Issam Ahmed with AFP bureaus

While lockdowns have brought economic pain, boredom and myriad other woes, the effect on the environment has been more positive.

The US, the hardest-hit country by the virus, added one million new cases in just over two weeks, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Trump called for students to return to their schools in the fall and lashed the CDC for issuing guidance that he said was too restrictive.

The reminder that the pandemic -- which has claimed more than 480,000 lives around the world -- is far from over came amid more grim news.

Anthony Fauci's words raised concerns that even a cautious exit from the unprecedented global economic shutdown could trigger another outbreak.