World coronavirus dispatch: How a Wuhan lab got mired in global blame-game

In a curious development, French scientists claim to have identified a coronavirus case dating back to December, about a month before the first cases were officially confirmed in Europe

In a rather peculiar development, French scientists say they may have identified a possible case of the new coronavirus dating back to December — about a month before the first cases were officially confirmed in Europe. The patient, who has since recovered, said he had no idea where he caught the virus, as he had not travelled abroad. France is not the only country where subsequent testing points to earlier cases. Two weeks ago, a post-mortem examination carried out in California revealed that the first coronavirus-related death in the US was almost a month earlier than previously thought. Read more here.

Let’s look at the global statistics

Total confirmed cases: 3,601,760

Change over previous day: 75,582

Total deaths: 251,910

Total recovered: 1,174,006

Nations hit with most cases: The US (1,180,634), Spain (218,011), Italy (211,938), the UK (191,832) and France (169,583).

Source: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center

US to fund coronavirus relief largely through borrowing: US expects to borrow a record $3 trillion in the second quarter to pay for the coronavirus relief measures passed by the Congress. The borrowing estimate for the April-June quarter is larger than the country’s largest full-year borrowing yet – the most it has borrowed in a financial year is $1.8 trillion, in 2009 because of the global financial crisis. Looking ahead to the third quarter, the US Treasury Department said it expected to borrow $677 billion.  Read more here.

World coronavirus dispatch: How most affected nations plan to end lockdowns

From Italy to Spain, Germany, the US, China, New Zealand, Norway and Germany have all either ended or will soon end their stringent lockdowns. Read how they plan to do it in today’s world digest

Some of the countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic – Italy, Spain, Germany, the US, China, New Zealand, Norway, Germany, etc –have either ended or will soon end their stringent lockdowns, as new Covid-19 cases have begun to drop. This is as much a result of businesses gasping for breath as the mankind’s social fabric breaking down. The re-opening is happening in phases, starting with core businesses like manufacturing, food and healthcare, followed by some leisure activities. Institutions of learning might well remain closed until the middle of the second half of this year. Read all about where the lockdowns are ending and how.

Let’s look at the global statistics:

Total confirmed cases: 2,992,970

Change over previous day: 74,702

Total deaths: 207,583

Total recovered: 876,531

Nations hit with most cases: The US (965,951), Spain (229,422), Italy (197,675), France (162,220) and Germany (157,946).

Source: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center

New York may reopen in a phased manner from mid-May: The New York governor has said a phased reopening, beginning with construction and manufacturing, could start as soon as May 15. The state announced the lowest number of deaths in almost a month. Trade groups in the US have called for states to adopt uniform reopening standards. Read more here.

Italy lays down plan to reopen economy: One of the most affected counties, Italy, will start easing the lockdown from May 4, when construction and manufacturing activities will resume. These will be followed by retail shops and museums on May 18, and bars, restaurants and hair salons on June 1. Schools will remain shut until September. Read more here.

Covid-19 Factoid: Some worrying signs from India, Qatar and elsewhere

While India has seen its biggest single-day jump in cases, cases being added daily in Qatar has nearly doubled; the global death toll has taken just 15 days to rise from 100,000 to 200,000

The global tally of coronavirus infections is nearing the three-million mark, and more than 200,000 people have already succumbed to infections. The number of positive cases at present stands at 2,940,257, while 841,966 patients have recovered fully. The US, the most affected country in this pandemic, accounts for over 30 per cent of all confirmed cases, and a little over 25 per cent of the global death toll. In India, now there are 26,917 reported cases, and there have been 826 deaths. Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Delhi account for a little over 50 per cent of all confirmed cases in the country.

Here are some data trends to help you understand the current pandemic situation better:

1. Addition of 100,000 to the global death toll took just 15 days

The total number of fatalities globally has seen a sharp rise in the past fortnight. While the first 100,000 deaths had taken place in a little over 70 days, the second has come in just 15 days. In the first it was Italy that had contributed the most last month, but in the second the US surpassed all other countries with a whopping death toll of over 50,000.

2. Qatar is West Asia is witnessing a worrying surge in number of daily new cases

In the past five days, the number of cases added daily to Qatar’s total has surged from 500-odd to more than 900. The country has 10,287 cases at present, and 10 fatalities. In fact, it has more cases per million population than Italy, France, and the US.

World coronavirus dispatch: Lockdowns go into June; US halts immigration

Even as nations in the East are being cautious, some others, mainly in Europe, think the worst has passed for them and are looking to ease restrictions – read these and more in today’s dispatch

It looks like lockdowns in some country will go on for longer than they were thought to. The city-state of Singapore, having seen a spike in cases in the past two days, has extended its lockdown till June 1. This is the first time any country has officially extended its lockdown into June. Singapore’s lockdown was supposed to end on May 3.

Even as countries in the East are being more cautious, some others, particularly in Europe, think the worst has passed for them and are looking to ease restrictions. Some have even lifted their lockdowns partially. Read more here.

Let’s look at the global statistics:

Total confirmed cases: 2,531,804

Change over previous day: 73,928

Total deaths: 174,336

Total recovered: 665,458

Nations hit with most cases: US (804,194), Spain (204,178), Italy (183,957), France (156,495) and Germany (148,007).

Source: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center

Governments vow to keep food supply chains running: A group of nearly 50 governments, including those in the European Union, Canada, Japan and Brazil, is preparing to sign a pledge to ensure food supply chains remain orderly and officials exercise restraint with any trade restrictions. Read more here.

In times of pandemic, China is testing digital currency: China’s central bank confirmed on Tuesday that it had started to test a digital currency in four cities. Cash is already a rare sight in China because of popular services like Alipay and WeChat Pay. Without an official name, the new currency is referred to internally as “DC/EP” or “digital currency/electronic payment”, and China says it should be ready for use by the Beijing Winter Olympics, 2022. Read more here.

World coronavirus dispatch: US unemployment rises, job cuts at airlines

From the US’ plan to ban domestic flights to layoffs at aviation firms and Russia’s extended restrictions and fresh wave of coronavirus cases in China – read these in today’s international dispatch

The coronavirus situation seems to have battered the US, with the number of infections in that country crossing the 200,000-mark rather quickly. Piling on to its worries is growing joblessness. New data show that the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits more than doubled to 6 million – a new record.

Let’s look at the global statistics:

Total confirmed cases: 962,977

Change over the previous day: 88,896

Total deaths: 49,180

Total recovered: 202,728

Nations hit with most cases: US (216,768), Italy (110,574), Spain (110,238), China (82,431), and Germany (80,641).(Source: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center)

US may ban domestic flights: US President Donald Trump has said he is looking “very strongly” at banning domestic air travel to curb the spread of coronavirus but added that he is conscious that it will damage the US airline industry. He will announce his recommendations soon. Read more here.

Credit crisis in emerging markets: Investors are bracing for an emerging market credit crisis as the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic hits vulnerable countries. Commodity prices have plunged and demand has frozen, and currencies are tumbling against the dollar. This has particularly hit emerging markets in Africa, Asia and South America. Read more here.

Russia extends social isolation measures

President Vladimir Putin has extended his order keeping Russians at home until April 30. So far, the restrictions are in force in Moscow and some other places. He has authorised regional leaders to decide and enforce measures is their respective areas. Read more here.