Nations struggle to stem flare-up

Governments around the world struggle to stem the spread of Covid-19 amid soaring infection rates and death tolls as people in Hong Kong, France and Melbourne have been ordered to wear masks when outside their homes.

The virus has now infected more than 14.5 million people worldwide and killed over 606,000.

French authorities reported 400 to 500 active outbreak clusters but there are no signs of an imminent "second wave," Health Minister Olivier Veran said yesterday.

Many of the current virus clusters involve abattoirs or other contained professional settings such as old age homes, he said.

The United States - the worst-affected country by far – has recorded almost 3.7 million infections and 140,00 deaths. Florida and Texas reported over 19,000 new cases on Sunday even as President Donald Trump pledged that "it's going to be under control."

In Europe, talks aimed at reaching an agreement on a huge post-coronavirus recovery fund have stretched into a fourth day yesterday. But EU leaders are bitterly divided on how to help its worst-hit -- and most indebted -- members such as Italy and Spain.

"Are the 27 leaders, responsible for the people of Europe, capable of building European unity and trust?" EU Council President Charles Michel asked the attending leaders, reminding them of the human cost of the crisis.

A handful of EU countries led by the Netherlands are reluctant to hand over such vast sums -- 750 billion euros -- to nations they regard as profligate, particularly Spain and Italy. The summit was set to resume at 1400 GMT yesterday.

Many countries in the continent had largely brought their outbreaks under control and were considering further easing of restrictions before fresh clusters were detected.

Governments are struggling to balance public health concerns over spreading infections against the need to open up economies battered by months of shutdown measures.

Hundreds of cinemas reopened yesterday in scores of Chinese cities after a six-month nationwide shutdown, with online-only ticket sales, shuttered snack bars, and social-distancing at a third of capacity.

France has made face masks compulsory in public indoor spaces, Spain asked millions to stay at home again, while the German state of Bavaria said it would soon offer free virus tests at airports.

But an anti-mask demonstration in London on Sunday highlighted the challenge still facing authorities and health experts despite the mounting Covid-19 toll.

Dozens gathered to protest the face mask requirement in England's shops and supermarkets, many of them holding banners with widely discredited conspiracy theories -- such as coronavirus prevention measures being used for "mind control".

DEADLY US SURGE

The devastation has left tens of millions jobless in US, and the poorest have been hit hardest by the economic downturn, reports AFP.

To help the less privileged and the homeless, one charity in Los Angeles has started a "community fridges" programme. It involves seven colourful, clean and well-stocked refrigerators for anyone to access.

"If you need to empty the fridge, no one will judge you. If you need to take one tomato, or you only put one tomato in there, do it," said Marina Vergara, an organiser for LA Community Fridges.

Despite the vocal and stubborn opposition to lockdowns and face masks in some parts of the world, they remain among the few options for authorities to control new outbreaks in the absence of a vaccine.

Hong Kong reported 73 new cases yesterday, including 66 that were locally transmitted, as new restrictions took effect and authorities warned there was no indication that the situation was coming under control.

Australia's acting chief medical officer said a surge in cases in the country's second-biggest city could take weeks to subside despite a lockdown and orders to wear masks.

Authorities in the state of Victoria, whose capital Melbourne is in partial lockdown amid a new outbreak, reported 275 new cases yesterday, down from a daily record of 438 three days earlier.

In India, 40,425 new cases and 681 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours, in the biggest single-day jump, government data showed yesterday.

The country's recovery rate - the number of patients who have successfully fought the viral illness - stood at 62.61 percent, the health ministry said.

DIP IN RUSSIA

Russia, the world's fourth hardest-hit country in terms of infections, reports fewer than 6,000 new cases for the first time since the end of April.

Health authorities said 85 people died over the past 24 hours -- the lowest daily fatality figure since May 4. Russia's fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures.

In Tunisia, tourists are back on beaches after charter flights resumed to the North African country following a break of more than three months due to the pandemic.

Some 155 mask-clad holiday makers from France, Germany and Luxembourg were greeted late last week on the resort island of Djerba with temperature checks -- but also by hostesses offering them bouquets of jasmine.

"We can't save the whole season, but we will do everything we can to save part of it," said Tourism Minister Mohamed Ali Toumi, who was at the airport to welcome the Luxair flight.