by Sebastian Smith, with AFP bureaus Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump has said he has seen evidence the new coronavirus originated in a Chinese lab, an assertion that threatened on Friday to turn a global health emergency into a diplomatic crisis. The US president’s statement was immediately undermined by intelligence officials and top diplomat Mike Pompeo, who said: “We don’t know precisely where it began.” But the […]
Tag: US
More than 2,000 US coronavirus deaths in 24 hours: tracker
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States recorded more than 2,000 coronavirus deaths in a 24-hour period for the third day running, according to the latest real-time tally Thursday reported by Johns Hopkins University. The country — hardest hit by the pandemic in terms of the number of fatalities — recorded 2,053 deaths on Thursday, after 2,502 deaths on Wednesday and 2,207 on Tuesday. At least 62,906 people have now died in the United […]
Trump says evidence ties virus to Wuhan lab, threatens tariffs
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened new tariffs against Beijing after claiming there is evidence linking the coronavirus to a lab in China’s ground-zero city of Wuhan. Asked if he had seen anything giving him a high degree of confidence that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the origin of the outbreak, Trump replied, “Yes, I have.” The Republican is increasingly making complaints over Beijing’s handling of the pandemic […]
California to shut down certain beaches to prevent spread of virus
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Beaches in some parts of southern California will be shut down from Friday, the state’s governor announced, to avoid a repeat of the huge crowds that flocked there last weekend. “We’re going to do a hard close … just in the Orange County area,” Gavin Newsom said. “Specific issues on some of those beaches have raised alarm bells,” he added, referring to the thousands of people who packed beaches […]
Los Angeles offers free virus tests for all residents
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Los Angeles will offer free coronavirus tests to all residents regardless of whether they show any symptoms, Mayor Eric Garcetti said. “Announcing that L.A. is now the first major city in America to offer free COVID-19 testing to all residents,” Garcetti tweeted Wednesday. Priority will be given to those with symptoms and front-line workers but individuals without symptoms can also be tested. Along with hand-washing and social distancing “testing […]
Despite virus outbreaks, US meat plants told to stay open
by Juliette MICHEL Agence France-Presse Video report by Eagle News International NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — US slaughterhouses are being forced to stay open on government orders despite deadly coronavirus outbreaks among workers, as authorities move to ensure supermarkets are fully stocked with meat. President Donald Trump signed the executive order on Tuesday under the Defense Production Act, a law designed for use in wartime to divert private business for defense and security needs. Several […]
US records 2,502 coronavirus deaths in past 24 hours: tracker
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States recorded 2,502 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, according to the latest real-time tally on Wednesday reported by Johns Hopkins University. After two days of a relative easing in the toll on Sunday and Monday, the numbers have spiked again the past two days. At least 60,853 people have now died in the country, according to the Baltimore-based university. © Agence France-Presse
Remdesivir shows ‘clear-cut’ effect in treating coronavirus: Fauci
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A major new study proves that the antiviral drug remdesivir is effective in saving people with serious cases of COVID-19, top US doctor Anthony Fauci said Wednesday. Fauci, speaking at the White House, said “the data shows remdesivir has a clear-cut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time to recovery.” This proves “that a drug can block this virus,” he said, comparing the discovery to the fight for AIDS therapies […]
Google makes its video meeting service free to all
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Google on Tuesday made its business videoconferencing service free to all users, ramping up competition for Zoom as people flock online to stay connected during the pandemic. Google Meet had previously been reserved for subscribers to the premium G Suite software tools for businesses. Meet will be available “to all users around the world, to enable people all walks of life to communicate collaborate and really stay in touch […]
California could start new school year as early as July
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — California may start the new school year as early as July to make up for some of the “learning loss” due to the pandemic, the state’s Governor Gavin Newsom said Tuesday. “We recognize there’s been a learning loss because of this disruption,” Newsom told reporters. “And so we are considering an even earlier school year into the fall, as early as late July, early August.” Schools in California, the […]
US govt reveals details of sunlight study on virus
by Issam AHMED Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US Department of Homeland Security revealed to AFP on Tuesday new technical details regarding its highly anticipated study into how ultraviolet radiation destroys the new coronavirus, saying that its experiment had accurately mimicked natural sunlight. A summary of the research was presented last week at the White House, with some scientists calling for caution until a more comprehensive report was made public. US […]
US registers millionth case as pandemic lockdowns ease
by Ben Sheppard with AFP bureaus Agene France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Tuesday recorded its one-millionth coronavirus case as countries including Spain, Russia and Nigeria took tentative steps back towards normal life by preparing to reopen some businesses. Excitement over partial easing of the lockdowns affecting more than half of humanity has been tempered by fear of new outbreaks and growing evidence of the economic devastation wreaked by the […]





