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HEALTH-VIRUS-WORLD FACTS
Coronavirus: latest global developments
PARIS, April 27, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Here are the latest developments in the
coronavirus crisis:
– More than 206,000 dead worldwide –
A total of 206,567 people have died worldwide since the epidemic surfaced
in China in December, according to an AFP tally at 1100 GMT on Monday based
on official sources.
More than 2.9 million cases have now been reported in 193 countries or
territories.
The United States has the most deaths of any country with 54,877
fatalities.
Italy is the second hardest-hit country, with 26,644 dead. Spain follows
with 23,521, then France with 22,856 and the United Kingdom with 20,732.
Britain does not count people who died in care homes.
– British PM back to work –
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson makes his first public appearance
since being hospitalised with coronavirus three weeks ago. He says Britain is
beginning to “turn the tide” on the outbreak but rejects growing calls to
ease a nationwide lockdown.
Britain’s confinement of its population, in place since March 23, is set
to last until at least May 7.
– Back to school in Norway –
Norway, which says it has the epidemic under control, reopens primary
schools to pupils aged six to 10, in another step toward a gradual
normalisation.
– Spain: children out to play –
Children in Spain, under strict lockdown for six weeks, can since Sunday
walk, run or play outside for up to an hour a day, accompanied by a parent,
in an area no further than a kilometre (0.6 miles) from their homes.
Spain’s March 14 lockdown is set to remain in place until at least May 9,
with the government expected to reveal on Tuesday its plan for easing it.
– Aid –
Egypt says it is seeking an aid package from the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) to offset the economic impact of the pandemic.
South Africa is also seeking coronavirus relief aid from the IMF and the
World Bank where it is eligible for up to $4.2 billion (3.9 billion euros).
– Tracing –
Australia launches a smartphone app to trace people who come in contact
with coronavirus patients. The COVIDSafe app, which has raised privacy
concerns, uses a phone’s Bluetooth wireless signal to store information about
people’s interactions, and can be accessed by health officials if a person
contracts the virus.
France’s privacy watchdog CNIL gives a conditional green light to a
government-backed scheme to monitor people infected with coronavirus after
confinement is lifted on May 11, subject to civil liberty guarantees and
regular oversight.
– Bayer surges, Adidas plummets –
German chemicals and pharmaceuticals giant Bayer reports first quarter net
profits added 20 percent year-on-year to reach 1.5 billion euros, due to a
“substantial increase in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic”.
However, German sportswear maker Adidas reports first-quarter profits
slashed 95 percent, blaming the collapse in sales inflicted by the pandemic,
during which 70 percent of its shops have closed around the world.
BSS/AFP/MRU/1918hrs