Several Western European countries have adopted restrictive measures in an attempt to stem the second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic: curfews in large French metropolises, ban on home visits in Ireland, and private events limited to 15 people in Germany.
Elsewhere in the world, Donald Trump's son has tested positive, footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is in quarantine, while Pope Francis is working to keep his distance from worshipers.
Here is an update on the latest developments in the epidemic around the world.
Read also: Faced with the coronavirus, the activity of disinfection companies is soaring
More than 1.08 million dead
The pandemic has killed more than 1.087 million people worldwide since the end of December, according to an AFP report on Wednesday.
Some 38.2 million cases have been officially counted, of which more than 26.4 million have been cured.
The United States has the most fatalities (216,597), followed by Brazil (151,747), India (110,586), Mexico (84,420) and the United Kingdom (43,018).
Curfew in major French cities
Faced with the resurgence of the epidemic in France, President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday evening the establishment, from Saturday and for at least four weeks, of a curfew between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. in the Paris region and in eight other metropolises, including those of Aix-Marseille and Lyon.
Offenders will be subject to a fine of 135 euros.
To read also: "Many professionals are in shock": the Ile-de-France employers worried about the curfew
Germany tightens restrictions
After the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Italy and France, Germany is following in the footsteps of its European neighbors: Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on Wednesday evening that she would introduce new, more restrictive measures in an attempt to fight a resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The number of participants in private events will for example be limited to 15 in regions recording more than 35 new contaminations per 100,000 inhabitants over seven days.
"
I am convinced that what we are going to do now will determine how we get through this pandemic,
" commented the Chancellor.
Read also: Covid-19: the rise in the number of new cases worries Germany
The Irish no longer have the right to visit each other
Very restrictive measures were also announced in Ireland on Wednesday by Prime Minister Micheal Martin to combat the spread of the pandemic.
Thus, Irish citizens will no longer have the right to visit each other, from midnight Thursday.
They will not be allowed to visit each other either indoors or outdoors, throughout Ireland, where 1,835 people have died from Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic.
Separately, non-essential stores, as well as recreation centers, swimming pools and gyms, will be closed in border counties of Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan, where around 300,000 people live.
Finally, the border regions with Northern Ireland will be subject to new drastic restrictions.
Catalonia closes all its bars and restaurants
In Spain, Catalonia decided on Wednesday to close all its bars and restaurants for 15 days.
The announcement of this drastic measure in this region of northeastern Spain comes after the partial closure of Madrid and other restrictions taken in Andalusia, Navarre or Galicia to combat the increase in contamination in Spain, where the pandemic has killed more than 33,000 people.
G20 extends moratorium on poor countries' debt
The G20 extended for six months on Wednesday, until June 30, 2021, the moratorium on the debt of the poorest countries hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, a measure deemed insufficient by NGOs.
Rising poverty in Colombia
Poverty has increased in Colombia, affecting 35.7% of the population last year.
But, analysts say, the worst is yet to come with the Covid-19 pandemic, which will undo a decade of progress in Latin America's 4th largest economy.
Donald and Melania Trump's son tested positive
Barron Trump, 14, son of Donald and Melania Trump, has also tested positive for Covid-19, the first lady of the United States announced on Wednesday, indicating that he has since been negative again.
Reduced CO2 emissions
Restrictions linked to the Covid-19 epidemic led to an unprecedented drop in CO2 emissions in the first half of 2020, more than during the 2008 financial crisis and World War II, according to an international team of researchers, including the study was published in Nature Communications.
Read also: "The Covid has highlighted the links between the environment and human health"
Deafness
Sudden and permanent hearing loss, although rare, could be linked to Covid-19 in some people, doctors warn, reporting
the
British
"first case"
in the journal
BMJ Case Reports
.
The Pope keeps his distance
Pope Francis has avoided close contact with the faithful, greeting them from a distance during his public audience on Wednesday and calling on them to be cautious to
"end the pandemic"
.
Ronaldo in quarantine
Cristiano Ronaldo, who tested positive for Covid-19 when he was to play for the Portuguese team against Sweden in Lisbon, returned to Italy and was placed in quarantine for at least ten days.
