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BFF-22
HEALTH-VIRUS-WORLD
Coronavirus: Latest global developments
PARIS, Dec 1, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Here are the latest developments in the
coronavirus crisis:
– Pfizer seeks EU approval –
Germany’s BioNTech and US partner Pfizer apply for EU regulatory approval
for their vaccine, with the bloc saying its health agency will meet by
December 29 to consider the application.
– Recovery in 2021? –
The OECD says thanks to vaccines now potentially only weeks away from
distribution, the global economy may get back to pre-pandemic levels by the
end of next year.
– MP revolt –
As British MPs prepare to vote on replacing an England-wide lockdown set
to expire at midnight, conservatives complain new rules risk isolated
hotspots putting entire counties under the strictest measures, even if their
infection rates remain below the national average.
– UK retail fallout –
British department store Debenhams, which currently employs around 12,000
people, is set to close for business as Topshop owner Arcadia enters
administration putting at risk a further 13,000 jobs. Both retailers cite
lockdown fallout among other difficulties.
– Aid ‘alarm bells’ –
The UN says $35 billion will be needed for aid in 2021, as the pandemic
leaves tens of millions more in crisis with extreme poverty set to rise, life
expectancy to fall and the annual toll from HIV, tuberculosis and malaria
potentially doubling for the first time since the 1990s.
– Canada deficit –
Canada’s budget deficit is projected to balloon to a record Can$382
billion (US$284 billion)– almost 20 times higher than the shortfall in the
last pre-pandemic budget in March 2019 — as government spending skyrockets
to combat the spread of the virus.
– Viral hug –
US doctor Joseph Varon’s embrace of a crying elderly man who “just wanted
to be with his wife” on Thanksgiving Day goes viral around the world. The
photo was captured by a Getty photographer on the doctor’s 252nd consecutive
day at work.
– Ireland leaves lockdown –
Ireland ends a second partial lockdown with non-essential shops,
hairdressers and gyms unlocking their doors after six weeks of tough
restrictions.
– Trump virus advisor resigns –
Donald Trump coronavirus advisor Scott Atlas — who tweeted against masks
and lockdown measures — resigns.
– Racer positive –
Racer Lewis Hamilton, who this season broke the record for the most
Formula 1 wins, tests positive and will isolate, missing this weekend’s
Sakhir Grand Prix.
– Cases top 63 million –
The virus has so far killed at least 1,468,873 people since the outbreak
emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources
compiled by AFP on Tuesday 1100 GMT.
More than 63,227,478 cases of coronavirus have been registered.
The US is the worst-affected country with 268,103 deaths, followed by
Brazil with 173,120 deaths, India with 137,621 deaths and Mexico with 105,940
deaths.
– Prisoners freed –
Sri Lanka frees hundreds of prisoners and will release thousands more
after a riot sparked by cases at one of its many overcrowded jails left nine
inmates dead and 113 wounded. – “Travel bubble” burst –
Hong Kong and Singapore indefinitely delay plans to allow people to travel
between the two financial hubs as the former sees a sudden spike in cases.
– Pain, if not pleasure –
Berlin’s legendary KitKat fetish nightclub is set to reopen to the public
Friday, offering swabs deeply inserted into nostrils in its new role as a
Covid-19 rapid testing centre.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1910 hrs