ZCZC
BFF-09
HEALTH-VIRUS
US declares emergency as new virus epicentre Europe locks down
WASHINGTON, March 14, 2020 (AFP) – US President Donald Trump declared a
national state of emergency as the World Health Organization named Europe the
new epicenter of the coronavirus Friday, with countries sealing borders,
shutting schools and canceling events in a frenzied attempt to slow the
ballooning pandemic.
Wall Street stocks rallied as financial markets endured a rollercoaster
ride after a week of spectacular losses triggered by fears that the deadly
outbreak will lead to a worldwide economic recession.
“To unleash the full power of the federal government, I’m officially
declaring a national emergency,” Trump said, announcing $50 billion in
federal funds to battle the fast-spreading pandemic.
The measure came as infections and deaths soared in Europe, with WHO chief
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus saying the continent now had “more reported cases
and deaths than the rest of the world combined, apart from China.”
He described it as a “tragic milestone”, and warned that it was impossible
to say when the virus would peak globally.
The overall death toll jumped to more than 5,000 across the world,
including nearly 1,500 in Europe, with total infections topping 140,000
internationally, according to an AFP tally based on official sources.
Italy, Spain as well as Iran — which have emerged as virus hotspots — all
clocked a dramatic rise in cases and fatalities in the past 24 hours, while
infections were reported in Kenya and Ethiopia, the first in east Africa.
Governments have been pushing through tough restrictions to contain the
spread of the disease and unveiling big-bang emergency funding plans to try
to limit the economic damage.
Trump said the US would buy large quantities of crude oil for strategic
reserves and waived student loan interest during the coronavirus crisis,
stressing that the “next eight weeks were critical.”
Leaders of the G7, the world’s richest economies, will hold an
extraordinary summit via videoconference on Monday to discuss the pandemic.
The virus has torn up the sporting and cultural calendar, with top-flight
events from Broadway to English Premier League football scrapped.
The outbreak reached new heights with several public figures from Hollywood
actors to politicians and even the Canadian first lady catching the
infection.
– ‘Worst in a century’ –
COVID-19, which first emerged in China in December, has spread relentlessly
around the world even as cases in Asia have levelled out in recent days.
South Korea, once grappling with the largest outbreak outside China, saw
newly recovered patients exceed fresh infections for the first time and the
lowest number of new cases for three weeks.
China this week claimed “the peak” of the pandemic had passed its shores
although it still has the biggest overall number of deaths and infections.
Italy, the hardest-hit country in Europe, recorded its highest one-day toll
with 250 deaths over the past 24 hours, while Spain declared a state of alert
after its infections raced past 3,000.
A raft of European countries shut their borders to foreigners, closed non-
essential businesses, restaurants and hotels and museums, and banned public
gatherings.
France, the world’s most visited country, closed the Eiffel Tower and the
Louvre over what President Emmanuel Macron called “the worst health crisis in
France in a century.”
The new measures came after Trump this week banned all travelers from
mainland Europe for 30 days, prompting a swift rebuke from Brussels which is
scrambling to shore up the EU economy.
“We are here for 10 days but haven’t bought our ticket back so the return
is really a question mark,” said snowboarder Janne Gartman, 31, arriving from
Copenhagen on one of the last flights into Los Angeles.
US schools are closing across the country and an increasing number of
Americans are staying home, while Louisiana became the first state to
postpone its Democratic presidential primary and airlines announced further
steps to ground planes.
Asian stocks tumbled in volatile business following the worst day on Wall
Street since the crash of 1987 as traders scrambled to sell, wiping trillions
off market valuations. The Dow closed up 9.3 percent following Trump’s
emergency measures.
– Trudeau in quarantine –
The virus is weighing heavily on daily life. Shops, squares and cafes
normally packed with people are deserted in Italy, which has imposed
nationwide lockdown measures never-before-seen in peacetime.
The illness is sparing no-one. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
announced he was in self-imposed quarantine after his wife tested positive,
the day after Hollywood star Tom Hanks said he and his wife were infected.
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro said Friday he had tested negative after
a top aide was confirmed infected.
Australia’s home minister Peter Dutton announced he had tested positive,
while the Philippines leader awaits test results.
The virus has cut a swathe through sporting events and put a major question
mark over the Tokyo Olympics, with Trump saying “maybe they postpone it for a
year”, sparking furious denials from Japan.
In Britain, where the government’s softly-softly strategy has raised some
eyebrows, Queen Elizabeth II has put off engagements, and local elections
planned for May have been cancelled.
With authorities around the world warning large gatherings should be
avoided, entertainment venues like Disneyland have been closed and the
lucrative Indian Premier League cricket competition postponed.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0957 hrs