The coronavirus crisis is “worse than Pearl Harbor” according to Donald Trump
Sign of an evolution, the Bundesliga will be playing again soon in Germany after being interrupted for two months while the coronavirus put international sport in forced rest.
The pandemic due to the new coronavirus has killed at least 260,546 people worldwide since its appearance in December in China.
In addition, over 3,7 million cases have been officially diagnosed in 195 countries and territories since the start of the epidemic. This number of diagnosed cases should however only be a fraction of the actual number of contaminations, a large number of countries only testing cases requiring hospital treatment. Of these cases, at least 1,153,300 are now considered cured.
The United States is the most affected country in terms of number of deaths and cases, with 73,095 deaths for 1.22 million cases. This is followed by the United Kingdom with 30,076 deaths for 201,101 cases, Italy with 29,684 deaths (214,457 cases), Spain with 25,857 deaths (220,325 cases), and France with 25,809 deaths (174,191 case). Belgium is the country with the highest number of deaths compared to its population, with 72 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Spain (55), Italy (49), the United Kingdom (44), and France (40).
Trump “worse than Pearl Harbor” crisis
The United States has again registered more than 2,000 additional deaths from Covid-19 in 24 hours, according to Johns Hopkins University count. Despite these figures, the White House has been focusing its message for several days on the ongoing deconfinement. In New York, the epicenter of the American epidemic, the number of additional deaths deployed every day has dropped sharply, but other outbreaks have emerged, such as the capital region, Washington.
The coronavirus crisis is “worse than Pearl Harbor,” said the President. “First worse than the World Trade Center,” added Donald Trump. He went on to prey on China, the cradle of the pandemic and the belief that “it should never have happened.” Beijing and Washington have indeed continued their exchange of invectives: the head of American diplomacy, Mike Pompeo, a new shredder of “significant evidence” that the Covid-19 had spread from a laboratory in Wuhan, in the center of China, even if it admitted not having “certainties”.
Endangered ethnic minorities in the UK
Black, Asian and other ethnic minorities living in the UK are two to three times more likely to die from Covid-19 than the average, according to a study published by University College London.
The analysis was carried out using official data issued by the British health authorities. University researchers focus on patients who tested positive for the virus and died in English hospitals between March 1 and April 21, reviewed by the British Public Health Service (NHS).
Relaxed restrictions around the world
Mauritania has announced a reduction in measures against the spread of the coronavirus, notably with the reopening of markets from Thursday and the resumption of collective prayers on Friday. The curfew has been extended by two hours to now extend from 11 p.m. (local and GMT) to 6 a.m.
Meanwhile, the Serbian parliament voted to end the state of emergency declared on March 15. Serbia has fulfilled all the conditions prescribed by the World Health Organization to relieve the measures in force, said Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, addressing the deputies. “For more than seven days Serbia has had less than 5% infected out of the number of tested, which is one of the main conditions for lifting the state of emergency.”
The German federal government’s agreement with the regions (Landers) provides for the reopening from next week of all stores, including those of more than 800 square meters that were still closed, and of all schools. Restaurants and hotels will reopen regionally starting next week.
In neighboring Denmark, health officials also believe that Covid-19 should disappear in the short term as a result of containment measures, but they still fear a second wave of the disease.
In Belgium, the imposed confinement continues to be relaxed, with the reopening of non-essential businesses on Monday, announced Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès. From Sunday, each family will be able to welcome four people, family or friends, under their roof, provided that they are always the same.
Bundesliga to resume on May 15
Evidence of easing, the German government authorized the resumption of the Bundesliga behind closed doors from May 15. After the green light from political power, the German League (DFL) sent a circular letter to the 36 first and second division clubs.
“After assessing all the arguments, the DFL presidium decided today to resume competition in Bundesliga 1 and 2 from May 15,” said the letter, first published by the Bild and Kicker.
The postponed Polish presidential election
Conversely, a vote is postponed in Europe. The Polish presidential election, scheduled to take place on Sunday May 10, has been postponed, the ruling party, Law and Justice (PiS) leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski and his ally Jaroslaw Gowin announced on Wednesday evening. The president of the lower house will announce “the first possible date” for a new election, the two politicians said on Twitter.
Financial aid allocated or requested
Despite the easing measures, the economic crisis continues to rage. The International Monetary Fund has thus approved emergency financial assistance of 739 million dollars for Kenya. It has also provided $491.5 million in aid to Uganda.
For their part, the natives of Amazonia called on the international community to constitute an emergency fund of five million dollars to protect them from the coronavirus and to avoid an ethnocide of the guards of the largest tropical forest on the planet.
The UN itself has appealed for new funding of $ 4.7 billion to protect millions of lives and stem the spread of the coronavirus in fragile countries. On March 25, in launching a global humanitarian response plan, the United Nations first called for donations totaling $ 2 billion, half of which have so far been recovered from member countries of the United Nations.