PARIS, July 24, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Here are the latest developments in
the coronavirus crisis:
– US Republican convention off –
US President Donald Trump announces he is scrapping next month’s
Republican convention in Florida which was expected to nominate him as
the party’s candidate against Democrat Joe Biden for the November 3
election.
“The timing for this event is not right,” he says, as the number of
coronavirus cases in the world’s worst-hit country tops four million,
with a surge, particularly in southern and western states, including
Florida.
– India in sixth place –
India’s death toll overtakes France with 30,601 fatalities to make
it the sixth-biggest behind the US, Brazil, Britain, Mexico and Italy,
according to an AFP tally. The world’s second most populous nation has
the third-highest caseload with almost 1.3 million infections.
– More than 633,000 dead –
The pandemic has killed more than 633,000 people worldwide since it
surfaced in China late last year, with more than 15.5 million people
infected, according to an AFP tally at 1100 GMT on Friday based on
official sources.
The United States has the most deaths with 144,305, followed by
Brazil with 84,082, Britain with 45,554, Mexico with 41,908 and Italy
with 35,092.
– WHO worried about Europe –
The World Health Organization expresses concern over the resurgence
of coronavirus cases on the European continent, saying countries
should impose tighter restrictions if necessary.
The number of infections in Europe crossed three million on
Thursday, a fifth of the world’s cases. It remains the hardest hit in
terms of deaths.
– Belgian toddler dies –
A three-year-old girl has become Belgium’s youngest known victim of
the coronavirus, as the country confronts a worrying growth in new
infections.
“It’s true that it’s rare that a young person dies of COVID-19, but
it’s clear that no-one is immune,” Health spokesman Boudewijn Catry
warns, after the number of new infections per week in Belgium jumped
by 89 percent.
– Bolivia postpones election –
Bolivia postpones its general elections for a second time because
of the pandemic, putting it off until October 18.
The latest postponement comes just two weeks after interim
president Jeanine Anet tested positive for the COVID-19. Four cabinet
members have also contracted the virus.
– South African schools closed again –
South Africa’s public schools will close again for a month from
July 27 to limit the spread of coronavirus as the country grapples
with surging infections, President Cyril Theraphosa says.
– Hydroxychloroquine ineffective: study –
A Brazilian study published in the New England Journal of Medicine
says that the drug hydroxychloroquine “does not improve” the condition
of patients with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19, the latest blow
to President Jair Bolsonaro’s push for its widespread use.
– Disney in new box-office blow –
Disney announces that the pandemic has forced it to indefinitely
postpone the release of big-budget film “Mulan,” while pushing back
upcoming instalments of “Star Wars” and “Avatar” by a year, in another
blow to the box offices.
– Chinese tennis cancelled –
The men’s and women’s professional tennis circuits cancel all this
year’s events in China over the coronavirus, including the Shanghai
Masters and the WTA’s season-ending Tour Finals.