Cautious Optimism as World’s COVID-19 Death Toll Nears 100k

By Staff, Agencies

As the global death toll from COVID-19 advanced at pace toward 100,000 on Friday, there was cautious optimism on both sides of the Atlantic that, despite the macabre mark, the virus may be peaking and economic recovery could be on the horizon.

In the United States, following high fatalities Thursday, health officials suggested Americans might be able to go on vacations in the summer, as falling hospitalization rates hinted at a turning point in the battle against the coronavirus.

With unemployment skyrocketing and the economy tanking, US President Donald Trump is keen to lift social confinement measures and get the United States open for business again as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Trump’s top pandemic adviser, Anthony Fauci, warned America cannot be reopened overnight due to the threat of further waves of infections, but said it could be up and running again by the summer months.

That is, he said, providing citizens adhere to social distancing guidelines and widespread stay-at-home orders, which have the vast majority of Americans on lockdown, throughout April.

Hospitalizations dropped in several countries in the European Union and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the highest profile of the 1.6 million people infected by the virus, exited three days of intensive care.

France reported that 82 fewer people were in intensive care for COVID-19 — the first fall since the pandemic broke out.

EU finance ministers agreed in late-night talks to a 500 billion-euro [$550 billion] rescue package aimed at reducing pain across the 27-nation bloc, especially hardest-hit Italy and Spain.

EU finance ministers put aside proposals by France and Italy for pooled borrowing. The Netherlands relented and let the deal come through after pushing hard for Italy and other affected countries to undertake economic reforms.

Both workers and companies are suffering as half the planet is being told to stay at home.

Despite the optimistic tones, the International Monetary Fund said 170 of its 180 members would see declines in per capita income this year — just a few months after predictions that nearly all would enjoy growth.