Monday, May 04, 2020

Brazil's Salgado leads stars in Amazon COVID-19 appeal to president

AFP/File / Sergio LIMA"The indigenous peoples of Brazil face a serious threat to their own survival with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic," read the open letter signed by celebrities and sent to President Jair Bolsonaro

Brazilian photojournalist Sebastiao Salgado has sent an open letter to far-right President Jair Bolsonaro -- signed by celebrities like Brad Pitt and Madonna -- calling for "urgent measures" to save the indigenous peoples of the Amazon from the coronavirus pandemic.

"The indigenous peoples of Brazil face a serious threat to their own survival with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic," said the letter, backed by an online petition which has so far gathered around 50,000 signatures.

The 76-year-old photographer has won numerous international awards for his portrayal of the poor across the world, most recently turning his focus on the peoples of the Amazon rainforest basin.

AFP/File / INA FASSBENDERSebastiao Salgado, 76, has won numerous international awards for his photographs of the poor across the world, most recently turning his focus on the peoples of the Amazon

"Five centuries ago, these ethnic groups were decimated by diseases brought by European colonizers," said the letter, signed by a list of celebrities including Paul McCartney, Richard Gere and Meryl Streep.

"Today with this new scourge spreading rapidly throughout Brazil," the Amazon's indigenous people "may disappear completely since they have no means of combating COVID-19."

The stars appear in a video by Brazilian director Fernando Meireles, which features Salgado calling on Bolsonaro to put an end to economic intrusion into the lives of the Amazon peoples, and to "guarantee their protection."

AFP/File / Sergio LIMABrazilian Amazon rainforest tribal leaders held a protest demanding the demarcation of indigenous lands in Brasilia in March 2020

MINI ME TRUMPS TRUMP

Bolsonaro tells rally Brazil lockdown destroying jobs

AFP / EVARISTO SABrazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his daughter Laura (C) pose for a selfie with supporters outside his residence in Brasilia on Sunday

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro railed against the country's lockdown Sunday in a speech to thousands of anti-confinement demonstrators as the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections passed 100,000, with more than 7,000 deaths.

Bolsonaro blamed state governors for continuing the lockdown in a speech outside his presidential palace in Brasilia.

"The destruction of jobs by some governors is irresponsible and unacceptable. We will pay a high price in the future," the head of state said in a speech broadcast live on Facebook.

Bolsonaro has repeatedly clashed with state governors, insisting that strict containment measures they are imposing are an overreaction, and damaging to the economy.

AFP / EVARISTO SASupporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gather outside Planalto Palace in Brasilia, on May 3, 2020

The country registered 101,147 confirmed cases of the virus by Sunday, according to figures released by the Brazilian health ministry, with 275 deaths from COVID-19 within the previous 24 hours.

Experts believe the overall number of COVID-19 cases could be 12 to 15 times higher, due to a large number of undetected cases given the lack of testing availability across the country's 210 million population.

The demonstration in Brasilia drew a larger crowd than similar protests in recent weeks, and many people held up banners criticising Bolsonaro critics Rodrigo Maia, head of the chamber of deputies, and former justice minister Sergio Moro who resigned last week. Others in the crowd called on the army to intervene.

"The people are with us and the army is on the side of the law, order, freedom and democracy," Bolsonaro told them.

AFP / EVARISTO SABrazil, the worst-hit country in South America, registered more than 100,000 infections from the coronavirus by Sunday, with more than 7,000 deaths

The Estado de Sao Paulo daily, one of the country's biggest newspapers, reported on its website that one of its photographers and his driver were attacked by demonstrators, who pushed and kicked them.

Contrary to recent demonstrations in which he made an appearance, the far-right president -- who did not wear a mask -- maintained a distance of around two meters (six feet) from his nearest supporters after his address outside the presidential palace.

However, he made an exception for supporters who joined him for a selfie with his nine-year-old daughter Laura.

Experts are bracing for the biggest outbreak in South America to get far worse, as the peak of the pandemic is thought to be some weeks away.

Last week, Rio de Janeiro state said it would extend stay-at-home orders until May 11, ignoring Bolsonaro's demands that local and state authorities encourage Brazilians to get back to work.

TRUMP WANTS TO SEIZE REMDESIVIR FOR US USE ONLY (THERE IS NO US IN TRUMP)
Gilead Sciences exporting remdesivir, CEO says

AFP/File / JIM WATSONDaniel O'Day, CEO of Gillead Sciences Inc.

The head of the maker of remdesivir, an anti-viral shown to reduce recovery times in COVID-19 patients, said Sunday the company has been exporting the drug and is making it available to patients in the United States through the US government.

Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O'Day said the company is donating its entire existing supply of the drug -- 1.5 million vials, enough to treat 100,000 to 200,000 patients.

"We have been exporting for clinical trials and for compassionate use thousands of treatment courses," O'Day said on CBS's "Face the Nation."

"And our collaboration with the government has been such, we have been very transparent with them here in the United States and we have a good relationship on future allocation."

US regulators on Friday authorized the experimental drug for emergency use against COVID-19 after a major clinical trial showed it shortened the time to recovery in some coronavirus patients by a third.

It is the first medicine to show beneficial results in treating COVID-19 since the new coronavirus emerged in China late last year.

O'Day said the US government will determine how the drug is allocated in the United States based on where it is needed most.

"They will begin shipping tens of thousands of treatment courses out early this week and adjust that as the epidemic shifts and evolves in different parts and different cities here in the United States," he said.

O'Day said there will be a significantly greater supply of remdesivir in the second half of the year.

In the meantime, the company has not been barred from exporting the drug, he said.

"In terms of the allocation question, I think we're aligned with the US government to both serve the patients here in the United States, and then to be able to also make sure as a global company based in the United States that we can serve other countries," he said.

"We've had very good dialogues with the government and that's going well."

Remdesivir, which is administered by injection, was already available to some patients who enrolled in clinical trials, or who sought it out on a "compassionate use" basis.

The authorization by the federal Food and Drug Administration allows it to be distributed far more widely and used in both adults and children who are hospitalized with a severe form of COVID-19.

The FDA defines severe as having low blood oxygen levels, requiring oxygen therapy, or being on a ventilator.

THE WAR ON COVID-19 THE FIRST CASUALTY OF WAR IS THE TRUTH

US says 'evidence' virus came from China lab as Europe eases lockdown

AFP / Alex EdelmanA US firefighter in Maryland takes the blood pressure of a suspected COVID-19 patient as he is transported to the hospital

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday said "enormous evidence" showed the new coronavirus originated in a lab in China, further fueling tensions with Beijing over its handling of the outbreak.

Pompeo's comments came as Europe and parts of the United States prepared to cautiously lift virus lockdowns as signs emerge that the deadly pandemic is ebbing and governments look to restart their battered economies.

More than 245,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression.

US President Donald Trump, increasingly critical of China's management of the first outbreak in the city of Wuhan in December, claims to have proof it started in a Chinese laboratory.

AFP / John MACDOUGALLTensions have increased between Trump and Chinese leadership over Beijing's handling of the outbreak

Scientists believe the virus jumped from animals to humans, after emerging in China, possibly from a market in Wuhan selling exotic animals for meat.

- 'History of infecting the world' -

China denies the claims, and the US Director of National Intelligence office has said analysts are still examining the exact origin of the outbreak.

Pompeo, a former CIA chief, told the ABC he agreed that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made.

But Pompeo went further than Trump, citing "enormous" evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab. He did not however present evidence to back up his claim.

AFP / Simon MALFATTOWorld map showing official number of coronavirus deaths per country, as of May 3 at 1900 GMT

"I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories," he said.

Pompeo said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to "a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk."

"President Trump is very clear: we'll hold those responsible accountable."

- Pressure from demonstrators -

US news reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, as he makes China's handling of the pandemic a centerpiece of his campaign for the November presidential election.

AFP / Fabrice COFFRINISome churches have filled the pews with pictures of worshippers as people are forced to stay away from prayers together

The United States has the most coronavirus deaths in the world at more 67,600, with 1,450 recorded over the 24-hours late Sunday.

Trump, speaking at a live TV event, promised an early coronavirus vaccine and an "incredible" future for the country as he sought to relaunch his disrupted election campaign.

Florida is set to ease its lockdown Monday, as other US states wrestle with pressure from demonstrators -- some carrying weapons -- who have rallied against the restrictions.

In New York, the epicenter of the US outbreak, an emergency field hospital erected in Central Park is set to close as virus cases decline.

But dozens of New Yorkers were fined for violating social distancing guidelines as they flocked to beaches and parks in balmy weekend weather.

In Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro railed against the country's lockdown in a speech to thousands of anti-confinement demonstrators, even as the national death toll rose above 7,000.

- 'Rules are not clear' -

Across the Atlantic, European nations prepared for cautious easing of restrictions.

Hard-hit Italy -- which reported its lowest daily toll since stay-at-home orders were imposed on March 10 -- is set to follow Spain in allowing people outside.

Starting Monday Italians will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives. Restaurants can open for takeaways and wholesale stores can resume business, but there was some confusion over the rules.

AFP / PAU BARRENAAfter a two-month strict home confinement, Spain has allowed people more freedom to exercise and walk outside

Romans were doing aerobics on rooftop terraces and exercising indoors while squares in the city center were mostly empty on the last day that Italians were obliged to remain within 200 meters of their homes.

"On the one hand, we're super excited for the reopening, we're already organizing various activities the kids will be able to do with their grandparents outdoors," said Rome resident Marghe Lodoli, who has three children.

"On the other hand, it's disorientating. The rules are not clear, and we're not sure if just using common sense will do."

Italian authorities have said some preventative measures are still needed in a country that has the second-highest number of virus deaths.

AFP / Alain JOCARDFace masks on public transport will be compulsory in some European countries after lockdown

In another sign of life returning, an influential German minister said Sunday he supports a resumption of the country's football season this month as long as teams respect hygiene conditions.

The British government said the easing of coronavirus lockdown measures was likely to be gradual, as it announced a further rise in the overall death toll.

Most governments are sticking to measures to control the spread of the virus -- social distancing and masks in public -- and more testing to try to track infections even as they relax curbs.

Even as some European countries gradually lift restrictions, officials in Moscow -- the epicenter of the contagion in Russia -- urged residents to stay home.

With cases increasing by several thousand each day, Russia is now the European country registering the most new infections.

- Prepare for 'bad scenarios' -

European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise 7.5 billion euros ($8.3 billion) to tackle the pandemic and raise funds for efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.

The race is on to find a viable vaccine or treatment with several countries involved in trials.

AFP / Mladen ANTONOVThailand allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons and outdoor markets to reopen so long as social distancing was maintained

In Asia, South Korea -- once the second worst-hit nation on the planet -- said Sunday it would ease a ban on some gatherings and events as long as they "follow disinfection measures."

Thailand allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons and outdoor markets to reopen so long as social distancing was maintained and temperature checks carried out.

But experts caution that many countries are still not through the worst.

The Philippines suspended all flights into and out of the country in a bid to ease pressure on its congested quarantine facilities.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that mosques would reopen across large parts of the Islamic Republic, after they were closed in early March to try to contain the Middle East's deadliest COVID-19 outbreak.

burs/bgs/ch

For Haitians, die of hunger today or coronavirus tomorrow?

AFP/File / HECTOR RETAMALIt's hard to maintain 'social distance' in Haiti's tightly-packed working class neighborhoods like Jalousie, in Petionville, Port-au-Prince

When the novel coronavirus first appeared in Haiti authorities and humanitarian experts panicked, worried about the country's decrepit health system -- but the pandemic's economic consequences could prove yet deadlier for the nation's poor.

With just eight official virus fatalities as of Saturday, the COVID-19 pandemic is still in its infancy in Haiti, where staying at home and social distancing are unattainable luxuries for many who make their living in the informal economy.

In an attempt to stem the spread of the virus the government of Haiti -- the poorest country in the Americas -- announced that wearing a mask would be compulsory in all public places beginning May 11.

AFP/File / CHANDAN KHANNAOn the hilltops east of Port-au-Prince, in the Petionville suburb, merchants have been protesting in the streets against a rule limiting their commercial activities to three days a week

Masks aside, for many Haitians the main question remains: Die of hunger today or coronavirus tomorrow?

On the hilltops east of Port-au-Prince, in the Petionville suburb, merchants took a stand for the latter option, protesting in the streets against a rule limiting their commercial activities to three days a week -- a town hall directive mainly issued in vain.

Consumer panic that followed the March 19 announcement that COVID-19 had arrived on Haitian shores has subsided, and customers are now making more measured purchases, particularly considering their often limited means.

AFP/File / Pierre Michel JeanBeginning May 11, 2020 wearing a face mask will be compulsory when out in the public in Haiti

Cereals constitute two-thirds of the daily caloric intake of the average poor Haitians. However the price of one such staple -- rice -- has more than doubled in some markets compared with 2019.

Inflation has accelerated since March, and the sharp rise in prices linked to the coronavirus pandemic will only worsen a recession which began about 1.5 years ago.

"With the looming crisis, we expect a decline of almost four percent," of gross domestic product, Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe said during an annual finance summit held online this year.

- Risk of famine -

Half of all Haitian jobs are in agriculture, even though the sector accounts for only 21 percent of the country's GDP, according to Haitian economist Etzer Emile.

Poor workers who own tiny farms watch their incomes melt away in the lean season between harvests, making preparations for the next harvest ever more difficult, especially in certain regions already threatened by drought.

AFP/File / Pierre Michel JeanA motorcycle taxi driver washes his hands at one of the many hand washing kiosks set up in Port-au-Prince's Nerette district

Long before the coronavirus pandemic crippled the global economy, the United Nations warned that 40 percent of Haitians would need emergency humanitarian assistance in 2020.

The estimate projected that starting in March nearly three million Haitians would be facing "severe food insecurity," a UN classification just below famine.

Haiti's diaspora has long kept the country from plunging into even deeper poverty by sending money home: More than $3 billion is transferred back to Haiti each year by those living abroad, totaling about a third of the nation's GDP, official figures show.

"Haitians depend on remittances for food, education and even funerals," Haitian economist Kesner Pharel said.

However the diaspora, mainly based in the United States, is now facing a wave of massive unemployment sweeping the world's largest economy.

Haiti's Ministry of Economy and Finance predicts that the financial aid will drop by almost a quarter in the coming months.

"We like to say that when the American economy suffers from the flu, Haiti suffers from pneumonia: The millions of jobs lost in the United States will cause worsening extreme poverty for sure," Pharel said.