India extends Covid-19 lockdown but eases many restrictions; South Africa reports highest daily new cases; World Health Assembly to begin
Unemployment in the United States could peak at 25% as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the chair of the Federal Reserve, amid warnings the June quarter economic figures will be “very, very bad”. The bleak prediction came as Japan slid into its first recession in five years, with forecasts that worse was to come.
In a sober assessment of the economic impact of coronavirus in the US, the Fed chair, Jerome Powell, estimated GDP contraction in the June quarter could be “easily be in the twenties or thirties”, as fallout from the global outbreak worsened.
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Global infections stood at 4,713,620, with 315,185 deaths recorded. The US leads both categories, with deaths fast approaching 90,000.
The World Health Assembly is due to begin a virtual meeting dedicated almost entirely to strengthening global coordination against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The World Health Organization is to raise the question of Taiwan’s participation as an observer at the assembly
China reported seven new coronavirus cases for 17 May, up from five a day earlier. The country also reported 18 new asymptomatic cases, up from 12 the day before.
Mexico registered 49,219 cases of coronavirus on Sunday, with the country’s death toll rising to 5,177, health authorities said. Mexico has seen a slightly higher death rate from coronavirus than the global average so far due to the widespread presence of pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity, experts say.
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