Coronavirus: latest global developments

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PARIS, Aug 28, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Here are the latest developments in
the coronavirus crisis:

– Trump pledges to ‘crush’ coronavirus –

US President Donald Trump pledges to “crush” the coronavirus
pandemic with a vaccine by the end of the year, as he accepts the
Republican nomination for a second term.

He speaks as the United States, the world’s worst-hit country,
passes the milestone of 180,000 coronavirus deaths, according to Johns
Hopkins University’s real-time tracker.

– Merkel points to autumn challenge –

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says coping with the coronavirus
will become more challenging in the coming autumn and winter months,
in her annual summer press conference.

Germany has fared relatively well in its battle to contain the
virus so far but like many other European countries has seen a new
surge in cases in recent weeks.

– Paris wakes up to masks –

Outdoor mask-wearing becomes compulsory in Paris and near suburbs
at 08:00 am on Friday as the government moves to stay a trend of
mounting coronavirus infections. Non-compliance is punishable with a
fine 135 euros ($160).

However, authorities make a last-minute about-turn, exempting
cyclists and joggers from the otherwise blanket outdoors obligation.

– More than 832,000 dead –

The pandemic has killed at least 832,336 people worldwide since
surfacing in China late last year, according to a tally from official
sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT on Friday.

More than 24.5 million cases have been registered.

The United States has recorded the highest number of deaths with
180,857, followed by Brazil with 118,649, Mexico with 62,594, India
with 61,529 and Britain with 41,477 fatalities.

– South Korea tightens measures in capital –

South Korea decides to tighten coronavirus curbs further in the
greater Seoul area as it seeks to contain growing clusters in the
region.

The country largely overcame an early coronavirus outbreak with
extensive tracing and testing, but is now battling several outbreaks
mostly linked to Protestant churches, most recently in the greater
Seoul region.

– China arrests 5,800 for coronavirus crimes –

Around 5,800 people suspected of killing health workers, selling
defective medical equipment and lying about their travel history have
been arrested in China for epidemic-related crimes since January, the
state prosecutor’s office says.

One case involves a shopper who beat another customer to death for
not wearing a mask in a supermarket, while another includes a person
who deliberately mowed down medical workers with a car.

– New York’s MOMA reopens, with few visitors –

New York’s Museum of Modern Art reopens following a nearly
six-month shutdown due to the pandemic, with only a few art lovers
reserved a time slot. MOMA is the first major museum in the Big Apple
to reopen to the public since the US cultural capital was hard-hit by
the virus.