With figures probably underestimated, the coronavirus pandemic officially affected more than 5.2 million people worldwide. It has killed at least 339,758 people since its appearance in December in China, but that does not prevent many countries from gradually reviving their economies.
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Latin America hit hard
The Brazil recorded an additional 965 deaths from the coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths since the start of the epidemic to 22,013, the health ministry said on Saturday. More than 16,500 new cases of contamination have also been identified, for a total of 347,398 cases in the country, the second most affected after the United States. And the real toll of the epidemic could turn out to be heavier, while Brazil’s screening capacity is limited.
The Peru, yet the first Latin American country to have imposed restrictions, is also struggling to stem the spread of the virus, which has continued to spread, particularly in food markets and banks that have remained open, thanks to a fragile health system, an informal economy and endemic poverty. Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra extended the confinement in force since March 16 to Friday until June 30 and “Compulsory social isolation”. The country deplores more than 3,100 deaths and more than 110,000 cases of contamination since March 6.
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In the United States, the epidemic remains on a high “plateau”
The United States also recorded 1,127 new deaths from coronavirus in 24 hours on Saturday, bringing the total number of deaths since the start of the epidemic to 97,048, according to daily counting by Johns Hopkins University. The daily number of deaths has remained stable for several days now, which does not prevent all states from taking measures to lift the containment.
In New York State, which was particularly hard hit, the death toll fell to 84 on Saturday in the past 24 hours, the lowest death toll since March 24.
To underscore his desire to get things back to normal as quickly as possible, President Donald Trump went golfing on Saturday, for the first time since March 8, at his Virginia club near Washington.
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European countries want tourism to recover
Particularly affected by the pandemic, Spain and Italy announced their reopening this summer to foreign tourists on Saturday. In July for Spain, while Italy will reopen its borders on June 3 and in the meantime gradually reopen its historical or cultural sites. In the Rome region, the beaches have been reopened and there were hundreds on Saturday enjoying the sun in Fregene, on the Lazio coast.
Also very dependent on tourism, Cyprus will reopen its airports for commercial flights from around 20 countries starting June 9. Here too, the beaches have been reopened.
Conversely, the United Kingdom imposed a 14-day quarantine on travelers arriving from abroad, including those coming from France, leading Paris to be threatened with “Reciprocity measure”.
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Eid holiday limited trips to Muslim countries
In Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country, authorities have banned traditional travel across the country for Eid-El-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and many locals turn to smugglers and false certificates to join nevertheless their relatives.
In Aghanistan, where the number of cases is increasing, strict containment measures have also been decreed for Eid, especially in the capital Kabul, epicenter of the disease in the country.
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