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US may become centre of coronavirus pandemic, WHO says US may become centre of coronavirus pandemic, WHO says
(32 minutes later)
Figures go against Trump talk of restarting economy, as other countries tighten controlsFigures go against Trump talk of restarting economy, as other countries tighten controls
The United States could become the new centre of the global coronavirus pandemic, according to the World Health Organization, which said case numbers were rising quickly there even asDonald Trump talked of re-opening the country for business. The US could become the new centre of the global coronavirus pandemic, according to the World Health Organization, which said case numbers were rising quickly there even asDonald Trump talked of reopening the country for business.
“We are now seeing a very large acceleration in cases in the US. So it does have that potential [to become the centre of the pandemic],” the WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said.“We are now seeing a very large acceleration in cases in the US. So it does have that potential [to become the centre of the pandemic],” the WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said.
So far, 46,450 people in the US have become infected with the virus and there have been 593 deaths, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University.So far, 46,450 people in the US have become infected with the virus and there have been 593 deaths, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University.
In Spain, meanwhile, the numbers infected and tested rose from 33,089 to 39,673 on Tuesday, according to the health ministry, while the death toll rose from 2,182 to 2,696.In Spain, meanwhile, the numbers infected and tested rose from 33,089 to 39,673 on Tuesday, according to the health ministry, while the death toll rose from 2,182 to 2,696.
Health workers accounted for nearly 14% of Spain’s total reported cases as of Tuesday, up from 12% the previous day, according to data presented by the health emergency chief, Fernando Simon.Health workers accounted for nearly 14% of Spain’s total reported cases as of Tuesday, up from 12% the previous day, according to data presented by the health emergency chief, Fernando Simon.
Trump acknowledged that crucial healthcare supplies to protect frontline staff treating sick patients were becoming difficult to obtain.Trump acknowledged that crucial healthcare supplies to protect frontline staff treating sick patients were becoming difficult to obtain.
In an early morning tweet, Trump said: “The world market for face masks and ventilators is crazy. We are helping the states to get equipment, but it is not easy.” In an early morning tweet, he said: “The world market for face masks and ventilators is crazy. We are helping the states to get equipment, but it is not easy.”
But while more US governors were urging people to stay at home, Trump appeared to play down the crisis on Monday night.But while more US governors were urging people to stay at home, Trump appeared to play down the crisis on Monday night.
The president said he was considering ways to restart the economy in the coming weeks and wanted to avoid the pandemic becoming “a long-lasting financial problem”. It would not last as long as three or four months, he said.The president said he was considering ways to restart the economy in the coming weeks and wanted to avoid the pandemic becoming “a long-lasting financial problem”. It would not last as long as three or four months, he said.
“Our country was not built to be shut down,” Trump said. “This is not a country that was built for this.”“Our country was not built to be shut down,” Trump said. “This is not a country that was built for this.”
Trump’s top advisers referred to current government restrictions as a “15-day challenge” and pledged to revisit in a week’s time the need for sweeping measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Trump’s senior advisers referred to current government restrictions as a “15-day challenge” and pledged to revisit in a week’s time the need for sweeping measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
The top coronavirus response official in Italy, the country with the highest death toll, attributed two successive declines in the daily death rate to a national lockdown that appeared to be finally bearing fruit.
But Angelo Borrelli also noted that the real number of infections was probably 10 times higher than the official count. He also said the nation of 60 million was on course to overtake China’s total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in a week.
“The measures we took two weeks ago are starting to have an effect,” Borrelli said in an interview with La Repubblica. He said more data over the next few days will help understand “if the growth curve is really flattening”.
An estimated 1.7 billion people around the world have been ordered to remain at home as governments take extreme measures to protect their populations. Britain became the latest country to enter lockdown, after bans on movement came into force at midnight on Monday.An estimated 1.7 billion people around the world have been ordered to remain at home as governments take extreme measures to protect their populations. Britain became the latest country to enter lockdown, after bans on movement came into force at midnight on Monday.
France entered a two-month “state of health emergency” on Tuesday that provides a legal framework for existing confinement and restrictive measures and allows the government to order further restrictions, including controlling the price of certain products and requisitioning people and property for the “war” effort.France entered a two-month “state of health emergency” on Tuesday that provides a legal framework for existing confinement and restrictive measures and allows the government to order further restrictions, including controlling the price of certain products and requisitioning people and property for the “war” effort.
The Dutch government strengthened its containment measures, banning all public gatherings regardless of size until 1 June. Mayors have been empowered to close beaches, parks, campsites and other public spaces if people are not respecting physical distancing rules that are set in the Netherlands at a 1.5 metre gap between people. The prime minister, Mark Rutte, described the boosted measures as an “intelligent lockdown”. In Germany, Angela Merkel’s cabinet presented a support package worth hundreds of billions of euros to cushion the impact of the crisis, in a departure from the country’s commitment to balance budgets. Under the rescue measures, about €50bn is to be earmarked for small businesses and self-employed workers, who are to receive direct grants of up to €15,000 over three months.
Meanwhile tens of millions of people living in Hubei province, the centre of China’s outbreak, were told they would be able to resume travel from midnight (1600 GMT), except in the city of Wuhan. The Dutch government strengthened its containment measures, banning all public gatherings regardless of size until 1 June and empowering mayors to close beaches, parks, campsites and other public spaces if people are not respecting physical distancing rules.
China claims to have largely brought its outbreak under control, reporting only imported cases of the virus and few or no new domestic cases in recent days. However the claims have been questioned by residents and analysts, who note that some hospitals are reportedly refusing to test for the virus, and that there are allegations of manipulated numbers, and rumours of unreported cases. In other developments:
South Africa reported more than 150 new cases, taking its tally to 554, the highest in Africa, a day after it ordered a three-week lockdown.
Thailand’s leader said he would invoke sweeping emergency powers in the face of surging infections.
Egypt declared a curfew from 7pm to 6am for two weeks starting on Wednesday.
The Cameroonian Afro-jazz musician Manu Dibango died in Paris after catching coronavirus. Best known for his 1972 song Soul Makossa, the 86-year-old saxophonist is one of the first global stars to succumb to the disease.
Pakistan suspended six civil servants after they posed for a selfie with a coronavirus patient in a quarantine centre. The selfie – widely shared on social media – pictured a group of men around the apparent patient, several of them smiling broadly and none wearing face masks.
Meanwhile, tens of millions of people living in Hubei province, the centre of China’s outbreak, were told they would be able to resume travel from midnight (1600 GMT), except in the city of Wuhan.
China claims to have largely brought its outbreak under control, reporting only imported cases of the virus and few or no new domestic cases in recent days. However, the claims have been questioned by residents and analysts, who note that some hospitals are reportedly refusing to test for the virus, and that there are allegations of manipulated numbers and rumours of unreported cases.
Additional reporting by Kim Willsher in Paris, Jennifer Rankin in the Netherlands and Helen Davidson in SydneyAdditional reporting by Kim Willsher in Paris, Jennifer Rankin in the Netherlands and Helen Davidson in Sydney