COVID-19 cases surge as US passes 4mn, Europe 3mn mark

Brazilian firefighters use a bubble stretcher to transport virus patients. Photo: AFP

A further increase in COVID-19 cases from Japan to Belgium and Australia has seen an increase in infection, which crossed the four million mark in the United States (US) and exceeded the three million mark in Europe on Friday.

As EU lawmakers reviewed a massive aid package for their economies, the UN requested a basic income for the world's poorest to help curb the spread of COVID-19, and the Red Cross warned of the new "mass migration "caused by economic devastation.

The United States, the country most affected by the virus, added a million new cases in just over two weeks, according to a tracker maintained by Johns Hopkins University. In the last 24 hours alone, the country registered more than 76,000 new cases.

After having recorded more than 144,000 deaths in total, the United States has seen an increase in coronaviruses, particularly in the southern and western states, as Texas, California, Alabama, Idaho and Florida announced record one-day tolls.

However, the new case rate now shows signs of relief in some of the worst affected areas.

In a context of mass unemployment and low approval ratings, President Donald Trump announced that he would rule out next month's Republican nomination convention in Florida, saying the time was not right to hold a "big and crowded" event.

'Europe's response is greater'
Meanwhile, the European continent now represents a fifth of the more than 15 million cases in the world and remains the most affected in terms of deaths, with 206,633 of 627,307 worldwide.

A € 750 billion post-coronavirus recovery plan was drawn up at an EU summit this week, where fiscally rigid nations clashed with affected countries like Spain and Italy that have called for large aid donations.

EU chief Charles Michel said the total stimulus would eventually reach 1.8 trillion euros ($ 2.2 trillion).

"This moment, it is my conviction, is fundamental in European history. We act quickly and urgently," Michel told the bloc's parliament in Brussels.

"Europe's response is greater than that of the United States or China," he said.

Meanwhile, the UN warned that the world's poorest also need help.

Funding of $ 199 billion per month would provide 2.7 billion people with a temporary basic income and "the means to buy food and pay for health and education expenses," said the UN Development Program.

"The rescue and recovery plans cannot focus only on big markets and big business," said UNDP administrator Achim Steiner.

UN projections have warned that the virus could kill 1.67 million people in 30 low-income countries.

The side effects will also be enormous, warned Red Cross chief Jagan Chapagain.

"Many people who are losing their livelihoods, once the borders begin to open, will feel compelled to move," he told AFP.

"It should not surprise us if there is a massive impact on migration in the coming months and years."

New restrictions take effect as COVID-19 cases increase
There were signs that the virus may reappear quickly when blocking measures are lifted.

Australia, Belgium, Hong Kong and the Japanese capital Tokyo had early successes in containing outbreaks, but are now facing an increase, prompting further restrictions.

Anyone venturing into Australia's second-largest city, Melbourne, will have to wear a mask. The same will happen in open-air markets and in crowded areas of Belgium starting on Saturday.

"These measures are not advice, they are orders," said Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes.

The South African Medical Research Council reported a 60 percent increase in the total number of natural deaths in recent weeks, suggesting a much higher number of coronavirus-related deaths in the worst-affected nation in Africa.