The number of infections is rising faster than ever, but many countries have decided that this is the moment to ease lockdown restrictions
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LONDON — Two months ago, when there were roughly 1 million confirmed coronavirus cases and the primal politics of survival was sweeping the world, shutting down was the order of the day.
This week, the number of cases soared past 7 million, with 136,000 new infections detected Sunday alone, the highest single-day total since the pandemic began.
The order of the day? Reopening.
Terrified after watching economies built over the course of decades hollow out in a matter of weeks, countries seem to be saying, in effect: Enough.
For health officials who have been watching the virus with alarm as it began claiming a foothold in continent after continent, it is a dizzying moment.
©2019 New York Times News Service