Globally, 40% of all instances have been reported in US, Brazil (Representational)
Paris:
Coronavirus instances worldwide handed 19 million Thursday, as European nations imposed new journey restrictions and containment measures with fears rising over a second wave of infections.
The worldwide determine, compiled by AFP from official sources at 2300 GMT, was pushed by surges in Latin America and India — and a brand new milestone in Africa because the continent hit a million instances.
World deaths from the pandemic have topped 700,000, and Europe stays the hardest-hit area worldwide with greater than 200,000 fatalities for the reason that virus first emerged in China late final yr.
Greater than half of Africa’s instances are in South Africa, which has the fifth highest variety of infections on the planet, after the US, Brazil, India and Russia.
Nonetheless the African continent stays one of many least affected, in accordance with the official figures, with solely Oceania registering fewer COVID-19 instances.
As governments throughout the globe wrestle to salvage economies ravaged by months of lockdown, many have been pressured to take a look at new measures to curb outbreaks of COVID-19 since they lifted preliminary containment orders.
In Australia, the second-largest metropolis Melbourne entered the nation’s hardest lockdown but on Thursday, closing non-essential companies and requiring lots of of hundreds extra individuals to remain residence.
The pandemic has killed a minimum of 712,315 individuals worldwide with america recording essentially the most deaths with virtually 160,000, adopted by Brazil with practically 100,000. Globally, 40 p.c of all instances have been recorded within the two international locations.
Germany is the newest to introduce obligatory exams for travellers coming back from designated danger zones, beginning on Saturday, as fears develop over rising case numbers blamed on summer time holidays and native outbreaks.
Germany’s checklist of “danger zones” at the moment contains most non-EU international locations, in addition to sure provinces in Belgium and Spain.
Neighbouring Austria on Thursday introduced it might concern a journey warning for mainland Spain, changing into the newest nation to take action amid an increase in new coronavirus instances within the fellow EU member.
Finland additionally launched new controls on arrivals from some EU international locations, together with Belgium, the Netherlands and Andorra, placing a cease to vacationers arriving from there and imposing a 14-day quarantine on different returnees.
“The scenario is extraordinarily delicate,” the well being ministry’s strategic director Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki stated, including that “some kind of second stage has begun.”
“Whether or not we are able to count on a smaller wave or a bigger wave depends upon how we reply.”
Britain has reimposed quarantine for vacationers from Belgium, Andorra and the Bahamas.
Norway introduced Thursday that France could be thought-about a crimson zone because of the resurgence of coronavirus instances there, that means all travellers arriving from France face a compulsory ten-day quarantine.
Switzerland, Monaco and the Czech Republic had been additionally hit with related restrictions, in addition to two Swedish areas, the Norwegian international affairs ministry stated.
“The infectious scenario can change shortly, as can the restrictions,” International Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide stated.
The USA bucked the development regardless of its personal hovering demise rely, lifting a blanket warning towards all international journey.
“Well being and security circumstances (are) enhancing in some international locations and probably deteriorating in others,” the State Division stated in a press release.
Enterprise struggles
Many countries are seeing new outbreaks, forcing native or citywide lockdowns and different quarantine measures.
Poland will re-impose obligatory face masks in all public areas in 9 districts amid a brand new excessive in infections.
The restrictions will come into drive from Saturday and also will have an effect on sports activities and cultural occasions in these areas, primarily within the south and east.
Greece’s authorities on Wednesday introduced a “wake-up week” on COVID-19, tightening restrictions after the regular rise in principally home infections.
Officers have blamed the rise on overcrowding in golf equipment and social occasions.
The brand new virus outbreaks are forcing officers into an uncomfortable trade-off between public well being and the necessity to carry economies again to life.
German airline Lufthansa on Thursday turned the newest to disclose the fallout from the pandemic, asserting pressured layoffs and a 1.5 billion euro ($1.7 billion) loss within the second quarter.
Asserting its worst quarter within the firm’s historical past, Lufthansa stated within the three months to June its passenger numbers had collapsed by 96 p.c in comparison with final yr.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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