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Agence France-Presse

The World Health Organisation said that the coronavirus pandemic situation was worsening around the globe, as it warned against complacency.
The WHO said it had recorded its highest daily tally of new infections, with Covid-19 raging in the Americas.
And as mass protests for racial justice sweep across the United States and beyond, the United Nations’ health agency urged anyone demonstrating to do so safely.
Covid-19 has killed more than 403,000 people out of at least 7 million infected since the coronavirus was first detected in China last December.
After East Asia, Europe became the epicentre of the disease, but has now been overtaken by the Americas.
Drought, coronavirus, hunger: Zimbabwe’s misery deepens
“Although the situation in Europe is improving, globally it is worsening,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news conference in Geneva on Monday.
“More than 100,000 cases have been reported on nine of the past 10 days. Yesterday, more than 136,000 cases were reported – the most in a single day so far.
He said that almost 75 per cent of Sunday’s cases came from 10 countries – mostly in the Americas and South Asia.


Tedros said that in countries where the situation was improving, “the biggest threat is now complacency”, adding that “most people globally are still susceptible to infection”.
“More than six months into this pandemic, this is not the time for any country to take its foot off the pedal,” he said.
Infectious disease experts have said that large street protests held in major US cities after the death of a black man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis police custody, could touch off a new outbreak of the disease.
US recession began in February amid coronavirus pandemic
“We encourage all those protesting around the world to do so safely,” Tedros said.
“As much as possible, keep at least one metre from others, clean your hands, cover your cough and wear a mask if you attend a protest.”
University of Washington researchers estimated on Monday that 145,728 people could die of Covid-19 in the United States by August, raising their grim forecast by more than 5,000 fatalities in a matter of days.


A total of more than 1.9 million cases of Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, have been reported in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University tally, which has confirmed more than 110,000 deaths.
“We would hope that in any mass gathering now … people who have had now four to five months to really internalise, that someone who is unwell … should really be at home and not engaged in any public activity,” The WHO’s emergencies director Michael Ryan said.
Coronavirus vaccine could be ready for emergency use within months
Meanwhile, some 400,000 New Yorkers were allowed to return to work as retailers began offering limited in-store and kerbside pickup, with construction and manufacturing also permitted to restart.
Phase one of New York’s reopening got under way as some of Europe’s hardest-hit nations lurched back to a new kind of normal.


Covid-19 caused more than 21,000 confirmed and probable deaths in New York after America’s most populous city quickly became ground zero of the US’s epidemic in late March.
Mayor Bill de Blasio hailed the start of the easing of restrictions but warned residents that they must continue to social distance and wash their hands regularly.
Global coronavirus cases top 7 million as cities like New York face ‘big test’
“This is a triumphant moment for New Yorkers who fought back against this disease,” he said.
However world leaders will not be coming to New York for their annual UN General Assembly in late September for the first time in the UN’s 75-year history because of the pandemic.
UN General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande said that he hoped to announce in the next two weeks how the 193 heads of state and government would give their speeches during the assembly’s so-called General Debate.
Additional reporting by Reuters and Associated Press


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Coronavirus pandemic

WHO warns of ‘worsening’ virus situation worldwide

New York City has entered ‘Phase 1’ of a four-part reopening plan after spending more than two months under lockdown. Photo: AFP

Drought, coronavirus, hunger: Zimbabwe’s misery deepens

A queue of people outside Samantha Murozoki's home in Chitungwiza, a satellite town of Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, where she offers free meals. Photo: AFP

Samantha Murozoki (R) hands a free meal to a woman from her home in Chitungwiza, a satellite town of Zimbabwe’s capital Harare. Photo: AFP

US recession began in February amid coronavirus pandemic, ending longest expansion in history

A woman walks by a boarded up Cartier store on 5th Avenue in New York on Monday. Photo: AFP

FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2019 file photo, World Bank President David Malpass speaks during a news conference at the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Washington. The World Bank said Monday, June 8, 2020, the world is facing an unprecedented health and economic crisis that has spread with astonishing speed and will result in the largest shock the global economy has witnessed in more than seven decades. Millions of people are expected to be pushed into extreme poverty. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 08: A person walks through an open Cookies store on June 8, 2020 in the downtown Brooklyn borough business district of New York City. Today marked the first day of the phase one reopening of the economy that includes construction and curbside retail pickup. Many retail stores in downtown Brooklyn remained closed and boarded up. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Coronavirus vaccine could be ready for emergency use within months, says Chinese expert Zhong Nanshan

Five Chinese vaccines are undergoing human trials. Photo: AFP

Zhong Nanshan said the vaccine would be ready for emergency use later in the year. Photo: Xinhua

Global coronavirus cases top 7 million as cities like New York face ‘big test’

After three bleak months, New York City will try to turn a page when it begins reopening Monday. Photo: DPA

TOPSHOT - A nurse works at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ward where patients infected with the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, are being treated at the Doctor Ernesto Che Guevara Public Hospital in Marica city, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 5, 2020. (Photo by Mauro Pimentel / AFP)

Commuters in New York City will find subway schedules back to usual Monday, with signs showing people how far apart to stand -or try to – on platforms. Photo: Bloomberg

News

World

United States & Canada

Coronavirus


WHO chief said more than 100,000 cases reported on nine of the past 10 days
University of Washington forecasts 145,000 US Covid-19 deaths by August



The World Health Organisation said it had recorded its highest daily tally of new infections, with Covid-19 raging in the Americas.


WHO warns of ‘worsening’ virus situation worldwide

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} WHO chief said more than 100,000 cases reported on nine of the past 10 days University of Washington forecasts 145,000 US Covid-19 deaths by August

WHO chief said more than 100,000 cases reported on nine of the past 10 days

University of Washington forecasts 145,000 US Covid-19 deaths by August