Global virus deaths cross 1.5L

Washington, April 18

Coronavirus deaths have surged past 1.55 lakh worldwide with nearly a quarter of them in the US, where President Donald Trump lent his support to protesters rallying against lockdown orders.

Evidence is mounting that social distancing successfully slowed the pandemic after more than half of humanity — 4.5 billion people — were confined to their homes.

Governments around the world are now grappling with when and how to ease lockdowns that have crippled the global economy, even as the COVID-19 death toll climbs further in hard-hit countries.

Demonstrators in three US states staged public rallies this week to demand an end to the restrictions, with the largest protest in Michigan attracting 3,000 people — some of whom were armed.

Trump has largely left decisions on easing lockdowns to state officials even as he laid out guidelines for a staged reopening of the national economy.

The number of the coronavirus cases in the US crossed 7.10 lakh on Saturday. It has also recorded over 37,000 deaths, more than any other nation, followed by Italy, Spain and France which have all been ravaged by their own outbreaks.

Europe has listed 11,15,555 cases and 97,985 deaths to date, the US and Canada together have 7,38,706 cases with 38,445 deaths, Asia 1,58,764 cases with 6,837 deaths, the Middle East 1,19,462 cases with 5,452 deaths, Latin America and the Caribbean 91,699 cases with 4,367 deaths, Africa 19,674 cases with 1,016 deaths and Oceania 7,835 cases with 86 deaths.

Meanwhile, the US has been conducting a full-scale investigation into whether the deadly virus “escaped” from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a report said, adding that intelligence operatives were reportedly gathering information about the laboratory and the initial outbreak of the pathogen.

“We’re looking at it, a lot of people are looking at it. It seems to make sense,” Trump told reporters at a White House news conference when asked if there was an investigation into whether the coronavirus disease escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China. — Agencies

Africa toll 1,000

Johannesburg: Africa has seen more than 1,000 Covid deaths, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Fifty two of the continent’s 54 nations are infected. The total cases have crossed 19,800.

Voting for covid fund

Brussels: European Parliament has voted in favour of mobilising $3.7 bn funds to help national healthcare systems to fight the pandemic. In all, 691 MEPs voted in favour.

Critical cases: 57,497

The most-affected

Nations : Deaths

• US : 37,889
• Italy : 23,227
• Spain : 19,130
• France : 18,681
• UK : 15,464
• Iran : 5,031
• Germany : 4,403