This archive report was first published on 19 July 2020.
Published on July 19, 2020, the world was grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, with the United States being the worst-affected country.
With over 14 million people infected worldwide, the virus had taken a devastating toll, claiming over 140,000 lives in the US alone.
As the pandemic spread, governments were faced with the difficult decision of imposing lockdowns to protect public health or loosening restrictions to save struggling businesses.
Angry demonstrators took to the streets in Israel to protest against their government's handling of the crisis, while scientists in Britain were engaged in a tit-for-tat row with Russia over claims of Kremlin agents hacking into British labs where virus vaccines were being developed.
'Good will' ¶
European policymakers were focused on economic recovery, with the continent facing a crippling recession and struggling to agree on a massive package to help the most-affected countries.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her doubts about a solution being found, stating, "I still can't say whether a solution will be found," and "There is a lot of good will... but it may also be that no result will be achieved today."
Mask measures ¶
As the pandemic continued to spread, governments were implementing various measures to contain its spread, including mandatory facemasks in public places.
In Australia, facemasks became mandatory for roughly five million people in and around Melbourne, with the threat of $140 fines for transgressors.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews emphasized the importance of wearing masks, saying, "Most of us wouldn't leave home without our keys, we wouldn't leave our home without our mobile phone. You won't be able to leave home without your mask."
'Hail of bottles' ¶
However, such restrictions have not gone down well with some in Israel, where a second wave of infections emerged after the government allowed businesses to reopen en masse in late April and early May.
Police fired water cannon to disperse thousands of protesters overnight, who had gathered in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to register their fury.
