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HEALTH-VIRUS-WORLD FACTS
Coronavirus: latest global developments
PARIS, April 3, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
– More than one million cases –
At least 1,035,386 cases of infection, including 53,693 deaths have been reported in 188 countries and territories around the world since the epidemic started in December, according to an AFP tally compiled around 1100 GMT Friday based on official sources. Italy has the highest official death toll with 13,915 fatalities. Spain follows with 10,935, the US with 6,058 and France 5,387.
Half of the confirmed infections are in Europe, a quarter in the United States and the remaining quarter in the rest of the world.
– Massive London field hospital –
A new temporary hospital is opened in a conference centre in east London, named after the trailblazing 19th-century nurse Florence Nightingale and has been built in just nine days. It has an initial capacity of 500 beds, which could go up to 4,000.
– $4 trillion cost –
The pandemic could cost the global economy $4.1 trillion as it ravages United States, Europe and other major economies, the Asian Development Bank warns.
The estimated impact is equivalent to 4.8 percent of worldwide output based on a range of scenarios, but the lender says losses from “the worst pandemic in a century” could be higher.
– Confinement for half of humanity –
More than 3.9 billion people — half of the world’s population — have been called on or obliged by their authorities to stay at home in more than 90 countries or territories, according to an AFP database.
Thailand becomes the latest nation to join the group on Friday introducing a six-hour night curfew.
– Merkel out of quarantine –
German Chancellor Angela Merkel comes out of two weeks quarantine, leaving her Berlin home and returning to her office after she was forced into quarantine following contact with a COVID-19-infected doctor. She has since tested negative three times.
– Johnson remains… –
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he will continue his self-isolation, following a week of staying at home and working remotely since testing positive last Friday. He says he still has one of the minor symptoms.
– Google to help locate people –
Google says it will publish users’ location data around the world to allow governments to gauge the effectiveness of social distancing measures.
– Ramadan soaps under threat –
Ramadan television soaps are struggling to keep the cameras rolling just weeks before the Islamic holy month, when they are highly popular during the fasting period.
Many countries in the Middle East have imposed tough restrictions, forcing studios to shut down temporarily and others to work under strict rules.
– Indians to dispel ‘darkness’ –
Minister Narendra Modi calls on confined Indians to hold candles and mobile phones aloft for nine minutes on Sunday to dispel the “darkness and uncertainty” of the coronavirus crisis.
– Corona beer falls victim –
Mexican brewer of Corona beer says it is suspending production because of the health emergency.
BSS/AFP/MRU/2025hrs