Russia, Pakistan Report Coronavirus Spike As Lockdown Protests Grow

By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News

(Worthy News) – Pakistan and Russia have reported their most significant one-day rise in new coronavirus infections. Their announcement Saturday came after some other countries and U.S. states where case numbers are stabilizing allowed businesses and public activities to reopen.

Pakistan, on Saturday, confirmed 1,297 new cases, raising the total in the country of 220 million people to 18,114. The rise coincides with increased testing, officials explained. The government said more than 9,000 tests took place in the previous 24 hours. Prime Minister Imran Khan has set a goal of 20,000 per day.

In Europe, Russia is under pressure to step up measures after even Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin was infected. He has now been hospitalized after being diagnosed with the coronavirus disease COVID-19. His positive test came as Russia of coronavirus cases passed the 100,000 this week, after a record daily rise in new infections.

And, President Vladimir Putin has warned the peak of the outbreak was yet to come. That forced him to cancel military parades and a constitutional vote that critics claim would potentially give him more powers.

Russia and other nations are likely watching U.S. regulators who allow emergency use of an experimental drug that appeared to help some coronavirus patients recover faster. That treatment was expected to add to calls to end extended nationwide lockdowns or limit them to the vulnerable and elderly who are suffering the most. The stay-at-home-orders were supposed to curb the pandemic.

But governments in Europe face protests of increasingly frustrated citizens seeking more freedoms amid reports that lockdowns have taken their toll on families with an increase in domestic abuse. In Belgium, for instance, a European Parliament building is housing 100 homeless women – many victims of domestic abuse. They have been severely affected by Belgium’s coronavirus lockdown. The Helmut Kohl building in Brussels, opened its doors to them this week.

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