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GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization’s director-general said Monday that the agency had sounded the highest level of alarm over the novel coronavirus early on, but lamented that not all countries had heeded its advice. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pointed out that the WHO warned the COVID-19 outbreak constituted a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” on January 30, when there were no deaths and only 82 cases registered outside China. “The world should […]
PARIS, France (AFP) — France on Monday reported 437 new deaths from COVID-19 in hospitals and nursing homes over the last 24 hours, marking a rise after lower daily figures in the last days. The latest deaths brought the total toll from the epidemic in the country to 23,293, the health ministry said in a statement. The day earlier, a far lower figure of 242 people was confirmed to have died. The latest figures were […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Monday appeared to confirm that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is alive, saying he wished him well after days of speculation over the dictator’s whereabouts. Asked if he had new information about Kim’s health, Trump said “yes, I do have a very good idea, but I can’t talk about it now. I just wish him well.” “I hope he’s fine,” Trump continued, speaking at […]
by Peter HUTCHISON with Michael MATHES in Atlanta Agence France Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — More US states began lifting coronavirus lockdown orders on Monday but New York — America’s economic engine and coronavirus epicenter — is in no hurry, with hospitalization rates still high. As Colorado, Minnesota, Mississippi and Tennessee were among the latest states to loosen restrictions, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he was preparing to lengthen confinement measures for […]
MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain on Monday counted another 331 new virus deaths, with the daily toll rising by several dozen from its lowest level in more than a month. The figure lifted the total to 23,521 in Spain, which has suffered the world’s third-highest number of deaths but which on Sunday began easing lockdown conditions, allowing children out to play for the first time in six weeks. Sunday’s toll had dropped to 288 — […]
BEIJING, China (AFP) — Tens of thousands of students returned to school in Shanghai and Beijing Monday after months of closures intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus, as China’s major cities gradually return to normality. Shanghai students in their final year of middle and high school returned to classrooms, while only high school seniors in Beijing were allowed back on campus to prepare for the all-important “gaokao” university entrance exam. But the students […]
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday made his first public appearance in nearly a month after a spell in hospital and several days in intensive care with the novel coronavirus. In a statement outside his Downing Street office, he said Britain was “beginning to turn the tide” in tackling COVID-19 but indicated no immediate lifting of lockdown restrictions. © Agence France-Presse
OSLO, Norway (AFP) — Norway, which says it has the new coronavirus epidemic under control, reopened primary schools to the youngest students on Monday, in another step toward a gradual normalization, though some parents expressed concern. One week after nursery schools, pupils aged six to 10 started returning to their school desks after six weeks of remote learning from home in the Nordic country. Classes were however reduced to a maximum of 15 students. Norway […]
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday claimed New Zealand had scored a significant victory against the spread of the coronavirus, as the country began a phased exit from lockdown. “There is no widespread, undetected community transmission in New Zealand,” Ardern declared. “We have won that battle.” After nearly five weeks at the maximum Level Four restrictions — with only essential services operating — the country will move to Level Three […]
by Sebastien RICCI and AFP bureaus Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — Children in China’s two most important cities went back to school Monday after more than three months at home, as coronavirus restrictions eased and governments around the world began charting a path out of the pandemic lockdown. Europe’s four worst-affected countries all reported marked drops in their daily death tolls, offering hope that the outbreak may have peaked in some places — […]
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) — Sri Lanka reversed plans to end its virus lockdown on Monday, extending it for another week after a spike in coronavirus infections led to a recall of military personnel on leave. Within hours of announcing on Saturday that the nationwide restrictions imposed on March 20 would be lifted, the government revoked the order and extended them to May 4. Army chief Shavendra Silva said on behalf of the army, navy […]
by David HARDING Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain on Sunday reported its lowest daily rise in coronavirus deaths in nearly four weeks as officials confirmed Prime Minister Boris Johnson had returned to Downing Street after recovering from the virus. The number of people who have died rose by 413 to 20,732, officials said on Sunday, the lowest reported daily increase in April. The last time the health department recorded a smaller […]
