The world at war: 660,00 infections, 30,000 deaths as situation worsens
WORLDWIDE coronavirus infections have surpassed the 660,000 mark, with more than 30,000 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Here is the latest on the situation from around the world: l CANADA— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he will continue to self-isolate at home even though his wife has recovered from coronavirus.
Mr Trudeau (right) said although he was careful, he will remain in isolation for now because he was in the same home as someone who tested positive.
Sophie Trudeau received clearance from her doctor and Ottawa Public Health on Saturday.
Mr Trudeau’s office said on March 12 she had tested positive for coronavirus after returning from a trip to London.
The prime minister and his family have been in self-isolation at home since then. He and the children have not shown symptoms.
UNITED STATES — l The US government’s foremost infection disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, says the US will certainly have “millions of cases” of Covid-19 and more than 100,000 deaths.
As the US tops the world in reported infections from the new coronavirus, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases predicts 100,000-200,000 deaths from the outbreak in the US.
The US is currently reporting more than 124,000 cases and more than 2,100 deaths.
Dr Fauci was speaking to CNN’S State Of The Union as the federal government is discussing rolling back guidelines on social distancing in areas that have not been hard-hit by the outbreak. l PORTUGAL — The Portuguese health minister has said a 14-year-old boy with Covid-19 has died. Authorities said the boy had prior health conditions. Minister Marta Temido said the boy tested positive for the coronavirus but health expert still need to investigate if he died of the disease caused by the virus or other health problems. Portugal reported on Sunday it has 119 total deaths from the virus and 38,042 infections. l VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is backing the UN chief’s call for a ceasefire in all conflicts raging across the globe to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. He also said his thoughts are with those
constrained to live in groups, citing in particular rest homes, military barracks and jails.
During his traditional Sunday blessing, the Pope called for “the creation of humanitarian aid corridors, the opening of diplomacy and attention to those who are in situations of great vulnerability”. l SPAIN — Spain hit a new daily record for coronavirus deaths, with 838 fatalities in the last
24 hours for a total of 6,528, the world’s second-highest death count behind Italy.
The figure is slightly up from Saturday, when 832 people were reported to have died from the virus. The number of infections rose by more than 6,500 from Saturday to Sunday for a new total of 78,797. The rate of that increase in infections, however, continues to decrease.
l AUSTRALIA — Australia has announced that public gatherings will be limited to two people, down from 10, and has enacted a six-month moratorium on evictions for those who cannot pay their rent.
Australia had 3,966 confirmed cases of the virus as of yesterday, including 16 deaths. l INDIA — Prime minister Narendra Modi apologised to the public for imposing a threeweek national lockdown. “I apologise for taking these harsh steps that have caused difficulties in your lives, especially the poor people,” Mr Modi said in his monthly address, broadcast by state radio. “I know some of you will be angry with me. But these tough measures were needed to win this battle.”
Health officials have confirmed 867 cases of coronavirus, including 25 deaths. l CHINA — The city at the centre of China’s coronavirus outbreak has reopened tube trains and long-distance train services in another step towards ending restrictions that confined millions of people to their homes.
Passengers in Wuhan (left ) in the central province of Hubei had to wear masks and be checked for fever after service resumed Saturday. It said signs were posted telling passengers to sit with empty seats between them. l GERMANY — Chancellor Angela Merkel, in her first address to the nation on the pandemic, appealed to citizens’ reason and discipline to slow the spread of the virus. She acknowledged, as a woman who grew up in communist East Germany, how difficult it is to give up freedoms, yet as a trained scientist emphasised that the facts do not lie.