US sees deadliest day with 2,100 deaths in 24 hrs

Rome, April 11

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The US became the first country to report more than 2,000 coronavirus deaths in a single day, marking a grim milestone over the Easter holiday weekend.

On Saturday, US’ death toll crossed 19,700 mark, more than that of Italy, which has the second most reported deaths at 19,468 and Spain is in third place with 16,353. The US has five times the population of Italy and nearly seven times the population of Spain.

Europe has, so far, shouldered the majority of all deaths and infections — though there were signs of hope as the curve reportedly started to flatten in some of the hardest-hit countries.

Numbers out of Madrid offered a glimmer of hope on Saturday: With 510 new deaths, a dip in fatalities was seen for the third day in a row. In France, nearly 1,000 new deaths were confirmed on Friday, but the country reported a drop in the number of intensive care patients for a second consecutive day. Italy, meanwhile, also said the number of daily deaths was starting to level off — though the government resisted pressure to lift its lockdown, extending confinement measures until May 3.

The spread of pandemic continues in other parts of the world. The Philippines reported 26 new coronavirus-related deaths on Saturday, taking the total to 247. It also confirmed 233 new infections for a tally of 4,428.

Brazil, the hardest-hit Latin American country in the pandemic, passed the mark of 1,000 deaths on Friday, the health ministry said.

With more than half a million reported infections, the United States already has more coronavirus cases than anywhere else in the world.

The global infection rate now stands at more than 1.7 million, though with many countries only testing the most serious cases the numbers are likely far higher.

US President Donald Trump has said that the time of reopening the country’s economy that has been crippled by the “invisible enemy” will be the “biggest decision” he will ever had to make, as his administration grappled with the raging pandemic.

He acknowledged the risk of higher death toll if businesses restart too soon — after the World Health Organization cautioned countries against lifting lockdown measures too quickly. — Agencies

China reports fresh cases

• China reported on Saturday a rise in infections, mostly in travellers arriving from abroad.
• Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for citizens across Japan to avoid evening spots like bars and restaurants in a ratcheting up of social distancing guidance.
• The WHO warned countries on Friday to be cautious about lifting restrictions and voiced alarm it was taking hold in Africa.
• President Hassan Rouhani urged Iranians to respect health protocols to guard against the new coronavirus as “low-risk” economic activities resumed in most of the country on Saturday.

Trump’s gaffe

President Donald Trump mistook Good Friday for Easter & wished the world “Happy Good Friday”

USA BATTLES VIRUS

NY Public schools shut for rest of year

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Saturday public schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year as the city battles the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. “Having to tell you that we cannot bring our schools back for the remainder of this school year is painful, but I can also tell you it is the right thing to do,” he told a news conference. De Blasio had ordered public schools shut beginning March 16 to curb the spread of the disease, with an initial goal of reopening by April 20.

Max job loss since Great Depression

Washington: The government has said the economy purged 7,01,000 jobs in March. That was the most job losses since the Great Recession and ended the longest employment boom in US history that started in late 2010. The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits in the last three weeks surpassed 15 million, as weekly new claims topped 6 million for the second straight time last week. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, chairman of the National Governors Association urged the federal government to provide immediate fiscal relief for states battling the outbreak.

20 Afghan Presidential Palace staff test +ve

Kabul: At least 20 employees of the Afghan Presidential Palace have tested positive for the novel coronavirus out of 517 samples examined. Sources said that 10 groups of medics from the Public Health Ministry have begun taking samples from other officials and staff members of the Presidential Palace after the cases were identified. Doctors said that there was a need for more test kits, as testing will slow the spread of the virus in the country. “We will get the best results if we have enough kits,” said Assadullah Esmat, head of the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kabul.

African community targeted in China

Beijing: Africans in southern China’s largest city say they have become targets of suspicion and subjected to forced evictions, arbitrary quarantines and mass coronavirus testing as the country steps up its fight against imported infections. China says it has largely curbed its COVID-19 outbreak but a recent cluster of cases linked to the Nigerian community in Guangzhou sparked the alleged discrimination by locals and virus prevention officials.