Grim toll extending around globe

GENEVA: About 159,000 more people in 24 European countries have died since early March than would have ordinarily been expected, a World Health Organisation official said, adding a ‘‘significant proportion’’ of the spike is linked to Covid19.

More than 5.74 million people have been reported infected with the Covid19 coronavirus globally and 355,798 have died, according to a Reuters tally yesterday.

Americas

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits held above 2 million last week for a 10th straight week amid job cuts by US state and local governments.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he disagreed with the Bank of Mexico’s forecasts for a major recession caused by the Covid19 pandemic, predicting the economy would recover soon.

Brazil has recorded 26,417 daily new infections, the health ministry announced, the highest tally since the outbreak.

The total number of infections rose to 438,238, the secondhighest behind the US. At least 26,754 people have died in connection with Covid19, the sixthhighest toll in the world.

Europe

The European Commission has said it wants to set up a permanent reserve of essential drugs and medical equipment to address shortages that have dogged the EU for years and worsened throughout the Covid19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out the next steps on easing Britain’s Covid19 lockdown today, describing what will be possible from June 1.

Germany’s parliament voted to slash valueadded tax on restaurant meals by more than half for a year to help them recoup losses.

Hungary and Slovenia eased border restrictions yesterday to allow travel by their citizens between the two countries.

Greece announced a package of measures to support Greek air transport.

Sending children back to schools and daycare centres in Denmark, the first country in Europe to do so, did not lead to an rise in Covid19 infections, official data showed.

AsiaPacific

Indonesia will continue to prescribe two antimalaria drugs for Covid19 patients but monitor their use closely.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will ease one of the toughest and longest lockdowns in the world for residents in the capital Manila from June 1, even as the country had its biggest spike in Covid19 cases on Thursday.

The Philippines reported 539 new infections, the highest daily tally since it recorded its first case in January. It has had 921 deaths in total.

Middle East and Africa

Cases of community transmission of Covid19 are growing in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia, and a new strategy for testing is needed to prevent this, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Kenya’s small and medium businesses need urgent help to survive the economic slowdown, and many are at risk of closing, the head of the central bank said.— Reuters/AAP