US President Donald Trump voiced hope Friday that a coronavirus vaccine will be available by late 2020, cushioning dire US economic news as parts of Europe re-open despite fears of a second wave of the pandemic, reports AFP.
Several nations have eased restrictions to stem the economic damage from lockdowns, as much of the world learns to live as best it can under the shadow of the disease that has killed more than 304,000 people globally and infected 4.5 million.
While Europe unlocks after reducing the number of new infections, cases continue to soar in other parts of the world as the economic and political fallout grows.
The hunt for a vaccine for a disease that the World Health Organization (WHO) says may never disappear has also threatened to become a source of tension between the globe’s haves and have-nots, with trials underway in various countries.
“We are looking to get it by the end of the year if we can, maybe before,” Trump told reporters at the White House as he discussed America’s “Operation Warp Speed” effort in the global race for a vaccine.
The timeline — deemed unrealistic by many experts — is more aggressive than the one-year scenario put forward by European scientists.
Many countries are not waiting, with borders and beaches were reopening around Europe after two traumatic months in which life ground to a halt.
Germany, which this month began its slow emergence from confinement, was ready to relaunch its football championship Saturday, although in front of empty stadiums and under draconian health measures.
Russia pushed ahead with plans to ease restrictions despite reporting more than 10,000 new cases, with its football league set to return next month and thousands of people being tested for antibodies to show whether they have had the virus or not.
– Beaches reopening –
Slovenia on Friday became the first European country to open its borders, despite new infections still being reported.
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia were creating their own “Baltic bubble” allowing free movement among the three countries.
France called for self-restraint as the country prepared for its first weekend since easing its lockdown Monday, warning that police would break up any large gatherings.
With the European summer fast approaching, the key tourism industry is trying to salvage something from the wreckage.
Parasols and sunloungers are starting to appear on coastlines in Italy, one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic.
“It moves me to see these sunshades,” said Simone Battistoni, whose family has been running the Bagno Milano beach concession in Cesenatico on Italy’s east coast since 1927.
Austria took an important symbolic step Friday by reopening its restaurants and iconic Viennese cafes. “We missed it and we’re going to come back as much as possible,” said Fanny and Sophie, 19-year-old students waiting for breakfast at a cafe in the Austrian capital.
Ireland will begin to lift its lockdown in coming days while introducing a 14-day quarantine period for new arrivals.
On the other side of the world, Sydney’s bars and restaurants opened their doors to customers Friday as a weeks-long lockdown eased.
“The desire to sit in a place that is not your house with your mates and have a drink is truly overwhelming,” said Chrissy Flanagan, owner of The Sausage Factory, a bistro in Australia’s biggest city.
