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Coronavirus: Latest global developments
PARIS, June 1, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
– Vaccines for all now –
Four of world’s most important global bodies call on rich countries to dig deep to ensure poorer nations are vaccinated.
The heads of the World Bank, World Health Organization, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organization say that lack of wider coverage is fuelling virus variants.
– Malaysia locks down –
Malaysia goes into a tough nationwide lockdown as it battles a fresh surge. Neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam are also hammered by new outbreaks, with Hanoi worried by a new hybrid variant of the highly infectious Indian and British strains.
– Israel opens up –
The country that has led the vaccination race from the start lifts restrictions on restaurants and entertainment venues with only four new cases Tuesday.
– Rebels block doses –
Yemen’s Huthi rebels, who control most of the country’s north, including the capital Sanaa, have been blocking international efforts to supply vaccines, says Human Rights Watch.
– Athletes arrive in Japan –
Members of Australia’s fully-vaccinated softball team are the first athletes to arrive for the Tokyo Olympics, with polls showing the fearful host nation wants the Games — which start in July — postponed again.
– Pump that oil –
OPEC looks set to agree to keep boosting oil production as pandemic-hit demand for crude recovers.
– More than 3.5 million dead –
The pandemic has killed at least 3,551,488 people worldwide since the virus first emerged in December 2019, according to an AFP compilation of official data.
The US is the worst-affected country with 594,568 deaths, followed by Brazil with 462,791, India with 331,895, Mexico with 223,568 and Britain with 127,782.
The figures are based on reports by health authorities in each country, but do not take into account upward revisions carried out later by statistical bodies.
The WHO says up to three times more people have died directly or indirectly due to the pandemic than official figures suggest.
BSS/AFP/IJ/1737 hrs