North America

US sees nearly 700 more virus deaths in 24 hours

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States lost another 687 people to the new coronavirus in the 24 hours leading up to 8:30 pm (0030 GMT) Thursday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. It marks the eighth day in which the daily toll from the virus has been fewer than 1,000, even as the US remains the country hardest-hit by the pandemic with a total of 118,381 deaths out of a total […]

Canada to roll out COVID-19 tracing app as cases top 100,000

OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Canada will soon roll out a COVID-19 tracing app for smartphones, developed with help from BlackBerry and Shopify, it was announced Thursday, as the number of cases topped 100,000. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a daily briefing it will be “crucial” to increase testing and contact tracing going forward as pandemic restrictions start to be gradually eased. As part of that effort, he said “a mobile app that will notify users […]

Californians ordered to wear face masks in public

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — California’s Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday ordered all Californians to wear face masks in public in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus. “Science shows that face coverings and masks work,” Newsom said in a statement. “They are critical to keeping those who are around you safe, keeping businesses open and restarting our economy.” His order came following a decision last week by officials in Orange County, […]

US to resume federal executions after 17 years

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States will resume federal executions on July 13, after a 17-year stay, the Justice Department said Monday. There have been just three federal execution since the death penalty was reinstated by the US government in 1988. Attorney General Bill Barr announced a year ago he intended to resume the use of the death penalty for federal crimes. Five convicted murderers were scheduled to undergo lethal injections in December […]

Less than 400 US virus deaths in 24 hours for 2nd day: Johns Hopkins

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United State recorded fewer than 400 coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours for the second day in a row, according to a tally Monday by Johns Hopkins University. There were 385 new deaths at 8:30 pm (0030 Tuesday), the tracker from the Baltimore-based university showed, after a 24-hour toll of 382 the day before. These are the lowest daily death tolls since the end of March, although data tend to […]

US ends emergency authorization of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Monday withdrew emergency use authorizations for two antimalarial drugs favored by President Donald Trump to treat the new coronavirus, effectively shutting the door on the politically charged treatments. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) were authorized in March after they were found to inactivate the virus in test tubes, and early small studies appeared to show they worked well in humans, too. Since that time, however, larger, […]

US records 382 virus deaths in 24 hours, lowest in weeks: monitor

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States has recorded 382 coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing its death toll to 115,729, according to a tally Sunday by Johns Hopkins University. This was the lowest 24-hour toll in the US since it peaked in mid-April. It has been averaging 800 or so a day recently. The world’s top economy is by far the hardest-hit country in the pandemic, with both the highest number […]

More than 800 die of COVID-19 in US in 24 hours: Johns Hopkins

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States has recorded another 839 coronavirus-related fatalities in the last 24 hours, bringing the country’s death toll to 114,613, according to a tally Friday by Johns Hopkins University. The world’s top economy is the most affected by the pandemic in absolute terms, with both the highest number of deaths and the largest number of infections — 2,044,572 at 8:30 pm Friday (0030 GMT Saturday), a tracker maintained by […]

INC Giving volunteers from the east coast, ‘do good, to those who need it.’

by Adara Pineda Eagle News VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (Eagle News) — The domino effect of COVID-19 continues to take a toll on different aspects of our communities. Throughout the US, more than 36 million Americans are without a job, struggling to make ends meet. While front liners continue to fight the battle saving lives as we race to find a vaccine. Seeing the growing need in their community, INC Giving from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and […]

US tops two million coronavirus cases: Johns Hopkins

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the United States topped two million on Wednesday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 112,900 people in the United States, which leads the world in the number of confirmed infections with 2,000,464, according to the Baltimore-based school’s latest count. © Agence France-Presse

Miami beaches open after three months of COVID-19 closure

by Leila MACOR MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Miami’s beaches in South Florida opened for the first time in three months Wednesday, an emotional moment for many residents whose leisure and financial well-being are intrinsically tied to the sandy shores, which were closed due to coronavirus. “I almost started crying as soon as I came out onto the beach,” said Julie Isaacson, a New Yorker who has lived for 27 years in Miami Beach, located […]

Pelosi seeks removal of Confederate statues from US Capitol

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Wednesday for removal of 11 Confederate statues from the US Capitol, part of a nationwide push to dismantle such memorials after a black man’s killing in police custody sparked mass anti-racism protests. “Monuments to men who advocated cruelty and barbarism to achieve such a plainly racist end are a grotesque affront to these ideals” of American democracy and freedom, the top Democrat in Congress wrote […]