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President Donald Trump promised on Thursday to reveal plans to reopen the world’s largest economy after cautious moves in Europe, alleging that the United States had “surpassed the peak” of new coronavirus cases, even as the country recorded a record number of deaths from the disease.
Since it emerged in China late last year, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the world, forcing half of humanity inside and catapulting the global economy into a second Great Depression.
The death toll has topped 134,000 with more than two million infected, according to an AFP count, with nearly 2,600 dying in the past 24 hours in the US alone. USA
But a bullish Trump told reporters that his “aggressive strategy” against the virus was working and that “the data suggests that across the country we have exceeded the peak in new cases.”
He promised quick “guidelines” to reopen parts of the country, suggesting that the least affected states could ease the restrictions before May 1.
“We will be the children back, all of us,” Trump said.
Leaders around the world are struggling with the dilemma of how to get back to normal and jump-start their shattered economies without risking a devastating second wave of infections.
In Europe’s largest economy, Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged “extreme caution” as she announced initial steps to reopen some stores and gradually restart school.
Elsewhere in Europe, Denmark began reopening schools for younger children after a month-long shutdown, and Finland lifted the Helsinki blockade.
Lithuania said it would allow the reopening of smaller stores starting Thursday, while Iran, which is badly affected, will allow some small businesses to restart operations.
However, Britain was expected to extend its blocking measures later on Thursday and Belgium delayed its order to stay home until May 3.
Even in countries trying to return to normal, many citizens expressed fear that the virus has not yet been beaten.
In Madrid, delivery man Gean Carlo Minaya told AFP: “I think people should hold out a little longer because I think they will come back again, not so intensely, but the pandemic will come back a little.”
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said that only a “safe and effective vaccine” can return the world to normal, hoping it will be available by the end of the year.
And the executive director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation exposed the challenge humanity faces to protect itself from the virus in the future.
“There are seven billion people on the planet,” said Mark Suzman. “We are going to need to vaccinate almost everyone. There is no manufacturing capacity to do it.”
Even with a vaccine, the virus is expected to destroy the global economy, and the International Monetary Fund warns that $ 9 trillion could be lost in a second Great Depression.
In the developing world, there is a growing fear of a collapse in the social order as food becomes scarce, with a particularly acute situation in Africa and Latin America.
In Riyadh, the G20 nations of the world’s leading economies announced a one-year debt moratorium for the world’s poorest nations.
But even in the United States, the pandemic has caused at least 17 million people to lose their jobs, and many are becoming increasingly desperate.
“Later this month, I’m done,” said Reuben Isaacson of Boca Raton, Florida, who was fired from an e-commerce startup last month.
“When the moratorium on evictions is lifted and Florida has not paid anyone money, a group of people will be left homeless and that includes me,” he said.
Despite the sadness, stories of resilience and generosity around the world raised spirits.
In the English city center of Birmingham, Connie Titchen, 106, challenged the odds of beating the virus, applauded by medical staff when she went to see her grandchildren.
Also in Britain, Tom Moore, a 99-year-old WWII veteran, has raised nearly 12 million ($ 15 million) for health workers by walking his garden with a walking frame.
“In the last war they were uniformed soldiers on the front line. This time our army is the doctors and nurses (in) uniforms,” Moore told British television earlier this week.
“We will survive this.”
And in New Orleans, Burnell Cotlon spent his life savings to open a grocery store, providing a lifeline for many who struggle to pay for food as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
“The whole world has changed,” he told AFP.
Many of his clients have been fired and are struggling to support their families, he said.
“Since they no longer work, they have no money. But they still have to feed their children.”
“So people come here all the time … looking for work, looking for food, looking for answers, just hope.”
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