Coronavirus: the state of the world facing the pandemic Saturday, May 9

Text by: RFI Follow

As the world passes the symbolic mark of 4 million contaminations, many countries are preparing or continuing their deconfinement with the fear of a second wave of the epidemic which has now killed 276,000 people.

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In France, the figures for contaminations (22,614), serious cases in intensive care (2,812) and daily deaths (80) continue to drop. As the country prepares for Monday's deconfinement, the authorities renew the calls for "vigilance" in the south-west of the country, after the appearance of two epidemic centers, one after a funeral and another in a college after a back-to-school meeting. Worried about seeing public transport submerged, the government encourages French people who can, to stay at home. The Ministry of Labor publishes on its site a guide to telework for deconfinement, in the form of questions and answers, for employers and employees.

The Secours populaire français is launching a national operation with the Rungis Market to enable precarious people to have access to fresh and quality products.

Europe wants to emerge stronger from the crisis

The 27 heads of state and government advocate solidarity to emerge “stronger” from the coronavirus crisis, in a video published on Twitter on the occasion of Europe Day. “  Dare to reinvent, unite, think and act for the future. It is this European spirit that we still need today,  ”says Emmanuel Macron. Continent most affected with more than 153,000 dead, European countries, in dispersed order, prepare or continue the deconfinement. The World Health Organization (WHO) however calls for the greatest caution, pointing to the risk of a second epidemic wave.

In Germany, where containment is already well underway, the football championship is about to resume and restaurants are reopening their doors today in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, on the shore of the Baltic. Many voices are raised to lift restrictions as quickly as possible and to remove border controls.

In the United Kingdom, the newspaper The Times unveils the government's plan to introduce a mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers entering the country. Prime Minister Boris Johnson could announce the measure during a speech Sunday evening in which he will present a possible relaxation of the containment decreed on March 23. "  We can't risk a second spike,  " tweeted Mr. Johnson. He calls on his compatriots to "continue" their efforts. The United Kingdom announces 346 additional deaths bringing the total to 31 587 deaths. Since Friday, 3,896 more people have tested positive.

Half of Spain is preparing for a first progressive phase of deconfinement. The terraces of the bars and restaurants can reopen and accommodate tables of up to ten people. But cities like Madrid and Barcelona, ​​the most affected, or Valencia and Malaga, on the Mediterranean coast, remain excluded from the new regime. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez launches an appeal: "  I ask you to exercise the greatest precaution and prudence  " because "  the virus has not disappeared, it is still on the lookout  ". The number of deaths continues to decrease (179 over the past 24 hours). This is the lowest daily increase since May 4, announces the Spanish Ministry of Health. The death toll is now 26,478. The number of people infected has reached 223,578.

In Italy, the epidemic leaves 194 dead in 24 hours, against 243 the day before, which brings the total toll to 30,395 dead. The decrease also relates to the number of new cases of contaminations over a day, from 1,327 Friday to 1,083 Saturday, and bringing the total number of contaminations to 218,268.

In Switzerland, hundreds of people demonstrate in front of the Parliament in Bern to protest against the restrictions imposed by the authorities. Switzerland, which registers more than 1,500 deaths for 30,000 contaminations, however, is beginning to lighten the containment measures. Protesters say the restrictions violate their human rights and whistle the police on the scene. Meetings of more than five people are theoretically prohibited.

No cases in Slovakia, empty Red Square in Russia to commemorate May 9

Slovakia has no new cases of infection, the first since March 10. Central Europe has, according to official statistics, been far less affected than Western Europe by the epidemic. And Slovakia, a country of 5.5 million people, still seems to have been less affected than its neighbors. The latest count shows 1,455 cases and 26 deaths. The government allows stores to reopen, with the exception of galleries, hotels, museums and outdoor tourist sites.

Religious services and weddings, subject to a limited number of guests, can again take place. Schools remain closed, however, international travel is still not possible. Those returning from abroad must spend 14 days in quarantine in centers provided for this purpose.

Russia celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat without pomp. Red Square remains empty of military parade this Saturday. And it is a lonely President Vladimir Putin who lays a wreath in front of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He nevertheless celebrates an “invincible” Russia, during these commemorations where only aerial demonstrations are organized. Long spared, Russia registers some 10,000 new patients a day and must in turn strengthen its measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic, which now affects 200,000 people.

Positive tests at the White House

Spokesperson for US Vice President Mike Pence has tested positive. A second case this week at the White House while Donald Trump continues to attend official events without wearing a mask. Former President Obama believes that his successor's handling of the pandemic was a “chaotic disaster”.

In New York, 226 deaths are registered today, announces, to its daily press point, the governor Andrew Cuomo in spite of "  the best possible care in the hospital system of the city  ". The death of 3 young children could challenge the idea that young people are spared from severe forms of the disease. The city is carrying out a vast campaign of tests which reveals that 20% of the population has contracted the virus. Survey finds that "  the poorest are paying the highest price for this epidemic,  " says Andrew Cuomo.

China Recognizes Gaps In Health System

In China, a directive authorizes the reopening, under conditions, of all public places: shopping centers, restaurants, cinemas, sports facilities, tourist sites, libraries. Authorities admit that the Covid-19 has revealed "gaps" in its health care and infectious disease prevention system. These words come at a time when the United States criticizes Beijing for having concealed information and for having mismanaged the crisis. Beijing, for its part, said that it quickly shared with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other countries all the data at its disposal. More than 80,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus in China, and 4,633 have died from it, according to the latest official report.

In Singapore, the Ministry of Health reports 753 new cases, bringing the total to 22,460 in the city-state, one of the highest in Asia, in particular due to the large number of foreign workers living in crowded dorms. To stop the spread of the virus, Singapore authorities have taken drastic surveillance and contact tracing measures.

In Thailand, containment measures are working. The country registers this Saturday only four new cases of contamination and one death, bringing the total assessment of the epidemic to 3 004 cases and 56 deaths since the month of January.

This drop in the number of new daily cases leads the authorities to soften the semi-containment rules in force since the end of March.

Afghanistan shootout during food distribution

In Afghanistan, six people including two police officers were killed in Ghor province (center) following clashes during the distribution of food to a thousand families. The incident comes as the government is trying to limit the spread of the coronavirus, which has made it more difficult for people to access food. Very few people, however, can survive in isolation and without leaving their homes to work. According to Deputy Minister of Health Wahid Majroh, 4,333 cases of coronavirus, including 115 deaths, have so far been recorded in the country.

Authorities in Iran are reporting an increase in new cases in the southwest of the country and have announced 1,522 new infections throughout the country in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 106,220. at the same time, 48 people died and the national death toll reached 6,589 deaths. "  All the provinces show a progressive fall in the number of new infections (...) except that of Khouzestan (south-west) where the situation is still worrying  ", declared the spokesperson of the ministry for Health.

A dangerous "home" remedy

In India, an Indian pharmacist dies, and his boss is hospitalized, after drinking a decoction of their manufacture, which they hoped could cure Covid-19. The two men tested a mixture of nitric oxide and sodium nitrate on themselves. The formula was developed by researching the internet and purchasing the ingredients from a local market. Nearly 60,000 cases have been identified in India, where strict containment has been imposed in an attempt to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Pakistan is easing its restrictions by reopening its markets. Prime Minister Imran Khan recognizes that this initiative responds first to a social emergency. "  We are doing this because the people of our country are in a very difficult situation  ," he said. "  There will not be much to confine, after all, if the economy finds itself completely on the ground,  " writes the Pakistani daily Daily Times.

"Almost a blessing"

Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton feels "more refreshed than ever" with the postponement of the start of the season, which is "almost a blessing". The pilot explains, in a video that "  for an athlete in his best years, it is never a good thing to take a retreat for a year but a kind of sabbatical leave has been offered to us and I appreciate it  " . The forced rest period will soon end. The season should normally start on July 5 with the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, behind closed doors.

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

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