North America

Far more COVID-19 cases in Silicon Valley than official figure: study

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The true number of COVID-19 cases in California’s Silicon Valley is at least 50 times higher than the official figure, according to a preliminary study that took blood samples from a group of residents and tested them for viral antibodies. Stanford researchers used Facebook to recruit 3,300 volunteers from Santa Clara County and estimated that between 2.5 to 4.1 percent of the population had been infected, which is 50 […]

Could virus crisis kill debt-laden US Postal Service?

by Susan STUMME Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON DC, United States (AFP) — For many Americans, checking the mailbox is a daily ritual, a constant in a quickly changing world that can yield anything from wedding invitations to tax audits to new clothes. But as with many ordinary things as the coronavirus crisis unfolds, the US Postal Service — already compromised by a mountain of debt — has a most uncertain future. “The Postal Service is holding on […]

US virus job losses hit 22 mn as Trump eyes restart

  by Chris STEIN Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US job losses from the coronavirus pandemic reached 22 million in the past month, according to new data Thursday, as President Donald Trump is expected to unveil plans to re-open the world’s largest economy. Amid business shutdowns and restrictions ordered to stop the spread of COVID-19, government data continue to show the growing economic damage. Another 5.2 million workers filed for unemployment benefits […]

Trump: US will gradually reopen economy

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday he is recommending a gradual reopening of the US economy from the catastrophic shutdown ordered to stop the spread of the coronavirus. “Based on the latest data, our team of experts now agrees that we can begin the next front in our war,” he told a news conference. “We’re opening up our country.” However, the recommendations are a far cry from Trump’s previous hopes for […]

Trudeau: Canada-US border won’t reopen for ‘many weeks’

OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that his country’s border with the United States would not fully reopen for at least several weeks, rejecting US President Donald’s Trump overtures to do so sooner. The border — the world’s longest international frontier at 8,900 kilometers (5,500 miles) — was shut to all non-essential travelers on both sides on March 21 in response to the coronavirus crisis. Cross-border trade has continued. “We […]

6.3 magnitude quake strikes off coast of Honduras

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AFP) — A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Honduras on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or fatalities. The shallow quake was recorded around 90 miles (150 kilometers) north of the Honduran coastline shortly after 2:00 am (0800 GMT). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was “no significant threat” of a tsunami. © Agence France-Presse

Nearly 2,600 US coronavirus deaths in 24 hours: tally

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Wednesday posted nearly 2,600 additional deaths from COVID-19 in 24 hours, a new record and the heaviest daily toll of any country, Johns Hopkins University said. A running tally from Johns Hopkins showed 2,569 victims at 8:30 pm Eastern Time (0030 GMT Thursday), compared with the same time the previous evening, bringing the total number of US deaths to 28,326 — higher than any other nation. […]

New York to test for antibodies, governor mandates face covering

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — New York has developed its own antibody test that could help detect those immune to coronavirus as the state looks to gradually end its shutdown, Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday. He made the announcement as he ordered all residents of the state — the epicenter of America’s coronavirus outbreak — to cover their faces when in stores or using public transit. Cuomo said 2,000 people would be tested a […]

Trump: US likely ‘passed the peak’ on coronavirus cases

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday the United States is past the worst of the coronavirus pandemic and that he will announce guidelines for reopening the economy on Thursday. “It is clear that our aggressive strategy is working,” he told a news conference. “The battle continues but the data suggests that nationwide we have passed the peak on new cases.” Trump added that “these encouraging developments have put us in a […]

In California, early coronavirus action ‘makes a difference’

by Laurent BANGUET Agence France-Presse Los Angeles, United States (AFP) — Swift and strict containment measures in California appear to have succeeded in reducing hospital overcrowding and mass deaths from coronavirus, according to health experts in the country’s most populous state. California, one of the first states struck by the deadly disease, has been under lockdown for nearly four weeks. During that time its confirmed case and death tolls have been rapidly overtaken by various eastern […]

California governor eyes lockdown end but refuses to set date

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday set out conditions for lifting California’s coronavirus lockdown, but warned it would be at least two weeks before any timeline for reopening the state could be announced. Newsom said stay-at-home orders had “bent the curve” in the nation’s most populous state, but warned against moving too quickly and insisted decisions should be based on science not politics. Hospital cases would need to decline over […]

‘Not the time to reduce the resources’ of WHO: UN chief

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — It is “not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus,” United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday. “It is my belief that the World Health Organization must be supported, as it is absolutely critical to the world’s efforts to win the war against COVID-19,” he said, after US President Donald […]