Coronavirus: the state of the world facing the pandemic from August 24 to 30

Text by: RFI Follow

6 min

The pandemic surpassed the 25 million people infected on August 30. Highlights, new measures, new reports: an update on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.

Publicity

The pandemic has passed the 25 million mark, more than half of them in the United States, according to an AFP count.

The coronavirus has killed at least 843,149 people around the world since the end of December, according to a report established by AFP from official sources on Sunday at 11:00 UT.

The United States is the most affected country in terms of both deaths (182,785) and cases (5,961,884). After the United States, come Brazil (120,262 deaths for 3,846,153 cases), Mexico ( 63,819 deaths for 591,712 cases), India with 63,498 deaths (3,542,733 cases) and the United Kingdom with 41,498 deaths (332,752 cases).

Latin America and the Caribbean totaled 273,913 deaths for 7,223,526 cases on Sunday. Brazil has seemed stuck for three months in an endless plateau, with around 1,000 daily deaths on average.

Among the hardest-hit countries, Peru is the one with the highest number of deaths relative to its population, with 87 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Belgium (85), Spain (62), United Kingdom (61), and Italy (59).

► To read also : Coronavirus: Peru holds the record for the highest mortality in the world

The China (excluding Hong Kong and Macao territories) officially counted a total of 85,153 cases (131 new between Saturday and Sunday), with 4634 deaths and 80,153 cures.

The France has recorded 5413 additional cases of infection with novel coronavirus in 24 hours, said Sunday Public Health France (SPF), which is 40 less than the previous day. The toll of the epidemic in the country has increased by four deaths for a total of 30,606 deaths. The number of people hospitalized changes little, with five additional patients in 24 hours to 4,535, as well as that of serious cases treated in intensive care units, which increases from two to 402.

► To read also : Coronavirus in France: the obligation to wear a mask extends in large cities

India: record of contamination

India set a sad record on Sunday registering 78,761 new cases in the past 24 hours.

With 3.5 million people having been infected, India is the third country with the most cases of coronavirus, after the United States and Brazil. The disease killed 63,000 Indians.

The government of the most populous country on the planet (1.3 billion inhabitants) announced on Saturday a relaxation of the health rules in force since March to try to revive the economy. From September, cultural, political and sporting gatherings of up to 100 people will be allowed.

► Read also : Coronavirus: largest increase in daily cases in India since the start of the pandemic

"An attack on our democracy"

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Sunday denounced an "  unbearable attack on the heart of our democracy  " the day after an attempted intrusion into the Reichstag by anti-mask demonstrators in Berlin. Nearly 40,000 people demonstrated in the German capital on Saturday against restrictions linked to the coronavirus. Several hundred radicalized demonstrators tried to storm Parliament, narrowly contained by the police.

The president denounced “  extreme right-wing extremes  ” as well as the   German “ Reich flags ” in black, white and red colors brandished by demonstrators in memory of the Empire which disappeared in 1919 after the First World War.

►Also read: Reichstag incident: the German president denounces an "attack against the heart of our democracy"

An unprecedented Achoura in Iraq, coronavirus forces

In tears and wearing masks, thousands of Shiite pilgrims converged on the holy city of Kerbala in Iraq on Sunday to commemorate Ashura, a religious gathering among the most important in the Muslim world which is being held in the midst of the new coronavirus pandemic.

Usually, millions of devotees from all over the world converge on the Imam's golden-domed mausoleum in Kerbala, central Iraq, where they pray and cry side by side. But this year the celebrations are special due to the pandemic.

Only small groups of pilgrims are gathered on the esplanade in front of the main mosque, dressed in black as a sign of mourning, as is the tradition during Achoura, and wearing sanitary masks. Employees spray disinfectant and distribute masks. To access the mausoleum, pilgrims are subjected to temperature measurements.

►Also read: In Lebanon, the celebration of Ashura reduced to a ceremony broadcast on the networks

Messi absent at screening

Footballer Lionel Messi did not go to his club on Sunday to take a coronavirus test before training resumed on Monday. The Argentine striker is engaged in a standoff with FC Barcelona to obtain his transfer to the Manchester City club.

Our selection on the coronavirus

• Listen to our Coronavirus Info column 

• Our  explanations  :
→  What are the persistent symptoms of Covid-19?
→  Young people and Covid-19 : health authorities concerned
→  Immunity to Covid-19 would be short-lived
→  Promising results for the vaccine against the coronavirus

• How to make a mask and use it well

• See also the records of RFI Knowledge on Covid-19
→  Birth of a pandemic
→  Daily proof
→  The history of epidemics
→  Science facing Covid-19
→  The geopolitical consequences

Newsletter Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

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