Paris, Feb 27 (AFP/APP): These are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
Massive US relief package
The US House passes an enormous, $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package early Saturday, hailed by Democrats as a critical step in funnelling new funding towards the crisis. Four days after the Covid-19 death toll passed 500,000 in the United States, the sprawling measure backed by President Joe Biden heads to the Senate for consideration next week.
New Zealand city back in lockdown
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern orders the country’s largest city back into lockdown Saturday as more Covid-19 cases are detected there. The latest restrictions in Auckland will last at least seven days and come less than two weeks after a three-day shutdown in the city.
Targeted lockdowns in France
Two French coastal cities, Dunkirk in the north and Nice in the south, enter weekend lockdowns Saturday, in a bid to curb soaring infection rates there. Prime Minister Jean Castex calls on the authorities in 20 regions across the country — including the Paris region — to tighten the enforcement of existing measures there to head off the need for a full, national lockdown.
Czechs tighten restrictions
The Czech government late Friday announces tighter restrictions, including a ban on people leaving their districts, from March 1 to halt a surge in coronavirus infections. The country tops the world in terms of new infections per 100,000 people over the last 14 days and is second only to neighbouring Slovakia in deaths, according to an AFP tally.
Fresh restrictions in Brazil
Brazilian cities and states impose a fresh round of restrictions to try to contain rising infections threatening to overwhelm their already stretched hospitals. Intensive care units in the country are close to breaking point and the country’s death tol passed 250,000 on Thursday — second only to the US toll worldwide.
Chile send oxygen to Peru
A first shipment of medical oxygen sent by Chile arrives in Peru, to help relieve a shortage for Covid-19 patients, President Francisco Sagasti says Friday. Almost 200 people a day have died from Covid-19 in Peru in February, four times more than in December, with the oxygen shortage hampering treatment for thousands of patients.
Britain’s farewell to fundraising hero
Britain bids farewell Saturday to Captain Tom Moore, the 100-year-old war veteran who became a global hero after raising millions for the health service during the pandemic. In a televised funeral, soldiers formed a guard of honour at the small ceremony held by Moore’s family in central England, as a WWII-era plane stages a flypast.
2.5 million deaths
The virus has caused at least 2,518,080 deaths around the world since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources at 1500 GMT. The US has the heaviest toll with 510,467 deaths, followed by Brazil with 252,835, Mexico with 184,474, India 156,938 and the United Kingdom 122,415.
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