Shomporko Desk: COVID-19 kills 19 Italian doctors as the virus spreads among under-equipped health workers. Meanwhile, Italian authorities were cautiously hopeful on Sunday when the latest infection and fatality figures showed what appeared to be a decline in the growth rate of the virus. The number of new infections rose the 651 fatalities for the day, although high, was significantly lower than the 793 recorded the day before.
Senior Egyptian military officials die with COVID-19 in 2 days: A second senior military officer in Egypt has died of the new coronavirus, state television reported Monday, as the officially declared death toll stood at 14 from 327 cases recorded nationwide.
US Foreign Secretary Pompeo says: Iran’s COVID-19 “fabrications” put the world “at greater risk”. Iran continues to accuse the U.S. of crippling its coronavirus response with sanctions and the U.S. continues to accuse Iran of lying about how and why the disease has spread so fast in the Islamic Republic.
Germany sees hope, reports Early progress with new infection rate “flattening off slightly”. The drastic measures imposed in Germany to slow the spread of the new coronavirus have begun to have an effect. While the number of new cases continues to rise, the head of the country’s public health agency says the rate of increase is slowing.
India banning all flights: As virus lockdowns clear the roads – and the poisonous air With 19 of India’s 28 states under complete lockdown orders and partial curbs being enforced in six others to combat the spread of the new coronavirus, about 1 billion people are now largely off the streets. All but essential business and most ground transport have been shut down. The government decided Monday to stop all domestic passenger flights from Tuesday at midnight. International flights were banned last week.
Nigeria reports: Chloroquine poisonings after Trump said the drug “approved” for COVID-19 Authorities in Lagos, Nigeria say hospitals have seen cases of chloroquine poisoning after U.S. President Donald Trump touted the drug as a treatment against the new coronavirus.
China accuses U.S. of wasting “precious time” by “politicizing the epidemic” China’s foreign ministry says: The U.S. is “completely wasting the precious time” Beijing had won in attacking the global coronavirus outbreak that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
World Health Organization warns Criminals posing as staff as fraud efforts mount The World Health Organization says criminals are increasingly posing as WHO officials in an effort to swipe information or money from people during the coronavirus crisis. Spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said Monday that attackers are using “multiple impersonation approaches” such as fraudulent phone calls and phishing on email and through social media.
Hong Kong: Authority to ban all non-resident arrivals over a virus. Hong Kong will ban all non-residents from entering the financial hub from Wednesday, its leader said on Monday, as it tries to halt a recent spike in virus infections from people returning from abroad.
Japan requiring 2-week quarantine for all visitors from the U.S: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on Monday that Japan will require all visitors from the United States to be quarantined for 14 days. That includes Japanese and Americans and is effective Thursday through the end of April.
Summer Olympics in Tokyo headed for the almost certain delay: The Tokyo Olympics are going to happen, but almost surely in 2021 rather than in four months as planned. This became clear after the International Olympic Committee on Sunday announced it was considering a postponement and would make a final decision within four weeks. Major Olympic nations like Canada and Australia have added pressure by saying they will not send teams if the games are staged this year, over a fear of the still-spreading coronavirus disease.
South Korea ramps up screenings of air passengers from Europe, South Korea says: It tested more than 1,440 passengers arriving from Europe for the coronavirus as the country tightens border controls to prevent the illness from re-entering from the West.
Ontario, Canada, enhances COVID-19 self-assessment tool, opens more assessment centres: Ontario has enhanced its COVID-19 self-assessment tool, making it interactive and allowing the province to gather data from it. The new tool takes users through a series of questions about their symptoms and will help people determine if they are likely to have COVID-19 and what to do.
Bangladesh Covid-19 Updates: Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday said a 500-member committee has been formed to tackle the coronavirus situation in the country. The committee has been formed with prominent doctors of Bangladesh Medical Association following a directive by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and committee will coordinate with the sub-committees of the Health Department, said Quader while briefing reporters on current affairs at the secretariat.
Army to be deployed from Tuesday: Members of the army will be deployed across the country from Tuesday to help fight the coronavirus. Cabinet Secretary Khandakar Anwarul Islam said this at an emergency press conference held at the Secretariat on Monday afternoon.
