World fights back, 1m recover

The world is healing from Covid-19. The numbers are positive. More than one million people have recovered from coronavirus infections, giving hope to millions who are being treated for the disease that has ruined lives and destroyed the global economy.

Countries, meanwhile, are reopening from lockdowns that have thrown business and social life out of gear.

The economic crisis is biting as the European Union economy shrank 3.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2020 as World Health Organisation said Europe remains “very much in the grip of this pandemic” with 46 per cent of cases, and 63 per cent of global deaths.

In the US, the number of people filing for unemployment benefits because of the coronavirus has soared past 30 million, worsening a crisis unmatched since the 1930s and turning up the pressure on political leaders to lift restrictions that are choking the economy.

Government figures released on Thursday showed that 3.8 million laid-off workers applied for jobless benefits last week, raising the total to about 30.3 million in the six weeks since the outbreak took hold and forced the shutdown of factories and other businesses from coast to coast. The layoffs amount to 1 in 6 American workers.

With White House guidelines for social distancing expiring on Thursday, states have been grappling with when and how to revive their economies while keeping residents safe with stayat-home and social-distancing policies. —