PARIS, June 15, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Here are the latest developments
in the coronavirus crisis.
– European borders reopen –
After three months of isolation, more countries reopen their borders
to fellow Europeans on Monday, including Belgium, France, Germany and
Greece.
– Paris gets back to normal –
Paris, Europe’s most visited city, starts getting back to normal,
with cafes and restaurants finally allowed to reopen their dining
rooms, and the Eiffel Tower again open to visitors.
The sooner-than-expected reopening for the Paris region was
announced by President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, followed by news of
France’s lowest daily toll since March.
– Shops reopen in England –
Various stores and outdoor attractions in England are allowed to
open for the first time in nearly three months, including thousands of
non-essential retailers such as bookstores and electronics outlets.
– Beijing fights new cluster –
As the cluster of infections in Beijing grows to 79, stoking fears
of a second wave, the capital closes all indoor sports and
entertainment venues and places a total of 21 neighbourhoods under
complete lockdown.
– More than 430,000 deaths –
The pandemic has killed at least 433,493 people worldwide since it
surfaced in China late last year, according to an AFP tally at 1100
GMT on Monday, based on official sources.
The United States has the most deaths, with 115,732, followed by
Brazil with 43,332, Britain with 41,698, Italy with 34,345 and France
with 29,407 fatalities.
– India’s Chenai locked down again –
A lockdown will be reimposed Friday until the end of June on some 15
million people in the Indian city of Chennai and several neighbouring
districts as coronavirus cases surge in the region.
– Iran on alert –
Iran warns it may have to reimpose tough measures against the novel
coronavirus to ensure social distancing, as it reports more than 100
deaths for a second straight day.
– Stocks tumble again –
Stock markets tumble again, extending last week’s losses, on fears
of a second wave that could derail economic recovery.
In Asia Tokyo falls 3.5 percent and Seoul sinks 4.8 percent, while
European stock markets dip less than one percent in midday deals.
– BP takes multi-billion hit –
British energy giant BP says that it will take a hit of between
$13-17.5 billion in the second quarter on “sustained” coronavirus
fallout.