The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted celebrations around the Muslim world marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, while the pandemic persists in countries struggling to revive their economies.
New coronavirus cases in China have fallen to zero for the first time but surged in India and overwhelmed hospitals across Latin America - both in countries lax about lockdowns and those lauded for firm, early confinement.The pandemic's persistence stymied authorities struggling to keep people safe and revive their economies at the same time, disrupting Memorial Day weekend in the United States and collective celebrations around the Muslim world marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
In just a few months, the pandemic has killed at least 338,000 people worldwide and infected more than 5.2 million, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. A church leader said the community had complied with all hygiene rules but has cancelled all gatherings and is now holding services online. Authorities in nearby Hanau decided to call off Muslim prayers planned for a stadium Sunday as a precaution.The new infections are not perceived as a threat to Germany's overall virus strategy, and Chancellor Angela Merkel said the country had"succeeded so far in achieving the aim of preventing our health system being overwhelmed".
"I'm identifying houses of worship - churches, synagogues and mosques - as essential places that provide essential services," he said. Latin America is the latest epicentre of the virus, with Brazil and Mexico reporting record numbers of infections and deaths almost daily this week, fuelling criticism of their presidents for limited lockdowns.
Concerns are rising in India, where new cases showed another record jump on Saturday, topping 6,000 for a second consecutive day as a two-month lockdown has eased. States with relatively few cases have registered spikes in recent days as residents, including migrant workers travelling on special trains, have returned home.
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