Singapore coronavirus task force chief weeps in parliament
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Malaysia extends movement curbs, prepares economic stimulus as coronavirus cases surge
Malaysia will extend a two-week restriction of movement order and unveil a second economic stimulus package as the number of coronavirus cases continue to climb, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Wednesday.
The measures come as Malaysia reported 172 new coronavirus cases, taking the total to 1,796, the highest in Southeast Asia, Reuters reported.
Since last week, Malaysia has closed its borders to travellers, restricted internal movement, and ordered schools, universities and non-essential businesses to shut until March 31.
Coronavirus cases in Russia reach 658, record daily rise
The number of coronavirus cases in Russia has surged to 658, with new daily cases at a record 163, the government's official coronavirus website showed on Wednesday.
An earlier report on one of Russia's coronavirus monitoring websites had said the number of total cases was 516, Reuters reported.
First known US child virus death was teen ‘in good health’
The first known death of a child due to the novel coronavirus in the United States was a teenager in previously good health, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Tuesday.
The death of the youth from Lancaster, just north of Los Angeles, was reported hours earlier by public health officials, and comes despite the disease not typically proving severe for juveniles, AFP reported.
US Congress, negotiators reach deal on $2-trillion coronavirus aid package
US senators and Trump administration officials have reached an agreement on a massive economic stimulus bill to alleviate the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, the negotiators said today.
The Senate will vote on the $2-trillion package later in the day and the House of Representatives is expected to follow suit soon after, Reuters reported.
Thai lockdown sparks exodus of 60,000 migrant workers
About 60,000 migrant workers living in Thailand have fled the country since authorities shut malls and many businesses at the weekend to curb the spread of the coronavirus, a Thai interior ministry official said on Wednesday.
Thailand has closed its land borders, told people to stay at home, and shuttered most businesses in an effort to suppress the virus. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is set to invoke sweeping emergency powers on Thursday, Reuters reported.
A Thai interior ministry official told Reuters about 60,000 migrant workers from Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar had returned home as of Tuesday. Thailand has reported 934 cases of the virus, the second highest number reported in Southeast Asia.
COVID-19 cases top 200,000 in Europe as daily numbers rebound in Italy
The coronavirus continued to sweep across Europe, with the combined number of confirmed cases on the continent exceeding 200,000 as of Tuesday evening, accounting for half of known cases worldwide.
Globally, the number of coronavirus cases crossed the 400,000 mark as of 1725 GMT on Tuesday, and the deaths globally were 17,454, according to the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the COVID-19 spread in real-time, XINHUA reported.
In just five days, Europe's number of confirmed cases jumped from 100,000 to 200,000. The four hardest-hit European countries remained the same -- Italy, Spain, Germany and France -- with their total cases now topping 150,000 in combination.
Bill Gates says economy can't simply revamp "ignoring the pile of bodies"
Bill Gates rebuked Donald Trump's proposal of reopening the global economy despite the outbreak of Covid-19 saying this would be "very irresponsible".
Gates didn't specifically mentioned a name but his statement came just after Trump announced that his administration is thinking to relax the rule of social distancing to slowly activate the shut-down economy, Vox reported.
Trump suggested that this middle ground would indeed be possible — by letting some healthy people return to work, for instance, while keeping more vulnerable workers in their homes. A decision to be made on this regard by the end of this month as he thinks "cure could be worse than the problem itself."
Australia boosts lockdown measures as coronavirus cases jump
Australian officials warned that an accelerating number of coronavirus infections could start overwhelming the country's intensive care units, as stricter social distancing measures came into force on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced new curbs late on Tuesday that will close more non-essential businesses, pushing the country closer to the stricter lockdown measures imposed in parts of Europe, Reuters reported.
The latest restrictions limit the number of people attending a wedding to five - the couple, the celebrant and two witnesses - while funerals will be limited to 10 people.
Japan's capital becomes centre of its coronavirus epidemic
Japan's capital of Tokyo is at the centre of its coronavirus epidemic with more cases than any other region after a record number in a single day, data from public broadcaster NHK showed.
Tokyo registered a record 17 new cases on Tuesday, taking its tally to 171, and overtaking the hard-hit northern island of Hokkaido island as the prefecture with the most infections, Reuters reported.
The outbreak has infected 1,214 people in Japan as of late Wednesday morning, with 43 deaths linked to the virus, NHK said. That excludes 712 cases from a cruise ship moored near Tokyo last month.
The International Olympic Committee and Japanese government on Tuesday agreed to put back the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to 2021 over the outbreak.
Tokyo's new infections came after Governor Yuriko Koike warned that a lockdown of the capital was possible if it saw an explosive rise in cases.
Koike on Monday called on residents to exercise restraint to avoid a lockdown. She said the next three weeks were critical for whether Tokyo would see an "overshoot" - an explosive rise - in virus cases.
Hokkaido ended a state of emergency over its outbreak of the coronavirus, which saw 163 cases.
The outbreak has now infected more than 420,000 across 196 countries, according to a Reuters tally, with almost 19,000 deaths linked to the virus.
Number of coronavirus cases in Germany rises to 31,554
The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Germany has risen to 31,554 and 149 people have died of the disease, statistics from the RKI health institute showed today.
Cases rose by 4,191 while the death toll climbed by 36, the tally showed, Reuters reported.
Indians scramble for supplies as three-week coronavirus lockdown begins
Indians crowded grocery stores and chemists today in a struggle for essential items after Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a total lockdown for three weeks to fight a coronavirus pandemic, one of the toughest such measures worldwide.
India's tally of 536 cases and 10 deaths is dwarfed by China, Italy and Spain, but Modi and health experts have warned that the nation of 1.3 billion people faces a tidal wave of infections if harsh steps are not taken, Reuters reported.
People in the key cities of Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru rushed to stock up after Modi decreed the shutdown in a speech televised nationwide, barely four hours before it took effect.
As states shut their borders, long queues of trucks carrying milk, fruits and vegetables snaked down highways, even though Modi said essential services would be maintained countrywide.
Disruptions to online services added to people's woes.
UN chief urges G20 to adopt 'war-time' plan with trillions
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged leaders of the world's 20 major industrialized nations on Tuesday to adopt a "wartime" plan including a stimulus package "in the trillions of dollars" for businesses, workers and households in developing countries trying to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
He said in a letter to the Group of 20 leaders that they account for 85 percent of the world's gross domestic product and have "a direct interest and critical role to play in helping developing countries cope with the crisis," AP reported.
Bolsonaro urges Brazilians back to work, dismisses coronavirus 'hysteria'
As Brazil's largest city went into lockdown, President Jair Bolsonaro on March 24 took aim at the "hysteria" over the coronavirus and urged that life must continue and jobs be preserved.
In an address to the nation, Bolsonaro urged mayors and state governors to roll back lockdown measures that have brought Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to near standstills, Reuters reported.
"We must return to normality," he said. "The few states and city halls should abandon their scorched-earth policies."
Saudi king to chair G20 video talks on coronavirus tomorrow
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman will chair an emergency virtual summit of leaders from the Group of 20 major economies on March 26 to discuss a global response to the coronavirus pandemic.
World leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, will take part in the talks which the Kremlin said will take place by videoconference, AFP reported.
“King Salman will chair the meeting to advance a coordinated global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its human and economic implications,” said a statement released by Riyadh today .
Saudi Arabia, which currently holds the G20 presidency, last week called for the “virtual summit” following some criticism that the group has been slow to address the global crisis.
The G20 members will be joined by leaders from other affected countries including Spain, Jordan, Singapore and Switzerland.
Leaders from international organisations such as the United Nations, World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) will also participate.
France and China supported the idea as the global toll from COVID-19 had surged close to 16,000 and over 1.7 billion people were confined to their homes.
Saudi Arabia itself has reported 767 coronavirus infections — the highest in the Gulf — and faces the double blow of virus-led shutdowns and crashing oil prices.
The Saudi presidency is set to see it host world leaders for a summit in Riyadh from November 21 to 22.
Walmart's India e-commerce unit Flipkart suspends services due to lockdown
Walmart Inc's Flipkart has suspended services, a notice on the Indian e-commerce firm's website said today, as India began a 21-day lockdown to fight the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported.
Panama imposes full-day curfew, Guatemala extends state of emergency
Panama's government said on March 24 it would widen a curfew to slow the spread of the coronavirus and require people to be in quarantine at all hours beginning on Wednesday, as the number of cases again jumped and two more people died.
Panama's health minister said the Central American country registered 443 cases of the virus, up from 345 the day before, and there were a total of eight deaths, Reuters reported.
President Laurentino Cortizo did not specify how long the curfew would be in place, but added there would be "logical exceptions," including for health workers and certain businesses such as banks and supermarkets.
In Guatemala, lawmakers voted on Tuesday to extend the state of emergency due to the coronavirus for another 30 days. The country now has 21 confirmed cases of the infection, the government said.
Hubei lifts restrictions as China reports no new virus cases
China lifted tough restrictions on the province at the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak today after a months-long lockdown as the country reported no new domestic cases.
But there were another 47 imported infections from overseas, the National Health Commission said, as the number of cases brought into the country continued to swell, AFP reported.
In total, 474 imported infections have been diagnosed in China — mostly Chinese nationals returning home according to the foreign ministry.
Coronavirus spreading in New York like 'a bullet train'
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on March 24 pleaded for more medical supplies, warning Covid-19 is spreading in his state faster than "a bullet train".
"The apex is higher than we thought and the apex is sooner than we thought," the governor said, BBC reported.
He said the federal government was not sending anywhere near enough lifesaving equipment to confront the crisis.
New York now has over 25,000 confirmed virus cases and at least 210 deaths.
New Zealand declares national emergency to tackle coronavirus
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today declared a state of national emergency as the country prepared to go into a complete lockdown at midnight to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
New Zealand's cases of the coronavirus surged to 205 cases as the government imposed self-isolation for everyone, with all non-essential services, schools and offices to be shut for a month from 1100 GMT, Reuters reported.
"From midnight tonight, we bunker down for four weeks to try and stop the virus in its tracks, to break the chain," Ardern told parliament.
Tokyo Games moved to 2021 as 'light at end of pandemic tunnel'
The Tokyo Olympics were postponed on March 24 to 2021, the first such delay in the Games' 124-year modern history, as the coronavirus crisis wrecked the world's last sporting showpiece still standing this year.
Though a huge blow to Japan, which has invested $12 billion in the run-up, the decision was a relief to thousands of athletes fretting over training with the world heading into lockdown to fight a disease that has killed over 16,500 people, Reuters reported.
New Zealand reports 50 new cases of COIVD-19; says cases to rise
New Zealand on Wednesday reported 47 new confirmed cases of coronavirus and three probable cases, ahead of the country heading into a complete lockdown at midnight.
New Zealand's Director General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, said at a news conference that the number of cases will continue to rise for at least 10 days before a turnaround, Reuters reported.
Libya confirms first coronavirus case amid fear over readiness
Libya confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus on Tuesday, with years of violence leaving its healthcare system highly vulnerable.
The National Centre for Disease Control, which operates in areas controlled by both major sides in the Libyan conflict, gave no further details in its statement on the coronavirus case. However, doctors said the patient was in a hospital in Tripoli, Reuters reported.
Both the internationally recognised government in Tripoli, in the west, and a rival administration ruling from Benghazi in the east have imposed lockdowns, stopped foreign travel and promised resources for the health service.
The eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) has been trying to capture Tripoli since last year. Despite a ceasefire call by the United Nations last week to allow all sides to focus on preparing for the pandemic, fighting has continued, with heavy shelling and clashes on Tuesday.
"This is a health system that was close to collapse before you get the coronavirus," said Elizabeth Hoff, head of mission for the World Health Organization in Libya.
Equipment for testing is limited, there is very little protective gear and there is a severe shortage of medical workers, particularly in rural areas, Hoff said.
"There is a national plan, but funding has not yet been allocated for implementation," she said.
The committee in charge of fighting the flu-like disease announced early on Wednesday a ban on movement between cities and areas until further notice.
Mexico reports rise in coronavirus cases to 405, one more death
Mexico reported 405 coronavirus cases as of March 24, up from 367 a day earlier, and five deaths overall, the health ministry said. Officials had previously reported four deaths from the fast-spreading virus.
Mexico’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday it would stop issuing passports both in Mexico and abroad from March 27 to April 19 as a measure to prevent contagion, Reuters reported.
Nigerian Army prepares for coronavirus lockdown, mass burials
The Nigerian Army is preparing to forcibly transfer the sick to hospital and enforce curbs on movement to try to shield the country from coronavirus, and is leasing equipment for “possible mass burial”, according to an army memo seen by Reuters.
The memo from Army headquarters also outlines plans to protect government food storage from looters as Africa’s most populous nation braces for the illness to spread further in the country.
“Following the rise and continuous spread in cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria, the (Chief of Army Staff) has deemed it necessary for all to take protective measures to ensure the safety of (Nigerian Army) personnel and their families,” the memo said.
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There are currently 46 confirmed cases in Nigeria, and one death, but the infection has hit the top levels of society, infecting President Muhammadu Buhari’s chief of staff.
With a population of 200 million, 20 million of whom are packed in the commercial capital of Lagos, many fear the virus could spread quickly without containment.
The memo said the Army is suspending all leave passes for all personnel and called for them to be on “maximum security alert and be ready for deployment.”
Chile surpasses 1,000 cases of coronavirus: health ministry
Chile has surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus since the outbreak began in the Andean nation, the health ministry said on Wednesday, among the highest tallies in Latin America.
The ministry confirmed 1,142 total cases and said three people had died from the disease.
Britain's embattled logistics industry calls for Brexit to be delayed
Britain's logistics industry is urging the government to delay its departure from the European Union because it cannot prepare for Brexit while battling to get food and medical supplies into the country during the coronavirus pandemic.
The FTA, which represents members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, said it was petitioning government to urgently seek an extension to the transition period before the planned departure date at the end of the year.
Spain asks NATO for coronavirus testing kits, ventilators, protective gear
The Spanish army has asked its NATO partners for coronavirus testing kits, ventilators and protective gear as part of the alliance’s international assistance arrangements, Spanish armed forces chief Miguel Villarroya said on Wednesday.
He said Spain made the request to NATO which would pass it on to the member states’ armies. The aid would be transferred to civilians, Villarroya told reporters.
Nine EU leaders call for joint debt issuance for coronavirus spending
Leaders of nine EU countries including France, Italy and Spain called on the bloc to agree on a "common debt instrument" to raise funds to support the health industry in combating the coronavirus, as well as the broader economies, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
EU leaders will hold a third video conference on coronavirus on Thursday. The letter, dated March 25, comes after euro zone ministers did not agree on eurobond joint debt issuance on Tuesday but said the euro zone's ESM bailout fund would extend precautionary credit lines as a safety cushion.
Delivery drivers face pandemic without sick pay, insurance, sanitizer
On his delivery route through Orange County, California, Joseph Alvarado made 153 stops one day last week for Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), touching the inside and outside of his van, more than 225 packages, and dozens of customers' doors and gates.
In a global coronavirus pandemic that has infected about 420,000 people and killed nearly 19,000, delivery drivers like Alvarado have become as essential as first responders, providing food and other basics for millions of people who are isolating themselves under government stay-home directives. But unlike traditional emergency workers, today's delivery drivers typically have little or no health insurance, sick pay or job security - and many say they lack even the basics needed to stay safe on the job.
Saudi Arabia tightens curfew imposed to contain coronavirus
Saudi Arabia is tightening a partial curfew imposed nationwide to contain the spread of the coronavirus, barring entry or exit from Riyadh, Mecca and Medina as well as movement between all provinces starting on Wednesday, state news agency SPA reported.
The orders, approved by King Salman, also added four hours in the three cities to the 21-day curfew that began on Monday, so that it will start at 3pm instead of 7pm as of Thursday, SPA said.
Prince Charles tests positive for coronavirus
Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, has tested positive for coronavirus, a spokeswoman said.
Charles is 71 years old.
French coronavirus death tally much higher than official data - hospitals chief
The death toll in France from coronavirus is much higher than the daily government tally, which only accounts for those dying in hospitals, a senior French health official said on Wednesday.
France reported a cumulative 1,100 coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, up from 91 on March 14, a more than tenfold increase in 11 days and an average increase of 28 percent per day, data tracked by Reuters shows.
Iran coronavirus toll rises to 2,077 after 143 new deaths
An Iranian health ministry official said on Wednesday that 2,077 people had died so far from the new coronavirus in Iran, with 143 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours.
The total number of people infected with the coronavirus has climbed to 27,017, Alireza Vahabzadeh tweeted.
Virus fight at risk as world's medical glove capital struggles with lockdown
Disposable rubber gloves are indispensable in the global fight against the new coronavirus, yet a month's lockdown in stricken Malaysia where three of every five gloves are made has upended the supply chain and threatens to hamstring hospitals worldwide.
The world's biggest maker of medical gloves by volume, Top Glove Corp Bhd, has the capacity to make 200 million gloves a day, but a supplier shutdown has left it with only two weeks' worth of boxes to ship them in, its founder told Reuters.
Pompeo says China still withholding coronavirus information
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sharpened on Thursday his criticism of China's handling of a coronavirus pandemic, saying its ruling Communist Party was still denying the world information needed to prevent further cases.
The remarks, in an interview with the Washington Watch radio program, provoked a riposte from China that Pompeo should cease "politicizing" the epidemic and defaming the country.
More than 170,000 volunteer to help UK fight coronavirus
More than 170,000 people have signed up to help Britain's National Health Service tackle the coronavirus outbreak just hours after a request for a quarter of a million volunteers.
"At times of crisis people come together," Stephen Powis, the national medical director of NHS England, told BBC TV. "This is a health emergency and we can all play a role."
Singapore coronavirus task force chief weeps in parliament
A government minister leading Singapore’s coronavirus task force broke down in tears midway through a speech in parliament on Wednesday as he thanked healthcare workers and others for their efforts in tackling the pandemic.
“Words are not enough,” said Lawrence Wong, his voice shaking before he abruptly stopped the speech, began crying and said “please give me a minute”.
Singapore which has been battling a coronavirus outbreak for over two months, has seen a sharp rise in mainly imported cases in recent days to a total of 558 infections and on Saturday recorded its first deaths from the virus.
South Africa’s coronavirus cases rise sharply to 709
South Africa reported that its number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus jumped to 709 on Wednesday from 554 the previous day, an increase of 28 percent.
South Africa, which now has the highest numbers of infections on the continent, has ordered a 21-day lockdown which rolls into action at midnight on Thursday, AFP reported.
Starting Wednesday last week the country closed its borders to non-citizens from high-risk countries.
The flag carrier South African Airways has also suspended all international, regional and domestic flights to curb the spread of the virus.
The country’s first infections were imported from Europe, but the minister said there were now recording internal transmissions.
UK parliament to shut early over coronavirus
The British parliament is expected to close on Wednesday because of the coronavirus outbreak, with MPs sent home a week early for their Easter break, AFP Reported.
The government has put forward a motion for the House of Commons, the lower elected chamber, to shut at the end of Wednesday’s proceedings until April 21.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told the BBC it was a “sensible” decision given the nationwide shut down of non-essential shops and services and the government order for people to stay at home.
Emergency legislation giving the government powers to force people into isolation has been pushed through parliament this week and is expected to become law on Wednesday.
Before MPs head home, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will have his final head-to-head in the Commons against opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, before the latter steps down.
