Coronavirus: Pandemic sours July 4 celebrations in United States

A surge in cases sapped the fun out of July 4 celebrations as the pandemic accelerated in Mexico and South Africa.

Donald and Melania Trump welcome guests to the South Lawn of the White House for July 4 celebrations. Picture: AFP

A surge in coronavirus cases sapped the fun out of July 4 celebrations in the US as the pandemic also accelerated through neighbouring Mexico, the rest of Latin America and South Africa.

Even Europe, which has largely been celebrating reopening, saw some setbacks, with authorities placing 200,000 people back under lockdown in Spain after a spike in infections that underlined how easily hard-won progress can be reversed.

The US remains by far the world’s hardest-hit country, logging a further 43,000 cases on Saturday (Sunday AEST) that brought its total number of infections to more than 2.8 million, with nearly 130,000 deaths.

Soccer balls are disinfected before a game in Guadalajara, Mexico. Picture: AFP

The spiralling caseload cast a pall over traditional Independence Day celebrations, with beaches closed and the National Mall in Washington, usually crowded with spectators ready for fireworks, near deserted. Main Street parades were cancelled, backyard barbecues scaled down and family reunions put off.

Despite the sombre mood, President Donald Trump insisted the end was in sight in the fight against COVID-19. Speaking from the White House lawn, Mr Trump addressed a crowd that included frontline health workers battling the virus.

He accused China — where the outbreak originated late last year — of a cover-up that allowed the illness to race across the globe, but hailed American “scientific brilliance”. “We’ll likely have a therapeutic and/or vaccine solution long before the end of the year,” Mr Trump said.

If so, it will be in high demand. As the virus continues its relentless march around the world, Latin America is also grappling with rising cases.

Mexico’s toll crossed 30,000 on Saturday, propelling it past France to become the fifth-hardest-hit country in the world. And Brazil, which has defiantly opened bars and restaurants in Rio de Janeiro, notched up nearly 40,000 new cases and more than a thousand deaths, keeping it in second place behind the US in the bleak global rankings.

A patient arrives a hospital in Lerida, Catalonia. Picture: AFP

Across the Atlantic, South Africa reported more than 10,000 new infections on Saturday, its highest ever daily jump. Africa’s most economically developed country now has the greatest number of cases on the continent.

Daily tallies released by the South African health ministry showed 10,853 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, taking the cumulative tally since March when the virus first arrived in the country to 187,977.

The death toll stands at 3026 after 74 new fatalities were recorded. Health authorities have been expecting a surge in cases after the gradual loosening of a strict lockdown that was imposed on March 27.

With South Africa’s economy projected to shrink more than seven per cent in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic — the worst slump in 90 years — the government is battling to strike a balance between saving lives and the economy.

US beaches that would normally be packed on July 4 are shut on both coasts as California and Florida suffer alarming surges in cases, while bars in states such as Texas and Michigan have had to close on what should be one of their busiest weekends of the year. New York’s public beaches reopened earlier in the week but ­locals in the city that was once the global epicentre of the crisis remain wary of a resurgence.

Mark Ruiz, who came to New York’s Coney Island beach with his wife and two children for a picnic, said he was “definitely worried” about the virus and his family would scrupulously respect social-distancing rules.

“I’ll have my mask on as soon as we leave the beach, so we came prepared,” said Mr Ruiz, who works as an ice-cream distributor to restaurants around the city.

“I just can’t stay home on the Fourth of July, I gotta take my kids out. We can’t be in a bubble all summer.”

For his part, Mr Trump headlined an event called Salute to America along with a military flyover and a fireworks display. Guests including doctors, nurses and members of the military and their families were invited to the White House to watch proceedings. But numbers were well down on previous years and there will be no concert to keep the crowds on the National Mall until late at night as is usually the case.

Ahead of the night-time celebrations, a series of anti-racism marches took place on the National Mall, with Mr Trump’s handling of the coronavirus crisis adding to the anger of protesters.

Nations are rethinking how their cities can function and economies survive in the face of an illness that has infected at least 11 million and killed 529,000 globally. Governments are trying to carefully calibrate their reopenings — rousing their economies without triggering outbreaks and more lockdowns.

The lockdown announcement in Spain’s northeastern Catalonia region came after regional officials noted a “sharp rise” in infections around the town of Lerida, about 150km west of Barcelona.

The move came as the summer holiday started in Spain and the country began readmitting visitors from 12 countries outside the EU, two weeks after allowing people from the visa-free Schengen zone and Britain to return.

“It is a surprise,” said Josep Raluy, a 63-year-old retiree who returned to the area from a second home as a precaution.

“It’s another step backwards, it’s not good.”

Spain has been one of the countries worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic with at least 28,385 deaths, Europe’s fourth-highest toll after Britain, Italy and France.

AFP