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| - Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis: More than four million people have been infected with the coronavirus in Europe, according to a tally by AFP at 1640 GMT. Russia, which on Tuesday topped one million cases, along with Spain and Britain recorded the highest number of infections, while 216,080 people have died in Europe. The pandemic has killed more than 851,000 people worldwide since surfacing in China late last year, according to the AFP count. More than 25.5 million cases have been registered. Brazil joins India in reporting a historic second-quarter drop in national economic output, contracting by a record 9.7 percent. Only China, of the leading global economies, has escaped a recession sparked by the pandemic. US Federal Reserve governor Lael Brainard says government spending will be "essential" to help struggling businesses and families weather the downturn caused by the pandemic. With the White House and Congress still at an impasse over a new emergency relief package in the country worst hit by the coronavirus, Brainard warns that "the economy continues to face considerable uncertainty associated with the vagaries of the COVID-19 pandemic". French, Belgian, Russian and Ukrainian pupils go back to school as across Europe doors open to greet returning pupils, nearly six months after the coronavirus outbreak forced them to close. The wearing of masks is in general mandatory for pupils over 11, but Greece has imposed them in primary schools. Hong Kong launches a mass testing scheme, but it is undermined by deep distrust of the government following China's crushing of the autonomous city's democracy movement. The free voluntary tests, to which half a million people have however signed up, are part of an attempt to stamp out a third wave of infections that began in late June and saw the densely populated city reimpose economically damaging social distancing measures. French pharma giant Sanofi says international phase 3 clinical tests of its Kevzara drug for serious Covid-19 cases have proved inconclusive and it is halting the trial. Canadian researchers say they are investigating a popular superfood -- the acai berry -- as a treatment to prevent Covid-19's most severe symptoms. burs/jba-jmy/bp
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