The Economist 04Apr2020

The EconomistApril 4th 2020 5
The world this week Politics

Scientists advising the Ameri-

can government about the

covid-19outbreak predicted

that between 100,000 and

240,000 Americans could die,

even with partial lockdowns

and social-distancing mea-

sures in place. Donald Trump

warned his compatriots “to be

prepared for the hard days that

lie ahead”. The United States

now has more reported in-

fections than any other coun-

try.New Yorkcity has recorded

more deaths from the corona-

virus than all but half a dozen

countries. Lagging behind

other states,Floridaat last

ordered people to stay at home.

Fortress China

With most of its newly con-

firmed cases of covid-19 now

being found among travellers

from abroad, Chinaclosed its

borders to most foreigners. On

a visit to Zhejiang province,

President Xi Jinping said curb-

ing imported cases, which

mostly involve returning

Chinese citizens, had become

the “most important” task in

the country’s fight against the

virus and could remain so “for

a long period”. State media

coverage of the trip showed Mr

Xi without a mask; he had

always worn one on previous

outings during the crisis.

Fights broke out on the border

between Hubeiand Jiangxi

provinces after Hubei allowed

people to move freely across it

for the first time in two

months. In many parts of

China Hubei residents are

treated as potential carriers of

the virus.

India’sprime minister,

Narendra Modi, apologised for

the suffering he caused by

locking down the country with

so little preparation. Millions

of migrant workers struggled

to get home to their villages.

Many crowded into transport

hubs, making social distancing

impossible. Videos emerged of

police beating people who

broke the quarantine laws.

Japanreaffirmed its 2015 goal

to reduce greenhouse-gas

emissions by 26% by 2030

based on levels from 2013,

disappointing environmental-

ists who want it to cut deeper

and faster. Japan is the onlyg

country still building coal-

fired power stations.

Meanwhile, this November’s

unclimate-change summit,

cop26, was postponed until

next year. The talks, which are

expected to speed up action on

reducing emissions, will still

take place in Glasgow.

A narco state

America chargedVenezuela’s

dictator, Nicolás Maduro, and

14 other members of his regime

with drug-trafficking, money-

laundering and “narco-terro-

rism”. The State Department

offered a reward of $15m for

information leading to Mr

Maduro’s arrest. The indict-

ments allege that he co-found-

ed the “cartel of the suns”,

which sought to flood America

with cocaine. The State Depart-

ment later said America would

lift sanctions on Venezuela if it

agreed to its framework for

restoring democracy.

Theeln, a guerrilla group in

Colombia, declared a one-

month ceasefire starting on

April 1st. It called the decision a

“humanitarian gesture” in

response to the covid-19 pan-

demic. Theelnkilled more

than 20 cadets at a police acad-

emy in Bogotá in January 2019.

Nothing will stop them

Fighting in Yemen continued

despite calls for a truce to fight

covid-19 instead. Saudi Arabia,

which supports the Yemeni

government, said it intercept-

ed missiles launched by

Houthi rebels towards Saudi

territory. The Saudi-led co-

alition then bombed targets in

Sana’a, the Yemeni capital.

Yemen has not yet recorded

any cases of covid-19.

Israel’s prime minister, Binya-

min Netanyahu, self-isolated

after an aide tested positive for

covid-19. Mr Netanyahu him-

self tested negative (though the

health minister came down

with the disease). He is in talks

with Benny Gantz, the leader of

the opposition, over forming a

unity government.

Ethiopia postponed parlia-

mentary elections scheduled

for the end of August because

of covid-19. The poll will be the

first test of the popularity of

Abiy Ahmed, a reformist prime

minister, who assumed the

role in 2018 after the resigna-

tion of his predecessor.

Opposition parties in Guinea

rejected the result of a consti-

tutional referendum that could

allow President Alpha Condé to

run for a third term of five

years, saying it was marred by

violence. Electoral officials

said 91% of votes cast were in

favour of the new constitution.

Grasping an opportunity

Hungary, which has been

dismantling checks and bal-

ances on the executive for a

decade, passed a covid-

emergency law that gives

Viktor Orban the power to rule

by decree as prime minister.

The opposition says the coun-

try has become a dictatorship.

But the eudid not criticise

Hungary by name, and the

European People’s Party, the

eu-level group that includes

Mr Orban’s Fidesz party, made

no move to expel it.

European leaders were at

loggerheads over the issuance

of so-called coronabonds,

government bonds jointly

guaranteed by all countries of

the euro zone. Rich northern

countries have refused to

countenance these, but a group

of nine mainly southern

countries are warning of

economic calamity and threats

to the single currency if they

are not created.

Coronavirus briefs

Boris Johnsoncontracted

covid-19, the first political

leader of a country to do so.

The British prime minister is

self-isolating at Number 10.

Austria made it compulsory to

wear face masksin super-

markets. The Czech Republic

and Slovakia have put similar

measures in place.

The captain of an American

aircraft-carrierdocked in

Guam asked the navy for help

following an outbreak of

covid-19 on board. Around 100

sailors on the ussTheodore

Roosevelthave tested positive

for the new coronavirus.

The world’s biggest condom-

maker, which is based in

Malaysia, warned of a global

shortage because it has had to

shut factories. Forecasters

have already predicted a baby

boom because of couples

staying at home.

The Wimbledontennis

tournament was cancelled.

For our latest coverage of the

virus and its consequences

please visit economist.com/

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Economist app.

New confirmed cases

By week, ’

To April 1st 2020

Europe

United States

Rest of world

Deaths, log scale

Source: Johns Hopkins CSSE

10,

1,

100

10

250

200

150

100

50

0

Days since tenth death

50 373025201510

4 Mar 18 1 Apr

Britain

US

Spain

S Korea

Italy

Iran

France