(Los Angeles) The contagion of the new coronavirus is reaching record levels worldwide, particularly on the American continent, where the number of cases and that of deaths continues to explode, led by the United States and Brazil.
Posted on July 2 2020 at 8 a.m. 15
France Media Agency
The past seven days have been the worst week in terms of infections since the COVID pandemic – 18 left China at the end 2019, according to the results of the World Health Organization (WHO).
“In the past week, the number of new cases has exceeded 160 00 0 per day, “said WHO Director-General on Wednesday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Over the previous seven days, over 150 00 0 contaminations per day were counted, according to a report established by AFP from official sources.
And '60% of all COVID cases – 19 identified so far have been reported in the past month, “said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Current epicenter of the epidemic, the American continent which lists approximately 2.7 million infected persons out of a total of 10, 6 million worldwide, and where the numbers continue to explode.
First world power and most contaminated and mourning country on the planet (more than 128 00 0 deaths), the United States reached a record level on Wednesday with more than 50 00 0 new contaminations in 24 hours.
And a study published Wednesday indicates that the pandemic has caused at least 18% More deaths than a normal year in the United States, and up to three times more in New York, very badly affected.
The country is approaching a sensitive weekend, with Saturday the national holiday of July 4 – traditional occasion for family reunions and gatherings – under renewed restrictions or pause in the deconfinement, especially in California. In this state of 40 million inhabitants, long a model of prevention, the outbreak is particularly intense.
The counties at risk have been asked to give up traditional fireworks and the beaches in the Los Angeles area will be closed all weekend. This will also be the case for some in Florida.
And in part of California, dining rooms, bars, cinemas and museums will be closed for “at least three weeks”.
” Global approach ”
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the situation also remains worrying, particularly in Brazil, which crossed the milestone of on Wednesday 00 0 deaths, after again registering more than a thousand deaths in 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health.
Colombia, the fourth largest economy in Latin America, has surpassed the bar of 100 00 0 cases, with 4163 new contaminations in one day.
In Peru, an indigenous leader, Santiago Manuin, who defended the land rights of Amazonian communities, died Wednesday of COVID – 19, according to his family.
Indigenous peoples in Latin America are particularly vulnerable due to the weakness of their immune systems and centuries of state neglect.
Latin America could register more than 400 00 0 dead within three months due to stricter health measures, according to the Pan American Health Organization (OPS).
COVID – 19 has already killed at least 514 803 people on the planet, according to an AFP count.
The boss of the WHO once again advocated a “global approach”, calling once again to respect the rules of distancing, detect and isolate cases, place their contacts in quarantine and wear a mask as necessary.
But as the summer season begins, many countries are trying to limit an already considerable shortfall in tourism and the sectors which depend on it, already estimated at potentially between 1200 to 3300 billion dollars, through the UN.
The EU, where the epidemic is stalling despite the existence of foci of contamination, thus reopened its borders on Wednesday. It authorized flights from 14 countries from all continents , as well as from China subject to reciprocity, which is currently not the case.
The Greek island of Corfu saw its first tourists land on Wednesday, while Lisbon and Leicester (England) were reconfiguring certain districts.
SMEs in danger
Outside the EU, the Serbian authorities tightened the restrictive measures on Thursday, faced with a renewed case of COVID – 19, and reopened in Belgrade hospitals entirely dedicated to the sick.
In the rest of the world, other countries heavily dependent on tourism, are also trying to save the season. Despite more than 1000 daily infections since the end of May, Egypt reopened the famous pyramids of the Giza plateau on Wednesday.
And Cuba reopened the paradisiacal islands of Cayos to foreign tourists on Wednesday, even though no tourist flights have yet landed there.
Many other economic sectors have been affected. The IMF forecasts a slower than expected recovery and a global recession of 4.9% in 2020.
In Spain, unemployment increased slightly in June despite the lifting of the containment, but much less in the previous three months.
Backbone of economies, small and medium-sized businesses are among the hardest hit and, despite the billions of dollars released by governments to help them hold on, are struggling to survive.
But in Africa, in Chad in particular, traders, employees, but also the poorest plunged into destitution, cannot count on any system of national solidarity.
Although less drastic than elsewhere, the restrictions were enough to destabilize the economy of this country among the poorest in the region, yet an oil producer for years 2000.
The cultural sector is also threatened. From Rolling Stones to Eric Clapton via Paul McCartney, Depeche Mode or Iron Maiden, 1500 artists or personalities from the British music world called on Thursday on government to urgently save the concert industry, deprived of the public.
In sports arenas, the return of the public was not without a hitch: the final of the Danish Cup was interrupted for almost a quarter of an hour on Wednesday evening, supporters refusing to respect the rules of distancing imposed In the stadium.