The pandemic continues to strike.
As the United States celebrates Thanksgiving, the country crossed the 2,000 daily dead mark for the second day in a row.
In South Korea, where the epidemic had been brought under control, the virus is reappearing.
In Europe, restrictions are being maintained while the President of the Commission warns of the risks of a "
third wave
".
More than 2,400 dead in the United States, a six-month high
The United States lamented Wednesday, on the eve of the hugely popular Thanksgiving holiday, more than 2,400 died from the coronavirus in 24 hours, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
A sad record that had not been reached for more than six months.
This is the second day in a row that the 2,000 daily death mark has been crossed.
The country has at the same time recorded nearly 200,000 new cases of Covid-19, according to a statement made at 8:30 p.m. local time by AFP.
In South Korea, new coronavirus cases at their highest since March
South Korea on Thursday reported nearly 600 new cases of the coronavirus over 24 hours,
While the authorities have recorded in recent weeks between 100 and 300 new cases on average per day, they have recorded 583, the highest number of contaminations since March, a resurgence that raises fears of a third epidemic wave in the country.
These cases are mainly linked to outbreaks of contamination in businesses, schools, gyms and small gatherings in Seoul and its region, the Korea Disease Prevention and Control Agency said.
Some cases have also been observed within the army.
Germany extends restrictions
Germany will extend until early January its restrictions to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, including the closure of bars and restaurants and the limitations of participants in private meetings, Angela Merkel announced Wednesday evening.
The restrictions decided at a previous meeting in November will therefore continue to apply "
until the beginning of January, unless we have an unexpected decrease in the infection rate but that is unlikely at this stage
", explained the Chancellor.
Germany will also ask the European Union to ban ski trips until January 10, the source of several epidemic outbreaks last winter, despite opposition from Austria and the anger of the resorts.
The European Commission fears a third wave
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Wednesday warned European states against too rapid relaxation of anti-Covid rules, at the risk of triggering "
a third wave
" of the epidemic after Christmas.
Tokyoites urged to stay at home
Tokyo is urging residents to avoid non-essential outings and is calling on shops serving alcohol to close earlier, as infections soar in Japan, which has so far been relatively untouched.
The population is also called upon to adopt teleworking.
Restaurants closed in Los Angeles on the eve of Thanksgiving
Faced with record contamination figures, Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States, is closing restaurants, brasseries and bars on Wednesday for at least three weeks, except for take-out.
California Health Secretary Mark Ghaly has called for avoiding large traditional family gatherings on Thanksgiving, saying he banned his own mother from joining him to celebrate the holiday on Thursday.
“Economic emergency” in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, GDP is expected to experience an unprecedented drop of 11.3% in 2020, the worst contraction of the British economy in more than 300 years, as the government on Wednesday unveiled its budget plan against "
the economic emergency
”.
Next year, growth is expected to rebound by 5.5%, then reach 6.6% in 2022.
Fear of a deadlier second wave in Pakistan
Pakistani hospitals are filling up with Covid-19 patients and are close to saturation, authorities fearing a second wave more deadly than the first.
The government, which has always refused to impose a national lockdown, announced this week the closure of schools and banned restaurants from welcoming customers indoors.