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.