NEW YORK: The United States has surpassed the grim milestone of 100,000 coronavirus deaths, as the pandemic tightened its grip on Latin America.
The figure was a painful reminder of the devastation being wreaked around the globe by a virus that emerged late last year. The number of confirmed US deaths stood at 100,396 late on Wednesday with nearly 1.7 million infections.
The 24-hour toll shot back up after three days of sharp declines to 1,401. Most US states moved toward reopening restaurants and businesses. President Donald Trump is eager to see the economic pain of the crisis mitigated as he seeks re-election later this year.
The US capital Washington will ease its lockdown from Friday. There was grim news coming from across the Americas, as Brazil saw its death toll pass 25,000. President Jair Bolsonaro is also facing mounting criticism over his response to the health crisis.
The Brazilian leader has downplayed the seriousness of the pandemic and campaigned against stay-at-home measures and argued the economic fallout risks are causing more damage than the virus itself.
READ MORE: South America is new epicentre of COVID-19: WHO
In Europe, businesses have slowly started reopening as outbreaks slow down. The EU unveiled a historic 750 billion euro recovery plan, following other unprecedented emergency measures introduced around the world to rescue economies shattered by the virus.
“This is Europe’s moment,” EU Commission chief Ursula Von der Leyen said. “We either all go it alone, leaving countries, regions and people behind… or we walk that road together.”
The proposal comes as the continent grapples with the human tragedy and economic destruction as at least 173,000 have lost their lives to COVID-19.
Spain began 10 days of official mourning for the more than 27,000 people who died there with all flags on public buildings at half-staff. Most governments in Europe are also trying to move cautiously over fears of a second wave of infections.
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The United States remains the hardest-hit nation as President Donald Trump faces heavy criticism for his handling of the crisis and for not wearing a mask in public despite his administration’s recommendations.
Trump’s main concern has been for a quick turnaround of the battered US economy and he has pressured local and state leaders to ease lockdowns. Renowned infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci warned against leapfrogging guidelines in order to open more quickly.
Trump made the shocking revelation this month when he said he was taking the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure against coronavirus.
France said it was banning the drug as a COVID-19 treatment, following a move by the World Health Organisation to end clinical trials amid fears over dangerous side effects.
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