Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
– Mexico: One million infected –
Mexico registers more than one million cases as its death toll edges towards 100,000.
The country has the world’s fourth highest death toll — the neighbouring United States has the highest. Some 635 more people died Saturday bringing the total to 98,259, with experts warning the worst is yet to come.
Scientist confident of return to ‘normal’
Ugur Sahin, the Turkish co-founder of German firm BioN which with US giant Pfizer is developing the leading candidate in the worldwide chase for a vaccine, says he is confident of a return to normal life next winter if there is a good take-up of the vaccine.
“This winter will be hard” without any major impact from vaccinations, he predicts, adding that they hope to be able to deliver the vaccine at the end of this year, or beginning of next year.
“Our goal is to deliver more than 300 million doses by April next year, which could already have an impact,” he says.
A number of vaccination companies are working to increase the supply, he said. “So we could have a normal winter next (year).”
– Patients die in blaze –
Romania checks all its intensive care units after 10 Covid-19 patients die in a fire in a hospital in the northeastern city of Piatra Neamt.
Seven others are in a critical condition after the blaze, the worst in the Balkan country since a 2015 disco fire that killed 64 and that also raised disturbing questions about its health service.
– Bolsonaro’s poll test –
Brazilians vote in municipal elections, the first polls since President Jair Bolsonaro came to power in 2018, with the pandemic looming large.
Like US President Donald Trump, the far-right former army captain has tried to downplay the virus, calling it a “little flu”. Yet at least 165,658 Brazilian have died, the worst toll outside the US.
– Germany: ‘Curbs for five months’ –
Germany is facing four to five more months of restrictions, its economy minister Peter Altmaier says, dashing hopes of a quick end to its partial lockdown.
“The infection numbers are still far too high — much higher even than a fortnight ago,” Altmaier told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
– Austrian mass testing –
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Austria would follow neighbouring Slovakia by mass testing its population.
The country will close schools and shops on Tuesday as it toughens its lockdown until December 6. Kurz said fast but less reliable antigen tests could help reopen the country and make Christmas celebrates safer.
– Thank you, Doc! –
The United Arab Emirates is granting all doctors and infectious disease experts living in the country a 10-year visa.
Students who get top grades in epidemiology and artificial intelligence could also get a “golden visa”, said Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum.
Foreigners account for 90 percent of the oil-rich state’s population.
– 1.3 million dead –
The coronavirus has killed at least 1,313,471 people since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT on Sunday.
That includes 9,246 new deaths, while 607,998 new cases were recorded worldwide.
The US has the most new deaths with 1,351, followed by Brazil with 921 and Mexico with 635.
The US is the worst-affected country with 245,614 deaths, followed by Brazil with 165,658, India with 129,635, Mexico with 98,259 and the United Kingdom with 51,766.
– Bookworms to the barricades –
French authors vow to pay the fines of bookshops defying the country’s lockdown rules.
“No state has the moral right to close bookshops,” says writer Alexandre Jardin, as indignation grows that they are regarded as “non-essential”.
– For the love of God –
Catholics protest at a ban on large church gatherings outside four cathedrals in cities across France although a Paris demonstration is banned by police.
Churches are allowed to say open during the French lockdown but regular services are banned.
