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Trump to ease lockdown, saying virus cases have 'passed peak'

By Sebastian Smith with AFP bureaus
United States A group of doctors working with patients infected with the novel coronavirus COVID-19 wear face shields at the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital de Clinicas in Porto Alegre, Brazil.  By Silvio AVILA AFP
APR 16, 2020 LISTEN
A group of doctors working with patients infected with the novel coronavirus COVID-19 wear face shields at the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital de Clinicas in Porto Alegre, Brazil. By Silvio AVILA (AFP)

President Donald Trump vowed to unveil plans Thursday to reopen the world's top economy, following cautious moves in Europe, claiming the US had "passed the peak" of new coronavirus cases, even as the country logged a record number of deaths from the disease.

Since emerging in China late last year, the coronavirus pandemic has turned the world upside down, forcing half of humanity indoors and catapulting the global economy towards a second Great Depression.

Workers wrap with plastic a coffin with the remains of a person who died from the coronavirus, COVID-19 in Guayaquil, Ecuador.  By Jose Snchez AFP Workers wrap with plastic a coffin with the remains of a person who died from the coronavirus, COVID-19 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. By Jose Sánchez (AFP)

The death toll has topped 134,000 with more than two million infected, according to an AFP tally -- with nearly 2,600 dying in the past 24 hours in the US alone.

But a bullish Trump told reporters his "aggressive strategy" against the virus was working and that "the data suggests that nationwide we have passed the peak on new cases".

Healthcare workers wearing protective suits wait during a COVID-19 testing campaign at a care home for the elderly in Barcelona.  By LLUIS GENE AFP Healthcare workers wearing protective suits wait during a COVID-19 testing campaign at a care home for the elderly in Barcelona. By LLUIS GENE (AFP)

He promised swift "guidelines" on reopening parts of the country, suggesting less-affected states could ease restrictions before May 1.

"We'll be the comeback kids, all of us," said Trump.

Leaders around the world are wrestling with the dilemma of how to return to normal and kick-start their shattered economies without risking a devastating second wave of infections.

Health authorities in Paraguay are encouraging people over 60 to be vaccinated against the flu, also a respiratory disease, to reduce complications of those who might contact the new coronavirus.  By Norberto DUARTE AFP Health authorities in Paraguay are encouraging people over 60 to be vaccinated against the flu, also a respiratory disease, to reduce complications of those who might contact the new coronavirus. By Norberto DUARTE (AFP)

In Europe's top economy Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged "extreme caution", as she announced initial steps to reopen some shops and gradually restart school.

Elsewhere in Europe, Denmark began reopening schools for younger children after a month-long closure and Finland lifted a blockade of Helsinki.

Healthcare employees of the Georges Pompidou European hospital respond to taxi drivers who gathered in front of the hospital to applaud them in Paris.  By Martin BUREAU AFP Healthcare employees of the Georges Pompidou European hospital respond to taxi drivers who gathered in front of the hospital to applaud them in Paris. By Martin BUREAU (AFP)

Lithuania said it would allow smaller shops to reopen from Thursday, while hard-hit Iran is set to allow some small businesses to restart operations.

However, Britain was expected to extend its lockdown measures later Thursday and Belgium pushed its stay-at-home order back to May 3.

'I'm done'

Even in countries trying to return to a semblance of normality, many citizens voiced fears the virus was not yet beaten.

A member of the medical staff speaks with a patient in the COVID-19 unit of the Policlinico Sant'Orsola-Malpighi hospital in Bologna, Italy.  By Miguel MEDINA AFP A member of the medical staff speaks with a patient in the COVID-19 unit of the Policlinico Sant'Orsola-Malpighi hospital in Bologna, Italy. By Miguel MEDINA (AFP)

In Madrid, deliveryman Gean Carlo Minaya told AFP: "I think people should still hold out a little longer because I think it's going to come back again, not as intensely, but the pandemic is going to come back a little bit."

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said only a "safe and effective vaccine" can return the world to normal, hoping that could be available by year-end.

Members of the medical staff at the Mohammmed V military hospital, wear a protective masks and caps as they wait for patients, in the Moroccan capital Rabat.  By FADEL SENNA AFP Members of the medical staff at the Mohammmed V military hospital, wear a protective masks and caps as they wait for patients, in the Moroccan capital Rabat. By FADEL SENNA (AFP)

And the chief executive of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation laid bare the challenge facing humanity to shield itself from the virus in future.

"There are seven billion people on the planet," said Mark Suzman. "We are going to need to vaccinate nearly every one. There is no manufacturing capacity to do that."

Health workers fill out documents before performing tests for COVID-19 coronavirus on other health workers at the screening and testing tents set up at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg.  By Michele Spatari AFP Health workers fill out documents before performing tests for COVID-19 coronavirus on other health workers at the screening and testing tents set up at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg. By Michele Spatari (AFP)

Even with a vaccine, the virus is expected to lay waste to the global economy, with the International Monetary Fund warning that $9 trillion could be lost in a second Great Depression.

In the developing world, there are growing fears of a collapse in social order as food becomes scarce -- with the situation especially acute in Africa and Latin America.

Workers prepare a burial site for a victim of the COVID-19 coronavirus at a cemetery in Jakarta.  By BAGUS SARAGIH AFP Workers prepare a burial site for a victim of the COVID-19 coronavirus at a cemetery in Jakarta. By BAGUS SARAGIH (AFP)

In Riyadh, G20 nations of the world's major economies announced a one-year debt moratorium for the world's poorest nations.

But even in the US, the pandemic has caused at least 17 million people to lose their jobs and many are becoming increasingly desperate.

Transport personnel wearing hazmat suits guide travellers arriving from Wuhan to buses, which will take them to their quarantine locations, at Beijing West Railway Station.  By Noel CELIS AFP Transport personnel wearing hazmat suits guide travellers arriving from Wuhan to buses, which will take them to their quarantine locations, at Beijing West Railway Station. By Noel CELIS (AFP)

"At the end of this month, I'm done," said Reuben Isaacson of Boca Raton, Florida, who was laid off from an e-commerce startup last month.

"When the moratorium on evictions is lifted and Florida hasn't paid anybody any money, a bunch of people are going to be homeless and that includes me," he said.

'We will survive this'

Despite the gloom, tales of resilience and generosity around the world lifted spirits.

Workers wrap with plastic a coffin with the remains of a person who died from the coronavirus, COVID-19 in Guayaquil, Ecuador.  By Jose Snchez AFP Workers wrap with plastic a coffin with the remains of a person who died from the coronavirus, COVID-19 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. By Jose Sánchez (AFP)

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In the central English city of Birmingham, Connie Titchen, aged 106, defied the odds to beat the virus, applauded by medical staff as she left to see her grandchildren.

Also in Britain, Tom Moore, a 99-year-old World War II veteran, has raised almost £12 million ($15 million) for health workers by doing laps of his garden with a walking frame.

Workers wrap with plastic a coffin with the remains of a person who died from the coronavirus, COVID-19 in Guayaquil, Ecuador.  By Jose Snchez AFP Workers wrap with plastic a coffin with the remains of a person who died from the coronavirus, COVID-19 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. By Jose Sánchez (AFP)

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"In the last war it was soldiers in uniform on the front line. This time our army are the doctors and nurses (in) uniforms," Moore told British TV earlier this week.

"We will survive this."

And in New Orleans, Burnell Cotlon spent his life's savings to open a grocery store, providing a lifeline for many struggling to pay for food as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

"The whole world has changed," he told AFP.

Many of his customers have been laid off and are struggling to provide for their families, he said.

"Because they're not working anymore, they don't have any money. But they still have to feed their kids.

"So people come in here all the time... looking for work, looking for food, looking for answers, just hope."

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