Paris (AFP)

New assessments, new measures, highlights: an update on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic.

- Retraction of 3 authors of the Lancet study -

Three of the four authors of a controversial study published in the Lancet on the use of hydroxychloroquine against Covid-19 asked for the withdrawal of the article, announced the medical review.

They question the refusal of the fourth, author, boss of the company who collected the data, to give access to it.

The study concluded that hydroxychloroquine is not beneficial to hospitalized Covid-19 patients and may even be harmful.

- Brazil in 3rd place -

Brazil on Thursday became the third country in the world deploring the most deaths linked to the new coronavirus, surpassing 34,000 deaths, ahead of Italy, after a new record of deaths recorded in 24 hours.

The United States has recorded more than 108,000 deaths (including 1,021 in the past 24 hours). Then come the United Kingdom with 39,904 dead, Brazil with 34,021 dead, Italy with 33,689 dead and France with 29,065 dead.

- The ECB is going out of its way -

The European Central Bank has strengthened its impressive support system for the economy in the euro zone. Its emergency program, endowed in mid-March with 750 billion euros, was inflated by an additional 600 billion euros and extended "at least until the end of June 2021".

The monetary institute forecasts a deep recession this year (-8.7%).

- Border reopening -

Apart from Italy, Austria has lifted all restrictions on land entry and exit from its territory, but neighboring countries have not done the same. Many European countries will reopen their borders entirely on June 15.

Spain has announced the reopening of its land borders with France and Portugal from June 22.

- A vaccine accessible to all -

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said future Covid-19 vaccine should be seen as a "global public good" accessible to all, at a virtual summit of more than 50 countries and more than 35 heads of state and government.

- Increased risk in case of hypertension -

Patients with high blood pressure admitted to hospital for Covid-19 are twice as likely to die than those who do not have this condition, according to a study published in the medical journal European Heart Journal on Friday.

- Casino open in Las Vegas -

Las Vegas reopened the doors of its famous casinos on Thursday after eleven weeks of closure imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, which has severely affected a city largely dependent on the tourism industry.

- France: no parade on July 14 -

Epidemic forces, the traditional parade on the Champs-Elysées avenue in Paris for the national holiday of July 14, will not take place, a first since the end of the Second World War. A limited ceremony will pay tribute to the soldiers and carers mobilized during the crisis.

Commemorations for the 76th anniversary of the Landing and the Battle of Normandy in western France will take place on June 6, but without audience.

- Basketball: NBA recovery plan -

NBA franchises have voted to resume the season from July 31 with closed games at Disney World in Florida, several media reports.

The European Artistic Gymnastics Championships were rescheduled in December in Baku (Azerbaijan).

- Amazon sued -

Three employees of an Amazon warehouse in New York have sued the American giant for not having taken the necessary measures to protect its employees from the new coronavirus, in particular by imposing excessively high rates.

burs-dth / am

© 2020 AFP