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28 mins ago
The French economy contracts 13.8% in the second quarter
By Robert North
France's economy contracted by 13.8% in the second quarter of this year, amid nationwide containment measures imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Official growth statistics show that the closure of non-essential activities between mid-March and May hit almost all areas of the economy.
According to the figures, the gradual end of the restrictions led to a slight recovery in May and June. The fall follows a contraction of 5.9% in the first quarter.
58 mins ago
The United States reports more than 67,000 new cases
By Joe Sutton
A total of 67,619 new cases of coronavirus and 1,233 deaths were reported Thursday in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The number of confirmed cases in the country is now 4,494,601, including at least 152,055 deaths related to the virus.
The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.
1 hour ago
Vietnam went almost 100 days without new cases. Today, it reported its highest peak in a single day
By Isaac Yee
Vietnam reported 45 new cases of coronavirus on Friday, the biggest single-day increase in infections since the pandemic hit the country in late January.
All of the new cases were discovered in the resort town of Da Nang, where a new outbreak resurfaced last week, according to the Vietnam State News Agency (VNA).
Vietnam has confirmed 93 local cases of coronavirus since July 25, when the country discovered its first case of local transmission in nearly 100 days.
Among the new cases, 41 were linked to various hospitals and clinics in Da Nang and the other four to a hotel in the city, according to VNA.
As of Friday morning, at least 53,760 people are isolated, either in health centers or at home, VNA reported.
The new cases bring the total number of infections in Vietnam to 509, while the number of deaths remains at zero.
2 hours ago
Japan Reports Largest Daily Increase in Cases for Third Consecutive Day
By Yoko Wakatsuki
Japan's Ministry of Health reported 1,305 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, the third consecutive day that the country has seen new highs in daily infections since the pandemic began.
The ministry also recorded two deaths related to the virus on Thursday.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Friday morning that despite high numbers of cases, the government does not intend to enact a state of emergency.
Instead, the government would focus on preventing more infections and continue with an economic stimulus strategy to deal with the consequences of the pandemic, Suga said.
The capital Tokyo registered 367 cases on Thursday. Health authorities have previously linked the majority of cases in the city with young people who met in bars and restaurants. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has called on the city's karaoke restaurants and bars to reduce their opening hours.
The southern Fukuoka prefecture registered 121 cases on Thursday, while Osaka confirmed 190 infections.
2 hours ago
China reports more than 100 new cases for the third consecutive day
By Isaac Yee
China registered 127 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, the National Health Commission said on Friday morning.
It is the third day in a row that the country has reported more than 100 new infections.
Among the new cases, 123 were transmitted locally, with 112 confirmed in western Xinjiang region and the rest in northeast Liaoning province.
The country also registered 11 other asymptomatic infections on Thursday.
3 hours ago
Key model projects 230,822 deaths in the US for November
By Haley Brink
The University of Washington now projects that there will be 230,822 deaths in the United States from covid-19 by November, according to the current scenario.
On July 22, the university's Institute for Health Measurement and Assessment (IHME) forecast 219,864 total deaths from the virus for November.
The latest update reflects an increase of approximately 11,000 deaths due to increased infections and some people's refusal to wear face masks, practice social distancing, and take other measures to mitigate virus transmission.
If the United States universally adopted the use of masks, the number of deaths in November would drop to almost 198,831, according to the model. The use of masks has increased, but it is not as high as it should be in the whole country. However, there has been an increase in its use in all states and places with an increase in cases and deaths, the IHME said.
"If 95% of Americans wore face masks every time they left their homes, infection rates would drop, hospitalizations would drop, and predicted deaths would drop," said Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics science at IHME. "Unfortunately, people let their guard down until the media reports the risk of increased infections."
So far, according to Johns Hopkins University, nearly 4.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with coronavirus and at least 152,000 have died.
"We would like Americans to keep their guard up to reduce transmission of the virus. We don't have an effective drug and vaccines are on the way, so prevention is key, "Mokdad told CNN.
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