Coronavirus death projection in US revised down to 60,000
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Italy's daily coronavirus death toll falls, but new cases accelerate
Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy rose by 542 on Wednesday, a lower tally than the 604 the day before, but the number of new cases pushed higher to 3,836 compared with a previous 3,039.
The total death toll since the outbreak came to light on Feb. 21 rose to 17,669, the Civil Protection Agency said, the highest in the world.
The number of confirmed cases climbed to 139,422, the third highest global tally behind that of the United States and Spain.
There were 3,693 people in intensive care on Wednesday against 3,792 on Tuesday — a fifth consecutive daily decline, underscoring growing hopes that the illness is on the retreat thanks to a nationwide lockdown introduced on March 9.
Of those originally infected, 26,491 were declared recovered against 24,392 a day earlier.
Britain says aiming to roll-out millions of coronavirus tests in months
Britain said on Wednesday it aimed to roll-out millions of coronavirus tests in months after criticism that it had moved too slowly on the issue, adding that a partnership with private firms would help it hit 100,000 tests a day by the end of April.
England’s Chief Medical Officer conceded on Tuesday that there were lessons to learn from Germany on testing.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for Prime Minister Boris Johnson while he is in hospital with COVID-19, has said Britain is making progress to its daily testing target but there was “more work to do.”
Switzerland extends anti-virus measures to April 26, sees phased-in loosening this month
Switzerland’s government extended the nation’s anti-coronavirus restrictions for another week to April 26, but said a gradual loosening of measures that now include border controls, school closures and bans on gatherings would begin this month.
“For the successful phaseout of the measures, certain requirements must be fulfilled,” the government said in a statement on Wednesday, adding criteria it was considering in introducing the easing included the number of new infections, hospitalisations and the death rate.
Refugees in eastern Germany sew coronavirus face masks for pensioners
Refugees in the eastern German town of Jueterbog are sewing face masks for pensioners in a retirement home that has a shortage of facial coverings for elderly residents at heightened risk of coronavirus infection.
Iranian refugee Babak Barz, who ran a sewing workshop for six years in Tehran, said he wanted to put his experience to good use. “I thought, I have some experience with this kind of work, so I can also help,” said Barz, smiling against the whirring noise from sewing machines.
In the last 10 days his team has sewn 735 protective face masks from cloth. Germany has more than 100,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus registered and 1,861 people have died from COVID-19. Elderly people are widely seen to be more at risk.
Key US coronavirus death projection revised down to 60,000
Some 60,000 Americans could die in the coronavirus pandemic, a university model often cited by US and state policymakers projected on Wednesday, a 26 percent reduction in its most recent forecast death toll.
The University of Washington model's downward revision coincides with relative optimism from political leaders that caseloads may have reached a plateau in certain areas, albeit with the US death toll climbing by 1,800 on Tuesday as nearly 30,000 new infections were reported.
GM to supply 30,000 ventilators in $500 million US contract
The United States on Wednesday awarded automaker General Motors Co a contract worth $489.4 million to make ventilators needed to treat severely sick coronavirus patients.
The Department of Health and Human Services contract is the first for ventilator production under the Defense Production Act, invoked by President Donald Trump to get companies to produce essential gear needed to fight the pandemic.
Singapore confirms 142 new coronavirus infections, biggest daily jump
Singapore’s Health Ministry confirmed 142 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 1,623.
Forty of the new cases were linked to foreign worker dormitories, the health ministry said in a statement.
Dutch coronavirus cases rise by 969 to 20,549, 147 new deaths
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Netherlands rose by 969 to 20,549 as of Wednesday, health authorities said, with 147 new deaths.
The country’s total death toll from the disease is now 2,248, the Netherlands’ National Institute for Health (RIVM) said in a daily update.
Croatia says it needs $10 billion to combat coronavirus crisis
Croatia will need about 70 billion kuna ($10 billion) in the next few months to finance the measures it undertakes to combat the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Finance Minister Zdravko Maric said on Wednesday.
The government has already introduced some measures to shore up the economy, including writing off tax obligations or deferring of tax payments over the next three months. It will also pay part of the salaries of workers employed by companies in trouble.
Later this week it plans to start talks with trade unions on possible wage reductions in the public sector.
Do men fare worse with Covid-19?
Death and infection tolls from the Covid-19 pandemic spreading around the world point to men being more likely than women to contract the disease and to suffer severe or critical complications if they do.
Obesity is major COVID-19 risk factor, says French chief epidemiologist
Being overweight is a major risk for people infected with the new coronavirus and the United States is particularly vulnerable because of high obesity levels there, France's chief epidemiologist said on Wednesday.
Professor Jean-François Delfraissy, who heads the scientific council that advises the government on the epidemic, said as many as 17 million of France's 67 million citizens were seriously at risk from the coronavirus because of age, pre-existing illness or obesity.
"This virus is terrible, it can hit young people, in particular obese young people. Those who are overweight really need to be careful," Delfraissy told franceinfo radio.
Czech coronavirus cases top 5,000 but growth slows
The number of cases of the new coronavirus in the Czech Republic has risen past 5,000, although a slower growth rate allowed the health minister to say he was confident the state had prevented an uncontrolled spread as it starts easing lockdown measures.
The Health Ministry on Wednesday said 195 new cases had been detected the previous day to bring the total to 5,017. That compares with the previous daily rise of 235.
The Czech Republic was one of the swiftest countries in Europe to take action against the virus’s spread in March when cases start appearing throughout the continent.
Health Minister Adam Vojtech said data was showing it had stopped the uncontrolled spread within Czech borders. “The Czech Republic has so far prevented the worst,” he told a news briefing.
Swiss coronavirus death toll goes past 700, positive tests near 23,000
The Swiss death toll from coronavirus has reached 705 people, the country’s public health ministry said on Wednesday, rising from 641 people on Tuesday.
The number of positive tests for the disease also increased to 22,789 from 22,242 on Tuesday, it said.
Iran's new coronavirus death toll passes 4,000 - health official
Iran’s new coronavirus death toll has climbed to 4,003 with 121 more deaths in the past 24 hours, a Health Ministry spokesman told state TV on Wednesday, adding that the total number of infections in the country has risen to 67,286.
“We had 1,997 new infected cases in the past 24 hours .... there are 3,956 infected people in critical conditions,” spokesman Kianush Jahanpur added.
EU ministers fail to agree virus economic rescue in all-night talks
European Union finance ministers failed to agree in all-night talks on more support for their coronavirus-hit economies and their chairman said on Wednesday morning he was suspending the discussions until Thursday.
Diplomatic sources and officials said a feud between Italy and the Netherlands over what conditions should be attached to euro zone credit for governments fighting the pandemic was blocking progress on half a trillion euros worth of aid.
"After 16 hours of discussions we came close to a deal but we are not there yet," Eurogroup chairman Mario Centeno said. "I suspended the Eurogroup and (we will)continue tomorrow."
Tesla to furlough workers, cut employee salaries due to coronavirus
Tesla Inc told employees on Tuesday it would furlough all non-essential workers and implement salary cuts during a shut down of its US production facilities because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Tesla said it planned to resume normal operations on May 4, barring any significant changes, according to an email sent to US employees by in-house counsel Valerie Capers Workman, which was viewed by Reuters.
The company, which suspended production at its San Francisco Bay Area vehicle and New York solar roof tile factories on March 24, said in the email the decisions were part of a broader effort to manage costs and achieve long-term plans.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
France working on 'StopCovid' contact-tracing app, ministers say
The French government is working on a smartphone app that could warn users if they came into contact with a coronavirus carrier, ministers said on Wednesday, in a move likely to raise questions about the impact of tracing technology on civil liberties.
France, which has entered the fourth week of a lockdown imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, is exploring ways to end the restriction on movement, including contact-tracing apps.
South African minister disciplined for 'lockdown lunch'
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa put the communications minister on “special leave” for two months, one of which will be unpaid, on Wednesday for breaking the rules of a countrywide lockdown and having lunch with a former official.
Ramaphosa acted after a picture of Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams at the lunch emerged on social media, angering South Africans confined to their homes during the 21-day lockdown that started on March 27 to rein in the coronavirus outbreak.
Belarus coronavirus cases pass 1,000, no new deaths
The number of coronavirus cases in Belarus topped 1,000 on Wednesday, the health ministry said, reporting 205 new infections, a record daily rise.
The total number of cases rose to 1,066, but there was no change in the number of deaths, which remained at 13. Belarus is seeing average daily growth in cases of around 20-25 percent, according to Reuters calculations.
President Alexander Lukashenko has called the coronavirus a “psychosis” that can be fought with vodka, saunas and driving tractors, but some of his citizens are taking matters into their own hands to protect themselves.
Belarus has not closed its borders, introduced quarantine measures or asked people to follow social distancing guidelines.
Spain's number of coronavirus deaths rises by 757 to over 14,500
The number of daily coronavirus deaths rose in Spain for the second day on Wednesday as 757 people died over the past 24 hours, though the pace of the proportional daily increase in the death toll slowed down slightly, the health ministry said.
The number of total fatalities caused by the new coronavirus in Spain rose to 14,555 on Wednesday, the ministry said. The daily increase as a percentage of the total death toll was 5.5 percent, down from 5.7 percent the day before, when 743 people died.
The overall detected cases in the country rose to 146,690 from 140,510 on Tuesday, it added.
India considers narrowing lockdown to coronavirus hotspots
India is considering plans to seal off coronavirus hotspots in Delhi, Mumbai and parts of the south while easing curbs elsewhere as a way out of a three-week lockdown that has caused deep economic distress, officials said on Wednesday.
The sweeping lockdown of India's 1.3 billion people to prevent an epidemic of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, ends on April 14 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to take a decision this week on whether to extend it.
Scenes of poor migrant workers and their families walking long distances on empty highways to their homes in the countryside have increased the pressure on Modi to re-open parts of Asia's third largest economy.
'Painful lesson': how a military-style lockdown unfolded in Wuhan
As the world grapples with the escalating coronavirus pandemic, China reopened the city of Wuhan on Wednesday, allowing its 11 million residents to leave for the first time in over two months, a milestone in its effort to combat the outbreak.
But while the operation to contain Wuhan's coronavirus outbreak has been hailed as a success by China and many international health experts, it didn't come easy.
Using virus case data, official reports and over a dozen interviews with officials, residents and scientists in Wuhan, Reuters has compiled a comprehensive account of how the military-style quarantine of the city unfolded.
Tokyo sees biggest daily jump in infections as coronavirus emergency begins - NHK
Tokyo recorded 144 coronavirus infections on Wednesday, its biggest daily jump since the start of the pandemic, public broadcaster NHK said, without citing sources on the first day of a state of emergency aimed at containing the outbreak.
Total infections in the Japanese capital stand at 1,339, NHK said, for an increase that would carry the nationwide tally beyond 4,600, including 98 deaths, based on numbers it published earlier in the day.
The number of infections is still far smaller than in many European countries and the United States, but a steady rise in some areas prompted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to declare the emergency in Tokyo, Osaka and five other hard-hit prefectures.
Iran's new coronavirus death toll passes 4,000: health official
Iran’s new coronavirus death toll has climbed to 4,003 with 121 more deaths in the past 24 hours, a Health Ministry spokesman told state TV on Wednesday, adding that the total number of infections in the country has risen to 67,286.
“We had 1,997 new infected cases in the past 24 hours .... there are 3,956 infected people in critical conditions,” spokesman Kianush Jahanpur added.
China's Wuhan ends its coronavirus lockdown but elsewhere one begins
The Chinese city where the new coronavirus emerged ended its more-than two-month lockdown on Wednesday, even as a small northern city ordered restrictions on its residents amid concern about a second wave of infections.
China sealed off Wuhan, a central city of 11 million people, on Jan. 23, a drastic step that came to symbolise its aggressive management of the virus.
More than 50,000 people in Wuhan were infected, and more than 2,500 of them died, about 80 percent of all deaths in China, according to official figures.
The national emergency is set to expire on July 31, but the deadline might be extended
Italian ports cannot be considered safe because of the coronavirus epidemic and will not let charity migrant boats dock, the government has ruled.
The decision was taken late on Tuesday after a ship operated by the German non-governmental group Sea-Eye picked up some 150 people off Libya and headed towards Italy.
ECB urges measures worth 1.5 trillion euros this year to tackle virus crisis: sources
The European Central Bank told euro zone finance ministers that the euro zone could need fiscal measures worth to 1.5 trillion euros this year to tackle the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, officials told Reuters.
But at a videoconference that ended on Wednesday without a deal after 16 hours of talks, Germany, the Netherlands and other northern European countries were ready to support EU measures worth only 500 billion euros, officials who participated in the meeting said.
Malaysia reports 156 new coronavirus cases with two new deaths
Malaysian health authorities on Wednesday reported 156 new cases of coronavirus infection, pushing the cumulative total to 4,119 cases as Southeast Asia's third-largest economy continues to grapple with the highest rate of infection in the region.
The health ministry also reported two new deaths, including one Pakistani national who had attended a mass religious gathering that was the source of over 1,000 infections in the country, Reuters reported.
Russia reports record daily rise in new cases, infections up to 8,672
The number of coronavirus cases in Russia rose by more than 1,000 for the second day running, taking the total to 8,672, the crisis response centre said today.
The number of reported cases rose by 1,175, a record daily rise, while deaths increased by five to 63, the centre said, Reuters reported.
Indonesia reports 218 new coronavirus infections, taking total to 2,956
Indonesia confirmed on Wednesday 218 new coronavirus infections, taking the total in the Southeast Asian country to 2,956, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said.
He reported 19 new coronavirus deaths, taking the total to 240, while 222 people have recovered, Reuters reported.
Czech coronavirus cases top 5,000 but growth slows
The number of cases of the new coronavirus in the Czech Republic has risen past 5,000 with 91 deaths, although a slowing growth rate has given the government confidence to start easing some lockdown measures that have hit the economy.
The country today reported 195 new cases which bring the total to 5,017, a figure that was updated to stand at 5,033, Reuters reported, Reuters reported.
The daily percentage rise in cases has grown at a single-digit rate so far in April.
The country was among the first in Europe to declare a state of emergency in March - which parliament agreed on Tuesday to extend to April 30 - and has been swift to put in place drastic measures including closing schools, most shops and restaurants, and restricting people's movement.
The government on Monday agreed to relax some measures, such as reopening shops selling hobby goods and building materials, and also eased rules on open-air sports activities where people do not congregate, such as running and cycling.
More shops may be opened after the Easter weekend.
Bangladesh reports 3 more deaths from coronavirus, 54 new cases
Three more people died from the novel coronavirus and 54 tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours in Bangladesh.
"With this, the number of confirmed cases in the country has reached 218 while the death toll stands at 20. 981 tests were performed in last 24 hours," Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), made the disclosure during an online press briefing today, The Business Standard reported today.
UK PM Johnson stable after second night in intensive care battling COVID-19
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent a second night in intensive care and was in a stable condition after receiving oxygen support for COVID-19 complications while his foreign minister directs the country's battle against the outbreak.
Johnson, who tested positive nearly two weeks ago, was taken to St Thomas' hospital on Sunday evening as he had a persistent high temperature and cough but his condition deteriorated on Monday and he was rushed into an intensive care unit, Reuters reported.
Philippines reports five new deaths, 106 more coronavirus cases
The Philippines' health ministry said on Wednesday the coronavirus outbreak has killed five more people, with 106 additional infections.
In a bulletin, the health ministry said total deaths have risen to 182 while infections have increased to 3,870. Twelve patients recovered on Wednesday, bringing the total to 96, it added, Reuters reported.
400 million Indian workers may sink into poverty due to Covid-19: UN
About 400 million people working in the informal economy in India are at risk of falling deeper into poverty due to the coronavirus crisis which is having "catastrophic consequences", and is expected to wipe out 195 million full-time jobs or 6.7 per cent of working hours globally in the second quarter of this year, the UN's labour body has warned.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) in its report titled 'ILO Monitor 2nd edition: Covid-19 and the world of work', describes coronavirus pandemic as "the worst global crisis since World War II", PTI reported.
Iran virus deaths rise 133 to 3,872
Iran yesterday reported 133 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of officially confirmed fatalities to 3,872.
In the past 24 hours, 2,089 new cases of COVID-19 infection were recorded across the country, AFP reported.
That brought the number of confirmed cases to 62,589, he told a televised news conference.
Iran announced its first COVID-19 cases on February 19, when it said two people had died from the illness.The country is by far the worst hit by the pandemic in the Middle East, according to official tolls released by regional states.
There has been speculation abroad that the real number of deaths and infections could be higher in the Islamic republic.Iran had carried out 211,136 COVID-19 tests to date.
In an attempt to limit the spread of the disease, authorities have not confined the population but have adopted other restrictions such as closing most businesses deemed non-essential and imposing an intercity travel ban.
However President Hassan Rouhani announced on Sunday that the authorities had given the go-ahead for the resumption of certain economic activities from April 11.
India coronavirus cases top 5000, death toll at 149
India recorded 331 new coronavirus cases in the last 12 hours, the government said today, taking the number of coronavirus patients to 5194 and deaths to 149 with 25 new fatalities.
The latest data available with the Union ministry of health at 8am showed out of the 4643 active cases, 401 people have been cured or discharged and 149 have died, The Hindustan Times reported.
Maharashtra remained the worst affected after reporting more than 1000 positive cases, on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the central government’s figure for the state showed there were 1161 patients, including 79 recoveries and 64 deaths.
Officials have said that after several states suggested the three-week nationwide lockdown over the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak should be extended the Centre is considering enforcing it beyond April 14. It will also keep the option of lifting the restrictions in a staggered manner.
Russia ready to start testing coronavirus vaccines on humans in June
The head of a top Russian research centre told President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday that his lab was ready to start human trials of experimental coronavirus vaccines in June.
Rinat Maksyutov, head of the Vektor State Virology and Biotechnology Centre, said his facility proposed first-phase clinical trials of three vaccines from June 29, on 180 volunteers, AFP reported.
Tests were currently underway on mice, rabbits and other animals to determine the most promising by April 30, he said.
People allowed to leave China's Wuhan as coronavirus lockdown ends
The central Chinese city of Wuhan began allowing people to leave today for the first time since it was locked down 76 days ago to contain the novel coronavirus, despite fears of a second wave of infection if such restrictions are eased too soon.
China sealed off the city of 11 million people on January 23 after it became clear that the flu-like virus that had emerged there late last year was highly contagious and potentially deadly, Reuters reported.
"I'm very happy, I'm going home today," migrant worker Liu Xiaomin told Reuters as she stood with her suitcases inside Wuhan's Hankou railway station, bound for Xiangyang city.
Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise to 103,228, deaths to 1,861
The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Germany rose by 4,003 in the past 24 hours to 103,228 on Wednesday, climbing for the second straight day after four previous days of drops, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed.
The reported death toll rose by 254 to 1,861, Reuters reported.
France coronavirus deaths exceed 10,000
France on Tuesday crossed the 10,000 mark of coronavirus deaths, with 7,091 fatalities recorded in hospital and 3,237 in old age homes since March 1.
More than 30,000 people were being treated in hospitals around the country, with 7,131 in intensive care, top health official Jerome Salomon told journalists, warning “the epidemic is continuing its progression,” AFP reported.
“We are in the ascending phase of the epidemic, even if it is slowing a bit,” he said, adding “we have not yet reached the peak.”
The death toll of 10,328 included 597 fatalities in hospital in the last 24 hours, according to a government update.
Thailand reports 111 new coronavirus cases, three more deaths
Thailand on Wednesday reported 111 new coronavirus cases and 3 more deaths.
The dead included a 48-year-old Russian, a 69-year-old Indian and a 69-year-old U.S. national, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for the government's Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration said, Reuters reported.
Since the pandemic escalated in January, Thailand has reported a total of 2,369 cases and 30 fatalities, while 888 patients have recovered and gone home.
US records highest death toll from coronavirus in single day
The US coronavirus deaths continued to reach grim milestones, with 1,736 fatalities in a single day reported on Tuesday.
It brings the total number of deaths in the country to 12,722, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, BBC reported.
New York registers record 731 virus deaths in 24 hours
New York State has recorded its highest number of COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours, Governor Andrew Cuomo said yesterday, adding though that hospitalisations appeared to be “plateauing.”
The governor said 731 people succumbed to the new coronavirus on Monday, bringing the state’s total death toll to 5,489. The previous single-day record was 630, set on Friday, AFP reported.
New York has borne the brunt of America’s deadly coronavirus pandemic, accounting for around half the number of deaths across the country.
COVID-19 has killed more than 11,000 people in the United States, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Cuomo said New York appeared be nearing the peak of its pandemic, with a three-day average of hospitalisations down.
He added that intensive care admissions and intubations had also declined.
On April 6, the governor extended a shutdown until near the end of the month, ordering schools and non-essential businesses to remain closed until April 29.
Twitter chief pledges $1bn for Covid-19 relief effort
Twitter Inc Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey on Tuesday pledged $1 billion of his stake in Square Inc, the payments processor that he co-founded and heads, to help fund relief efforts related to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a series of tweets, Dorsey said the amount, representing about 28% of his wealth, will be donated to his charity fund, Start Small LLC, which would later focus its attention to universal basic income and girls' health and education, Reuters reported.
China's new coronavirus cases double as imported infections surge
Mainland China's new coronavirus cases doubled in 24 hours as the number of infected overseas travellers surged, and new asymptomatic infections more than quadrupled, pressuring authorities to tighten measures to stem local transmissions.
New confirmed cases rose to 62 on Tuesday from 32 a day earlier, the National Health Commission said, the highest since March 25. New imported infections accounted for 59 of the cases, Reuters reported.
The number of new asymptomatic cases more than quadrupled to 137, the health authority said today, with incoming travellers accounting for 102.
Mexico registers 2,785 cases of coronavirus and 141 deaths
Mexico has registered 346 new cases of coronavirus infection, bringing the country’s total to 2,785, as well as 141 deaths, the health ministry said on April 7, Reuters reported.
Eastern Libya confirms first coronavirus case
The authorities running eastern Libya on Tuesday confirmed a first case of the coronavirus despite efforts to close borders and impose a curfew to limit social interactions.
Libya has confirmed a total of 20 cases of the new coronavirus, with the others in the western areas controlled by the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), Reuters reported.
The United Nations and aid agencies have urged Libya’s warring factions to stop fighting, but the conflict has increased in the past two weeks and projectiles hit a hospital in a GNA-held area of Tripoli on Monday.
The eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) of Khalifa Haftar, which is backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia, has been attempting to capture Tripoli for over a year.
Aid agencies including the World Health Organization have said that Libya is poorly placed to withstand any major coronavirus outbreak as much of its infrastructure is damaged.
Hong Kong extends social distancing restrictions to contain coronavirus
Hong Kong said on Wednesday social-distancing restrictions including the closure of some bars and pubs and a ban on public gatherings of more than four people would be extended until April 23 as it battles to halt the spread of coronavirus.
The government said a "drastic" more than two-fold spike in the number of cases in Hong Kong over the past two weeks to 936 meant the move was necessary. Four people in the former British colony have died of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, Reuters reported.
Other restrictions that have been extended include the closure of gyms, cinemas, mahjong parlours, karaoke lounges and nightclubs. Beauty salons and massage parlours have been added to the list.
The global financial hub has also extended indefinitely a two-week closure of its airport to foreign arrivals that was due to end on Tuesday.
While schools remain closed, many people work from home and shopping malls and restaurants are largely deserted, Hong Kong has stopped short of a full lockdown imposed in other cities such as London and New York.
The extension of restrictions comes as the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the disease is believed to have originated, started to allow people to leave on Wednesday for the first time since it was locked down 76 days ago to contain the novel coronavirus.
Spain daily virus deaths rise to 743 after drop
Spain’s daily coronavirus death toll shot up to 743 on Tuesday after falling for four straight days, lifting the total to 13,798, the health ministry said.
However, it emphasised that the rise was due to weekend deaths being tallied and that the overall “downward trend” is continuing, AFP reported.
The new figure represents a 5.7 percent increase over the 637 deaths recorded on Monday, the lowest number of fatalities since March 24 in the world’s second hardest-hit country after Italy in terms of deaths.