Crisis far from over, WHO warns
Official says world is in ‘middle of the first wave’ as COVID-19 cases surge
BANGKOK—As Brazil and India struggle with surging coronavirus cases, a top health expert is warning that the world is still in the very middle of the outbreak, dampening hopes for a speedy global economic rebound and renewed international travel.
“Right now, we’re not in the second wave. We’re right in the middle of the first wave globally,” said Dr. Mike Ryan, the World Health Organization’s executive director.
“We’re still very much in a phase where the disease is actually on the way up,” Ryan said, pointing to South America, South Asia and other parts of the world.
India, with a population of over 1.3 billion, saw a record single-day jump in new cases for the seventh straight day. It reported 6,535 new infections Tuesday, raising its total to over 145,000, including close to 4,200 deaths.
Most of India’s cases are concentrated in the western states of Maharashtra, home to the financial hub of Mumbai, and Gujarat. Infections have also climbed in the east as migrant workers stranded by lockdowns returned to their native villages from India’s largest cities.
Despite this, India allowed domestic flights to resume Monday following a two-month hiatus, but at a fraction of normal traffic levels.
In Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro has raged against state and local leaders enforcing stay-at-home measures, the WHO warned that before reopening the economy, authorities must have enough testing in place to control the spread of the virus.
Brazil has 375,000 coronavirus infections — second only to the 1.6 million cases in the U.S. — and has counted more than 23,000 deaths, but many fear Brazil’s true toll is much higher.
Ryan said Brazil’s “intense” transmission rates means it should keep some stay-athome measures in place, regardless of the damage to the economy.
In the U.S., stocks surged on Wall Street to their highest levels since the business shutdowns took hold over two months ago, climbing on optimism Tuesday about the reopening economy even as the country’s official death toll closed in on 100,000, a mark U.S. President Donald Trump once predicted the country would never see.
In a largely symbolic move, the New York Stock Exchange trading floor in lower Manhattan reopened for the first time in two months, with Plexiglas barriers, masks and a reduced number of traders to adhere to the two-metre social-distancing rules. Those entering the NYSE will have their temperatures taken and were asked to avoid public transportation.
In Russia, President Vladimir Putin announced that the postponed military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in the Second World War will take place on June 24. Victory Day has become the most important holiday in Russia, marked every year on May 9 with a show of armed might in Red Square.
Russia reported a record oneday spike Tuesday of 174 deaths, bringing the country’s confirmed death toll to over 3,800. Russia’s coronavirus caseload surpassed 360,000 — the thirdhighest in the world — with almost 9,000 new infections registered.
Spain’s foreign minister said that European Union members should collectively agree to open borders and determine which non-EU countries are safe for travel.
“We have to start working with our European partners to retake the freedom of movement in European territories,” Arancha Gonzalez Laya told Cadena SER radio.
Aiming to entice travellers, Greek authorities will introduce cheaper tickets for sea travel from the mainland to Greek islands on June 1.
The Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia struck a deal to open their borders for 48 hours of travel without quarantines among their citizens starting Wednesday.
Indonesia said it will deploy 340,000 security forces in 25 cities to enforce health rules as the world’s fourth most populous country prepares to reopen shopping centres and other businesses in the capital, Jakarta, on June 4.