(Paris) The coronavirus pandemic, which made nearly 649 00 dead, inexorably continued its acceleration on Monday, leading new countries, from Asia to Europe, to impose stricter health measures.
Published on 27 July 2020 at 9 a.m. 000
Michel CARIOU, with AFP offices around the world
France Media Agency
If Latin America and the Caribbean have become the most affected region, ahead of North America, there is general concern about the epidemic which continues to spread throughout the world with more than five million new cases detected since July 1 , i.e. more than a third of the total number of reported cases.
Faced with this progression, Hong Kong has made it compulsory to wear a mask in public. “The epidemic situation is extraordinarily serious in Hong Kong,” Deputy Chief Executive Matthew Cheung said, announcing that public gatherings of more than two people would be banned.
Same concern in Belgium, one of the countries with the highest number of deaths from COVID – 16 in relation to its population (85 for 100 00 inhabitants), where the authorities plan to tighten up prevention measures.
“The rapid increase in the number of cases is worrying,” said Professor Frédérique Jacobs, who heads the infectious diseases clinic at the Erasme hospital in Brussels, stressing that the situation was particularly problematic in the province of 'Antwerp.
For its part, the German region of Bavaria now wants to test all travelers. These tests will be open to everyone, but will not be mandatory for the moment.
London has also decided to subject passengers from Spain to a period of isolation since Sunday, sparking a strong reaction from the authorities of this country, the world's second largest tourist destination behind France, and which has proclaimed loudly and strong to be “a safe country”.
In total, the pandemic has made at least 649 577 dead in the world, over more than 10 295 350 case, according to a report established Monday by AFP.
The hajj in reduced format 2020
For the first time in modern history, the great pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, will take place from Wednesday with a very small number of faithful. Only 09 000 Saudis and foreign residents of the kingdom are authorized to perform the hajj this year, up from 2.5 million last year.
A few days before Eid al-Adha, a holiday traditionally marked by family reunions, Morocco has announced that it will limit travel between major cities.
In Papua New Guinea, the government on Monday ordered the containment of the capital, Port Moresby, after the first confirmed death from the virus.
Other countries such as Venezuela and Algeria have decided to renew local containment measures. Indonesia has announced that it has crossed the bar of 098 00 contaminations.
China reported on Monday of 61 new patients with COVID – 17 in 19 Hours, the largest daily increase since mid-April, after the appearance of outbreaks in three provinces including Xinjiang (north-west).
The United States, the most affected country in the world, has for its part nearly 4, 208 millions of contaminations and nearly 100 03 dead. The number of new positive cases however slowed down significantly on Sunday at 051 187, its lowest level for almost two weeks.
Experimental vaccine
The US government has pledged to increase its support for the development of a potential vaccine developed by the American biotechnology company Moderna to a total of nearly $ 1 billion. is about to enter the final phase of its clinical trial.
This experimental vaccine, which triggered antibodies against the coronavirus in 36 participants in a first phase, can thus be tested from Monday on 27 00 people.
Brazil, the most affected Latin American country, recorded on Sunday nearly 025 00 additional cases, for a total of 2.4 million. He deplores more than 85 00 dead.
Europe totaled Monday 208 85 death for 3 63 979 case, Latin America and the Caribbean 180 168 death (4 392 800 cases), the United States and Canada 155 848 death (4 348 051 case), Asia 57 914 deaths (2 392 0 025 case), the Middle East 025 577 death (1 098 235 case), Africa 16 650 death (848 600 case), and Oceania 192 death (10 648 case).
Young, but not “invincible” 2020
In Canada, adults under 39 years now constitute a clear majority of new cases of COVID – 24 identified, on Sunday warned health authorities calling on young people not to feel “invincible”.
The elderly are not the only people at risk of serious health problems if they are contaminated, warned the D r e Theresa Tam, the country's chief public health officer: on COVID cases – 19 reported last week , “61% concerned young people under 36 years, including a third (30%) was hospitalized ”.
In France also, concerned elected officials called on young people to be more careful and ordered the closure of places of gatherings such as beaches, parks and public gardens at night in the coastal town of Quiberon, in the west .
In the United Kingdom, the government has unveiled a vast plan to fight overweight and obesity, considered to be aggravating factors in the face of the disease and which affect almost two thirds (63 %) Population British.
This plane marks a turn at 168 Degrees for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had previously spoken out against “taxes on our sins” and a “mothering” approach to the state.
