Market comment 2020

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But on Friday, the entire country reported just 16 new cases, a sharp decline from a peak of 460 new infections on March 28. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday the National Cabinet will meet on May 8 to consider easing lockdown measures, bringing forward the discussion from the week beginning May 11. "Australians have earned an early mark," Morrison said. "We need to restart our economy, we need to restart our society." In some states, the curve has completely flattened: Queensland hasn't reported any new cases since Monday, and South Australia has seen no new infections for more than a week. "No more cases in South Australia. This is a landmark for us," South Australia Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said with a big smile during a press briefing on Wednesday.

 How did Australia flatten its coronavirus curve? Restrictions easing as infection rate continues to fall - CNN

Fewer than one in five of the British public believe the time is right to consider reopening schools, restaurants, pubs and stadiums. The findings, in a new poll for the Observer, suggest Boris Johnson will struggle to convince people to return their lives to normal if he tries to ease the lockdown soon.

 Fearful Britons remain strongly opposed to lifting lockdown | World news | The Guardian

But Belgium’s high numbers have less to do with the spread of the disease and more to do with the way it counts fatalities. Its figures include all the deaths in the country’s more than 1,500 nursing homes, even those untested for the virus. These numbers add up to more than half of the overall figure.

 Why Belgium has the highest coronavirus death rate in the world | The Independent

A recent Deloitte survey asked people in select countries whether they agree with the statement: “I feel safe going to the store right now.” In the US, only 34% of those surveyed responded with “agree” or “strongly agree.” This mindset is likely in line with what many retailers expected as they come up with strategies to reopen stores while encouraging hygiene and social distancing..

 Only one-third of American consumers say they'd feel safe going to a store right now as states start to reopen nonessential businesses