The pandemic has killed more than 3.7 million people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by Agence France-Presse (AFP) from official sources on Friday, June 4. These figures, which are based on daily reports from national health authorities, are generally underestimated.
After the United States (597,000 dead), the countries with the highest number of deaths are Brazil (470,000), India (340,000), Mexico (228,000) and Peru (185,000). Argentina passed the 80,000 casualties mark on Friday. Since the start of 2021, this number has almost doubled in the South American country, according to official data.
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US increases aid to Afghanistan
The United States announced on Friday additional humanitarian aid of $ 266 million (around 220 million euros) for Afghanistan, intended mainly for the response to the Covid-19 epidemic.
“As the United States withdraws its forces from Afghanistan, our commitment is clear, assured the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, announcing this new aid. We remain determined, using all our diplomatic, economic and assistance means, to support the peaceful and stable future that the Afghans demand and deserve. “
These funds are intended for protective equipment, shelter, health and hygiene care, as well as the protection of the most vulnerable, especially women and girls. These $ 266 million, including $ 157 million released by the American international aid agency Usaid and $ 109 million by the State Department, bring the United States’ humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to more than $ 543 million. under the 2021 budget.
More than 80,000 dead in Argentina
Argentina exceeded the threshold of 80,000 deaths from the coronavirus on Friday, for a total of around 4 million cases of contamination since the start of the pandemic, according to the country’s health authorities.
In the past twenty-four hours, nearly 31,000 new cases of Covid-19 and 539 deaths have been recorded. At the end of 2020, Argentina had some 43,000 dead. Since the start of 2021, this number has therefore almost doubled, according to official data.
The number of people hospitalized in intensive care is 7,668, equivalent to a national occupancy rate of 78.2%.
Argentina wants to give new impetus to its vaccination campaign from next week, when it starts producing the Sputnik V vaccine, from the Russian laboratory Gamaleya, on its soil. To date, 11 million people have been fully immunized in the country.
Singapore F1 Grand Prix canceled, scheduled for October 3
Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, scheduled for October 3, canceled “Because of the security and logistical problems posed by the Covid-19 pandemic”.
“Canceling the event for the second year in a row is an incredibly difficult decision but necessary given the restrictions that prevail on events organized in Singapore”, announced, Friday, Colin Syn, deputy chairman of the promoter of the GP, raced since 2008. “We would not be able to deliver the spectators the experience they have been waiting for in recent years while preserving their health and safety, as well as that of subcontractors, volunteers and our staff”, adds Mr. Syn.
Turkey (Istanbul) and China (Shanghai), which saw their Grand Prix postponed indefinitely earlier this season, could replace Singapore, while the United States could also host a second race. This is not the only uncertainty in the schedule for the second part of the 2021 season: at the moment, traveling to Brazil (November 7), Turkey or Abu Dhabi (December 12) would impose a quarantine on the return to the majority of F1 staff. Australia (November 21) is also being cautious in opening its borders.
