Latest world developments in the fight against viruses



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More than 251,000 dead

More than 251,000 people have died from the coronavirus since the pandemic in China emerged late last year, according to an AFP count around noon today.

There have been more than 3,595,970 officially registered cases in 195 countries and territories.

The United States is the most affected country, with 68,934 deaths of 1,180,634 cases. It is followed by Great Britain with 32,375, then Italy with 29,079 deaths, Spain with 25,613 and France with 25,201.

UK’s second highest toll

Britain surpasses Italy to become the country behind the USA. USA With the highest number of deaths in a single country. The number of people killed by the virus in the UK now stands at 32,375, according to official figures from the Office for National Statistics.

German states avoid Merkel’s prudence

Regional leaders reject Chancellor Angela Merkel’s calls for prudence, and the largest state is ahead of planned talks by saying it will reopen its restaurants and hotels this month.

Bavaria says restaurants will be the first to be able to offer outdoor dining starting May 18, before extending the opening to indoor dining a week later.

Hotels will be able to receive guests again from May 30.

Hong Kong, California, relief measures

Hong Kong announces plans to reopen schools, cinemas, bars, and beauty salons starting Friday.

In California, the governor announces that some retailers, including bookstores, florists, and clothing stores, may reopen at the end of the week.

Bleak economic data

Australia’s economy is losing Aus $ 4 billion every week, its shutdown continues, and GDP is forecast to drop 10% in the June quarter, its latest figures announce.

New car sales in Britain drop 97% in April, the lowest level since 1946, as separate figures show the UK service sector plummeted to another record low in April.

French oil giant Total says its quarterly earnings have fallen 99% due to falling oil prices and announces it will cut investments. The firm reports a net profit of $ 34 million for the first quarter compared to $ 3.1 billion the previous year.

Losing jobs

British airline Virgin Atlantic, owned by tycoon Richard Branson, says it will cut more than 3,000 jobs, about a third of its staff, after “unprecedented pressure” from the pandemic.

Spain’s unemployment figures rise by more than 282,000 in April, largely due to the collapse of tourism, figures from the Ministry of Labor show, bringing the total number of unemployed in the country to 3.8 million.

In Britain, the Treasury has paid 6.3 million workers up to 80% of their wages at a total cost of £ 8 billion, as part of a package of emergency measures.

Russia’s cases skyrocket

Russia consolidates its place as the European country that reports the highest number of new infections, with a total of more than 155,000.

Mass repatriation of Indians

India embarks on a “massive” operation requesting passenger planes and warships to bring back some of the hundreds of thousands of citizens trapped abroad.



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