COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 31 July
People exercise in a gym wearing face masks in East Jerusalem. Image: REUTERS/Ammar Awad
- This daily round-up brings you a selection of the latest news updates on the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, as well as tips and tools to help you stay informed and protected.
- Top stories: French economy contracts; Southeast Asia faces 'socio-economic crisis'; and restrictions reimposed in parts of the UK.
1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have risen to more than 17.3 million around the world, according to Johns Hopkins University of Medicine. The number of confirmed deaths now stands at more than 673,000.
Preliminary data shows the French economy contracted by 13.8% in the second quarter. Household consumption, company investment and trade were all hit by the nationwide lockdown.
Social distancing has pushed flu infection rates to record lows, according to early figures. The data suggests measures to tackle coronavirus are having an impact on other communicable diseases.
The UK has tightened lockdowns in some Northern areas, including Greater Manchester. The move is targeted at areas where transmission rates are increasing.
Florida and Arizona have both reported record increases in COVID-19 deaths. The US epicentre is also showing signs of shifting to the Midwest.
Viet Nam has reported 45 new coronavirus cases in Danang- the country's biggest single-day jump.
2. Southeast Asia faces 'socio-economic crisis'
The UN is warning that Southeast Asia is on the brink of a "socio-economic crisis" as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The crisis threatens to "destroy the livelihoods" of the region's 218 million informal workers, said a policy brief released yesterday. This puts decades of poverty reduction at risk.
Remittances from Southeast Asians working abroad are set to fall by 13% - or $10 billion - while the regional economy is expected to contract by 0.4% this year.
Governments should boost social welfare payments and prioritize higher health spending, said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, head of the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
What is the World Economic Forum doing to manage emerging risks from COVID-19?
3. What's the outlook for the global economy?
A Reuters poll of over 500 economists suggests the outlook for the global economy has grown more pessimistic.
The still-rising number of infections and the risk of fresh lockdowns is putting any potential rebound at risk.
“We expect the economic reality of the virus to start catching up with businesses across the globe soon,” said Jan Lambregts, global head financial markets research at Rabobank.
“What we need is a vaccine or significant breakthroughs in medicines to decisively reopen our economies and restore business and consumer confidence – but there is no magic wand for the time being.”
The poll expects the global economy to shrink by 4% this year - down from the 3.7% forecast in June.
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