Coronavirus Pandemic: Latest Global Updates, April 2020

It goes without saying, but the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the life and activities of the world’s populace has been pronounced.

As it currently stands, there have been more than 2.32 million global cases and at least 161,000 global deaths. The country with the most cases is the United States, with around 735,086 confirmed coronavirus cases.

Some countries have adhered strictly to social distancing measures, which scientists are certain will mitigate the spread. However, others still appear not to have recognised the danger, perhaps most strikingly shown by recent events in Bangladesh, when more than ten thousand people attended the funeral of a senior member of a Muslim party.

In Nigeria, as well, most of the world watched in horror as masses of people participated in the burial of the chief of staff to the Nigerian president.

Below are the summaries of key global coronavirus developments over the last few days:

Turkey

Turkey’s coronavirus cases are now the highest in the middle east, with the country surpassing her neighbour, Iran.

The country’s health minister Dr. Fahrettin Koca confirmed on Saturday that cases had risen to 82,329, higher than Iran’s 82,211.

United States

President Trump continues to reiterate that China could face consequences if coronavirus occurred with their knowledge.

On Saturday, Trump said:

“If it was a mistake, a mistake is a mistake. But if they were knowingly responsible, yeah, I mean, then surely there should be consequences.”

President Trump in a briefing to reporters

Trump has previously said that his government is seeking to determine whether the virus originated from a lab in China.

Israel

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that Israel will gradually ease its coronavirus lockdown starting on this coming Sunday. This will involve reopening some businesses and allowing freer movement after the country has witnessed a slowdown in the last month of the rate of the infection.

The tightening of a partial lockdown on March 14 led to the decline of the Israel’s economy and it appears that, coupled with the slow rate of the infection, this has resulted in the easing of the lockdown.

Spain

On Wednesday, the prime minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, said he would ask the parliament for a 15-day extension of the coronavirus lockdown.

However, the prime minister also said that Spain could hopefully begin easing its restrictions in the second half of May, despite warning that this would be a slow process.

“We must avoid missteps. If we stay on top of the virus and our health system maintains and reinforces that impression, then we will propose another step.”

Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez

Last week some Spanish manufacturing sectors opened, however, most people are still confined to their houses, only leaving for food. The current restrictions will continue until May 9.

Germany

Germany added more than 2,400 cases on Sunday, taking the total number of coronavirus infections in the country to 140,000.

Germany now has the fifth highest number of reported infections worldwide.

In positive news – and unlike some other countries – their death toll toll stands relatively low, especially compared to Italy, Spain, and France, which have reported at least 15,000 fatalities each.

The 2,400 infections on Sunday are small compared to the 3,380 cases reported onFriday and 3,609 cases reported on Saturday, which could indicate Germany has begun to flatten the curve.