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AFP
Paris
France and the Netherlands imposed stricter mask-wearing rules on Wednesday amid signs that the coronavirus pandemic is flaring up again across the globe, with the worldwide death toll exceeding 700,000.
Toulouse in southwest France announced that the wearing of face masks is compulsory in particularly busy streets and squares from Wednesday.
And Paris and other cities are expected to follow suit soon, authorities said.
People already have to wear them inside most private businesses and all public buildings in France.
A scientific committee advising the French government warned that the country could lose control of its spread “at any time.” In the Netherlands, similar mask-wearing measures come into force in Rotterdam and in some busy neighbourhoods of Amsterdam, including its famous red-light district.
And Ireland has postponed the reopening of pubs and other nightspots on the advice of scientists, concerned about rising infections.
A total of 700,489 deaths have been recorded so far around the world, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources, double the number since May 26, with 100,000 registered in just under three weeks.
Europe remains the hardest hit region with 211,365 fatalities. Far from slowing down, the latest figures show that the rate of infection is accelerating across the globe.
Brazil is driving a surge in Latin America and the Caribbean, where infections passed five million on Monday.
South America’s largest country has recorded more than 2.75 million cases, and nearly 96,000 deaths, nearly half the region’s 203,800 fatalities. The world’s hope of ending the current cycle of outbreaks and lockdowns rests on finding a treatment.
The United States announced Tuesday it had begun late-stage clinical trials into a drug they hope will be an antibody against the coronavirus.
The Phase 3 trial will initially enroll some 300 volunteers around the world who have been hospitalised with mild to moderate COVID-19 with fewer than 13 days of symptoms.
Russia has said it aims to launch mass production of a vaccine in September and turn out “several million” doses per month by next year.
In response, the World Health Organization urged Russia to follow the established guidelines for producing safe and effective vaccines.
The agency’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on countries to focus on basic suppression measures, such as contact tracing, maintaining physical distance and wearing a mask.
Paris
France and the Netherlands imposed stricter mask-wearing rules on Wednesday amid signs that the coronavirus pandemic is flaring up again across the globe, with the worldwide death toll exceeding 700,000.
Toulouse in southwest France announced that the wearing of face masks is compulsory in particularly busy streets and squares from Wednesday.
And Paris and other cities are expected to follow suit soon, authorities said.
People already have to wear them inside most private businesses and all public buildings in France.
A scientific committee advising the French government warned that the country could lose control of its spread “at any time.” In the Netherlands, similar mask-wearing measures come into force in Rotterdam and in some busy neighbourhoods of Amsterdam, including its famous red-light district.
And Ireland has postponed the reopening of pubs and other nightspots on the advice of scientists, concerned about rising infections.
A total of 700,489 deaths have been recorded so far around the world, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources, double the number since May 26, with 100,000 registered in just under three weeks.
Europe remains the hardest hit region with 211,365 fatalities. Far from slowing down, the latest figures show that the rate of infection is accelerating across the globe.
Brazil is driving a surge in Latin America and the Caribbean, where infections passed five million on Monday.
South America’s largest country has recorded more than 2.75 million cases, and nearly 96,000 deaths, nearly half the region’s 203,800 fatalities. The world’s hope of ending the current cycle of outbreaks and lockdowns rests on finding a treatment.
The United States announced Tuesday it had begun late-stage clinical trials into a drug they hope will be an antibody against the coronavirus.
The Phase 3 trial will initially enroll some 300 volunteers around the world who have been hospitalised with mild to moderate COVID-19 with fewer than 13 days of symptoms.
Russia has said it aims to launch mass production of a vaccine in September and turn out “several million” doses per month by next year.
In response, the World Health Organization urged Russia to follow the established guidelines for producing safe and effective vaccines.
The agency’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on countries to focus on basic suppression measures, such as contact tracing, maintaining physical distance and wearing a mask.
