Coronavirus: Worldwide fatalities exceeds 102,000

The number of deaths from the new coronavirus’ pandemic has exceeded 102,000, with the United States, where the death toll has topped 18,300, leading other countries in terms of the total number of infections.

By early Saturday, from among the nearly 1,685,000 cases of infection worldwide, more than 493,300 belonged to the US.

Officials were warning Americans to expect alarming numbers of coronavirus deaths this week.

The top US infectious disease expert had warned on Friday that it was too early to relax restrictions on Americans. "Now is no time to back off," Dr. Anthony Fauci said.

So far, only Italy with 18,849 fatalities has lost more people to the outbreak.

Council to undertake ‘re-opening’ US

Also on Friday, however, US President Donald Trump said he would soon be announcing a council to focus on re-opening the country after, what he called, its overcoming of the worst of the pandemic.

"We will be announcing that in a short while. Probably Tuesday," Trump told reporters in a briefing.

He also said he thought the United States would lose fewer than the 100,000 lives as initially projected to the coronavirus.

WHO warns of ‘deadly resurgence’ of coronavirus if restrictions hastily lifted

The organization is working with countries “on strategies for gradually and safely easing restrictions.”

In a throwback to his trademark demand for a wall on the country’s southern border with Mexico as a supposed barrier against illegal migrants, Trump, meanwhile, said the coronavirus pandemic had come to underline the importance of “national borders.”

Italy extends lockdown

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the government was extending the nation-wide lockdown to contain the virus until May 3, though a few types of shops would be allowed to re-open from April 14.

"This is a difficult but necessary decision for which I take all political responsibility," Conte told a news conference.

The draconian curbs on movement and the shutdown imposed on most shops and businesses across Italy had taken force on March 9, and were scheduled to expire on Monday.

France deaths at 13,197

The number of people who had died from the coronavirus in France jumped by nearly 1,000 to 13,197 on Friday.

A total of 90,676 coronavirus cases have been confirmed by public health authorities, said state public health chief Jerome Salomon.

The number of people in intensive care units, however, fell slightly for the second day in a row as the effect of nationwide confinement started to show.

Sweden to expand morgue capacity

Sweden was also reported to be looking to expand its morgue capacity to cope with a potential surge in deaths from the pandemic.

A deal has been struck with Gothenburg's Isdala ice skating rink to temporarily store bodies while families make funeral arrangements.

Sweden has reported 9,685 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Friday, with 870 people having died of the disease.

Moscow bracing for ‘serious test’

The mayor of Moscow urged residents of the capital to brace for a "serious test" from the new coronavirus and said the city would introduce a system of permits for movement to help enforce a lockdown, as infection numbers shot up across Russia.

The country reported 1,786 new cases, bringing its tally to 11,917, even as Moscow and many other regions neared the end of their second week in a state of lockdown. Ninety-four people have died, authorities say.

Brazil deaths top 1,000

Brazil, the hardest-hit Latin American country in the coronavirus pandemic, passed the mark of 1,000 deaths on Friday, the Health Ministry said.

The ministry's latest figures gave a toll of 19,638 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 1,057 deaths.

‘Humanitarian corridor’ for Uruguay ship

Also on Saturday, Uruguay would repatriate 112 Australians and New Zealanders from a cruise ship that has been stranded in the La Plata River near capital Montevideo since March 27, the government of the small South American country said.

The passengers, most of whom have tested positive for the coronavirus, were to be bussed to a special airport terminal with strict health controls. They were scheduled to board a Melbourne-bound charter flight in the early morning hours of Saturday.

The "humanitarian corridor" will allow the 96 Australians and 16 New Zealanders to return to their homes but will not include passengers of other nationalities, who will remain on the ship pending negotiations with their home nations.

Lockdown awaits 31 Turkey provinces

Istanbul, Ankara, and other major Turkish cities will be locked down for two days from midnight to combat the spread of COVID-19, the Interior Ministry said on Friday, as the country's death toll from the epidemic rose above 1,000.

The move, which covers 31 provinces, scales up exiting curbs under which people under the age of 20 and senior citizens have been told to stay at home.

(Source: Agencies)

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