ZCZC
BFF-34
HEALTH-VIRUS-WORLD
Coronavirus: latest global developments
PARIS, March 6, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – These are the latest developments in the
coronavirus crisis:
– Origin probe –
The international investigation into the Covid-19 pandemic’s origins in
China will publish its report in the week of March 15, the World Health
Organization’s chief has said.
– Stimulus plan –
US Democrats push ahead with President Joe Biden’s massive Covid-19 relief
package after reaching a compromise on unemployment benefits and setting the
$1.9 trillion stimulus bill on a path towards a final vote.
“This agreement allows us to move forward on the urgently needed American
Rescue Plan,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki says.
– DIY tests –
Germans flock to supermarket chain Aldi to snap up the first rapid
coronavirus tests to go on sale nationwide, with stocks selling out within
hours. Rival discounter Lidl sees its website crash after it started offering
at-home testing kits for sale online.
– Mega-attractions to open –
California’s state health department announces plans to allow ballparks,
stadiums and mega-attractions including Disneyland, Magic Mountain and
Universal Studios to admit visitors from April 1, depending on conditions in
their county and at reduced capacities.
Meanwhile eager New Yorkers head back to movie theatres a year after they
were closed due to the pandemic.
“I’m so excited to be back. I’m not working so I gotta have something to
do!” says Cindy B at the AMC Empire 25 off Times Square.
– Paraguay protests –
AFP estimates around 20 people are injured after police use tear gas and
rubber bullets on people demonstrating against the government’s handling of
the coronavirus crisis in Paraguayan capital Asuncion.
While shops were ransacked and cars set on fire, Health Minister Julio
Mazzoleni submitted his resignation to the president after days of attacks
from lawmakers and health workers’ unions.
– Vote delayed –
Finland says it will push back to June local elections originally
scheduled for April, in a move opposed only by the True Finns far-right
party.
“From a health point of view, June is a safer moment,” health agency chief
Markku Tervahauta told public television.
– 2.58 million dead –
At least 2,581,034 people have died of coronavirus worldwide since the
outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally
compiled from official sources, while at least 116,031,470 cases of
coronavirus have been registered.
The United States is the worst-affected country with 522,879 deaths,
followed by Brazil (262,770), Mexico (189,578), India (157,656) and Britain
(124,261).
– Warning on women –
German Chancellor Angela Merkel warns that the pandemic risks rolling back
progress made on gender equality, as women take on the lion’s share of
childcare in lockdown and are more likely to work in at-risk jobs.
“Once again it’s more often women who have to master the balancing act
between homeschooling, childcare and their own jobs,” says the veteran
leader.
Women also outnumber men in care professions at a time when those jobs are
“particularly challenging”.
– Apes protected –
Nine great apes at San Diego Zoo in California become the first non-human
primates given Covid-19 vaccinations, officials say.
Four orangutans and five bonobos were given two doses each of an
experimental vaccine, after eight gorillas at the same world-famous zoo
contracted the virus from human staff in January.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1911 hrs