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by Hazel WARD, with Philippe RATER at the United Nations MADRID, Spain (AFP) — More than three billion people are living under lockdown measures as soaring death tolls in Europe and the US on Wednesday underlined a United Nations warning that the coronavirus pandemic threatens all of humanity. As the global death toll soared past 20,800, Spain joined Italy in seeing its number of fatalities overtake China, where the virus first emerged just three months […]
by Dmitry ZAKS ROME, Italy (AFP) — Italy’s coronavirus infections rate slowed for a fourth successive day Wednesday as fresh evidence emerged that long and painful lockdowns against pandemics will work. The latest data from the epicenter of the once-in-a-century outbreak comes with more and more nations weighing whether to shutter their own stores and factories — and for how long. Analysts at one of the big US investment banks said evidence from Italy this […]
MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain has signed a multi-million-euro contract with China to acquire medical supplies to fight the coronavirus epidemic, Health Minister Salvador Illa said Wednesday. Worth some 432 million euros ($467 million), the deal will cover 550 million masks, 5.5 million rapid test kits, 950 respirators and 11 million pairs of gloves to address shortages in Spain. The announcement came as Spain saw the number of deaths surge to 3,434 after more than […]
MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain’s coronavirus death toll overtook that of China on Wednesday, rising to 3,434 after 738 people died over the past 24 hours, the government said. Across the world, only Italy now has a higher death toll than that of Spain. In China, where the virus emerged late last year, 3,281 people have died. The spiralling number of deaths came as Spain entered the 11th day of an unprecedented lockdown to try […]
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Around 170,000 people signed up within hours of a British government call for volunteers to help those stuck at home due to the coronavirus outbreak, the health minister said Wednesday. Matt Hancock unveiled a plan on Monday to create a 250,000-strong volunteer force to help deliver groceries and medicines to the most vulnerable people instructed by the government to self-isolate. This is larger than Britain’s armed forces, which currently stand […]
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Prince Charles, the eldest son, and heir to Queen Elizabeth II, is showing mild symptoms of the new coronavirus but “otherwise remains in good health”, his office said on Wednesday. The 71-year-old and his wife Camilla — who does not have COVID-19 — are currently self-isolating in Scotland, Clarence House said. “The Prince of Wales has tested positive for Coronavirus,” it said in a statement, using his official title. “He […]
PARIS, France (AFP) — French police removed hundreds of migrants from a camp just north of Paris on Tuesday in the first such move aimed at limiting coronavirus spread among homeless people around the capital. The migrants began boarding buses in Aubervilliers at dawn, with officials saying they were headed for gyms and hotels in Paris and a nearby suburb. Prefect Michel Cadot, the government’s top official for the Paris region, announced the evacuation last […]
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The British government said Tuesday it will open a 4,000-bed field hospital at a London exhibition center as part of its plans to treat coronavirus cases. The move comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday ordered the country into lockdown to tackle the spread of the outbreak, which has seen 422 deaths and 8,077 cases in Britain. Health Secretary Matt Hancock told a news conference the temporary hospital, to […]
by Darko DURIDANSKI with Sally MAIRS in Belgrade SKOPJE, Republic of North Macedonia (AFP) — With hospitals lacking equipment and low on doctors who have been steadily moving abroad, Balkan countries fear the worst as they watch the new coronavirus ravage their far richer European neighbors. “If much bigger and wealthier countries couldn’t contain the sharp increase of infections, what can be expected from ours?” Zoran Hristovski, a Skopje resident in his late 40s, said. […]
PARIS, France (AFP) — The coronavirus has killed another 240 people in France, the top French health official said on Tuesday, bringing the death toll in the country from the pandemic to 1,100. Jerome Salomon told reporters that 22,300 people had tested positive for the virus in France, with a total of 10,176 hospitalized of whom 2,516 people are in intensive care. Officials believe that the published number of those infected largely underestimates the real […]
by Lindsey PARNABY, Sylvain PEUCHMAURD Agence France-Presse EYAM, United Kingdom (AFP) — In the 17th century, residents in the remote English village of Eyam quarantined themselves to prevent the spread of bubonic plague. Most paid with their lives. Now their descendants and locals are outraged that a steady stream of visitors have ignored government warnings to stay at home to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. Last weekend, walkers were out in force in the spring sunshine in […]
PARIS, France (AFP) — France on Tuesday said it planned to organize financial aid for poor countries, especially in Africa, to help them from becoming future sources of coronavirus contamination. “We will have the opportunity to mobilize a real financial package, of help, to prevent this epidemic from veering towards regions or sub-continents which aren’t contaminated today but could be a risk for us tomorrow,” Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told the National Assembly. Just […]
