity, does not seem worried and says that next year will be exceptional economically. Wall Street opens higher despite this record destruction of jobs. 64% of Americans are worried that the price of deconfinement is too heavy to pay in terms of human lives, according to a poll published this Friday. The concern is most evident among Democratic voters (92%), ethnic minorities (84%) and women (72%).

The Covid-19 has killed more than 75,000 people in the United States, and affected 1.2 million people, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University, which references.

The Canada records, too, an unemployment rate of 13%. Since the start of the crisis, the Canadian economy has lost more than three million jobs.

The governor of the state of São Paulo, the most affected by the coronavirus in Brazil , announces the extension of the confinement until May 31, despite pressure from President Jair Bolsonaro who is in favor of a return to work for the Brazilians.

► Read also: Coronavirus: Brazil on the brink of "economic collapse" according to the minister

• In Australia deconfinement in three phases

The Australian government unveils a three-stage deconfinement plan by the end of July. The first stadium will allow groups of maximum 10 people to meet in cafes and restaurants, for events such as weddings, and outdoor sports will be allowed. The second stage will extend the authorization to groups of 20 people. Cinemas and shops may reopen and certain domestic trips will be allowed. In the final stage of deconfinement, gatherings will be allowed for up to 100 people, and most domestic travel will be allowed. Australia was one of the most successful countries in containing the Covid-19 epidemic, with only 7,000 cases and 100 deaths reported for 25 million people.

• China opens wide

The China gives green light to the reopening of cinemas, sports facilities, theaters and entertainment venues means of precautions.

Cultural places can now again host “  conferences and exhibitions  ”, but the number of visitors will have to be limited. The directive also recommends the total reopening of all hotels, restaurants, department stores and supermarkets that were still closed. All these places must require visitors to wear a mask and respect for distances. The virus has practically disappeared, according to official figures. No deaths from the virus have been reported in the country since mid-April.

China supports the creation of a commission under the aegis of the World Health Organization (WHO) to assess "  the global response  " to Covid-19, but only "  after the epidemic has ended  ".

Hong Kong is beginning to relax restrictions, including allowing bars, gyms, beauty salons and a cinema to reopen. The territory records a clear drop in the circulation of the disease.

• Repatriation of Indians trapped abroad

The Thailand announces eight new cases, but no additional deaths, bringing the total balance sheet of the epidemic in the country with 3000 cases and 55 deaths since January. The drop in the number of new daily cases has led the authorities to soften the semi-containment rules in force since the end of March, in particular by authorizing certain businesses to reopen their doors under strict sanitary conditions and while respecting physical distancing.

Hundreds of Pakistani nationals repatriated from the Middle East, where many have lost their jobs and live in precarious conditions, have tested positive upon return, authorities say.

More than 700 Indians are evacuated from the Maldives by an Indian navy ship, as part of an operation to repatriate stranded Indian nationals around the world. Indian authorities had imposed containment since late March and suspended international air traffic on their territory, leaving hundreds of thousands of immigrant workers and students trapped abroad.

• Confined at sea

Tens of thousands of cruise ship crew members are trapped in the open sea after being able to disembark their passengers. A total of 104 cruise ships are currently in U.S. waters, with 71,900 crew members on board, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Shipping companies are accused of making no effort to repatriate their staff because of the expensive cost of charter flights, which they deny. Royal Caribbean President Michael Bayley says, “  Our crews come from over 60 countries. Each country has its own separate standards and regulations on who is allowed to return home, how and when .  ”

• In Iran, the return of collective prayers

Iranians are called upon to respect measures of social distancing "  more seriously  " , by the authorities which announce more than 1,500 new cases of infection in the country. Iran has 55 additional deaths in 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 6,541. At the same time, an additional 1,556 people tested positive, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 104,691. In order to stem the spread, Iran has taken various restrictive measures, without imposing containment or quarantine . The faithful are allowed to return to attend Friday prayers for the first time in more than two months in several provinces, but the capital Tehran remains subject to restrictions.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi ratifies a series of amendments to the state of emergency law which expands his powers. This measure, taken in the middle of a pandemic, was denounced by NGOs. Human Rights Watch Calls Them "  Cover  "for the establishment of "  new repressive powers  " .

• UN alerts

The Palestinian Refugee Agency (Unrwa) is claiming new emergency aid of nearly $ 100 million to "  respond to the socio-economic consequences of the disease  ". Unrwa has been fighting since 2018 to compensate for a cut in funding from the United States, which had hitherto been the agency's main donor. It is in charge of running schools and providing medical aid to five million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet accuses belligerents in Syria , including the Islamic State (IS) group, of taking advantage of the pandemic to carry out attacks against the civilian population. She says she is "  deeply concerned  " by reports that countries are refusing to assist migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean.

The Secretary General, Antonio Guterres denounces him, “  an avalanche of hatred and xenophobia  ”, on the occasion of the pandemic. He calls for "  resolute action  " to end it.

• Table tennis, the new Eldorado for bettors.

Due to the lack of horse races, soccer championships and tennis tournaments, table tennis has found a new audience, with tournaments still taking place, especially in Russia.

An American company DraftKings has "  produced a tutorial to explain how table tennis works, because many tennis bettors have referred to it,  " says Jamie Shea, its director. The resumption of certain football championships should also put an end to this temporary craze.

Because the South Korean Championship benefits from an unprecedented international exposure this Friday. The world of football has followed with interest the launch of the new K-League season.

The Board, guarantor of the laws of football, authorizes the passage from three to five replacements per match to spare the players and to limit the risk of injury after two months of complete cessation of competition.

Our selection on the coronavirus

• Listen to our daily chronicle  Coronavirus info

• The practical questions  :
→  What is known about the mode of contagion
→  disparities and inequalities in coronaviruses: what to remember
→  What outcomes for clinical trials?
→  A vaccine, the only solution to stem the pandemic?
→  How to make a mask and use it well

• Our series  : "  The response, country by country  "

• 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

Newsletter With the Daily Newsletter, find the headlines directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• Coronavirus
• Coronavirus: the state of the world facing the pandemic
• Confinement

On the same subject

It's not wind

Coronavirus: the crisis reveals the limits of globalized agriculture

Coronavirus: complicated containment at sea for cruise ship crews

Coronavirus: in Italy, controversy in a hard-hit retirement home