NEW YORK, Nov 14, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – New York raced to cut off a second wave
of coronavirus infections and a top WHO expert warned growing public distrust
risked rendering even the most effective treatments useless against the
pandemic.
Bars and clubs in the Big Apple, the epicenter of the US’s spring
outbreak, were ordered to close at 10pm on Friday and the state governor
warned schools could move to online only teaching as early as Monday.
Infections are surging throughout America and Europe, with governments
forced to take more drastic action despite fears about the devastation
inflicted on their economies.
The disease has claimed almost 1.3 million lives worldwide and infected
close to 53 million since it first emerged in China in December.
Even with a vaccine expected to receive approval soon, the head of the
WHO’s immunisation department warned that misinformation and mistrust
colouring people’s acceptance of scientific advances could hamper its
effectiveness.
“We are not going to be successful as a world in controlling the pandemic
with the use of vaccines as one of the tools unless people are willing to get
vaccinated,” Kate O’Brien told AFP.
Lebanon entered a new two-week lockdown on Saturday after reported
infections crossed the 100,000 mark, with hospitals in the crises-wracked
country almost at capacity.
Virus restrictions forced Hong Kong’s traditionally boisterous and
colourful annual gay pride parade online Saturday.
Across India meanwhile, millions ignored social distancing advice and
gathered to pray at temples or go shopping for the Diwali, the festival of
light.
– ‘No lockdown’: Trump –
In his first public address since being declared the loser of the November
3 election, Donald Trump on Friday touted medical breakthroughs that happened
under his watch but said he remained firmly against new lockdowns.
He predicted a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, which
the companies have said is 90 percent effective in trials so far, would
receive emergency approval “extremely soon.”
The United States, the country hardest hit by COVID-19, meanwhile saw
188,858 more cases and 1,596 more deaths Friday, according to a tally from
Johns Hopkins University.
“Thanksgiving will undoubtedly lead to a massive new explosion of cases if
people don’t take it seriously,” said Michael Mina, a Harvard epidemiologist.
But Trump, who has long opposed measures that stall the economy, said his
position remained unchanged.
New antivirus measures came into force in Ukraine Saturday, with all non-
essential businesses ordered to stay closed for the weekend.
Officials in Kiev pulled back from a nationwide lockdown, admitting the
country’s already-battered economy could not stand it.
Even the partial restrictions have sparked protests in Kiev, as
populations across the world grow ever wearier of restrictions on daily life.
In an Ifop survey in France 60 percent of respondents admitted to flouting
the country’s latest lockdown rules at least once by making up a false excuse
to go out or meeting up with family and friends.