Latest update: 07/04/2020 09:09
The number of coronavirus infections exceeded more than 1.32 million globally, with 74,087 deaths, according to a Reuters tally as of 0200 GMT.
DEATHS AND INFECTIONS
For an interactive graphic tracking the global spread, click here.
EUROPE
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was fighting worsening coronavirus symptoms in an intensive care unit on Tuesday, leaving his foreign minister to lead the government’s response to the accelerating outbreak.
The coronavirus is the European Union’s biggest ever challenge and member states must show greater solidarity so that the bloc can emerge stronger from the economic crisis, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.
A total of 15 elderly people died from coronavirus at a care home in the Portuguese city of Aveiro.
Residents in Lombardy, Italy’s worst-hit region, scrambled for scarce protective face masks and makeshift alternatives after authorities ordered anyone moving outside to cover up.
The rate of deaths in Spain slowed for the fourth day on Monday as the government contemplated a gradual easing of a lockdown in the nation with the second-highest death toll.
France’s coronavirus figures on Monday showed the rate of increase in fatalities – now at almost 9,000 – sped up again after several days of slowing.
Switzerland said it was too early to ease restrictions, even as neighbouring Austria sketched out plans to start loosening a national lockdown.
Norway’s health minister said the country’s epidemic was under control, pointing to low transmission rates.
The Czech Republic reported its slowest daily percentage rise in confirmed cases as the country entered a fourth week of restrictions.
Ireland’s prime minister re-registered as a medical practitioner and will work one shift a week to help out during the crisis.
Military forces across Europe have scaled back operations and imposed stricter rules on personnel to try to stem the spread among staff who often live and work in close quarters.
Denmark plans to reopen day care centres and schools for children in first to fifth grade on April 15 as a first step to gradually relax a three-week lockdown.
Poland’s ruling nationalists edged closer to a green light for holding a May presidential election as a postal ballot due to the pandemic.
AMERICAS
The governors of New York and New Jersey said on Monday their states were showing tentative signs of a “flattening” of the outbreak, but warned against complacency as total cases in the country reached 330,891 and death toll rose to 8,910.
Democratic Governor Tony Evers moved to postpone Wisconsin’s primary election from Tuesday until June 9, citing health risks from the pandemic, but Republicans said they would challenge the order in the state Supreme Court.
The White House trade adviser said members of the coronavirus task force clashed over the weekend about the efficacy of a malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine, for use against the disease.
Up to 20% of U.S. children infected by the virus require hospitalization, with infants under age 1 most likely to be in that group, according to the government’s first in-depth analysis of the disease in the youngest patient population.
Some patients being treated for trauma aboard U.S. military hospital ships in New York and Los Angeles have tested positive for the coronavirus, the Pentagon said on Monday.
Canada said it was pressing Washington over a complaint that U.S. officials had blocked the export of three million face masks bought by the province of Ontario.
Colombia said it will extend a nationwide quarantine until April 27.
Mexico reported 296 new infections, bringing the country’s total to 2,439 cases and 125 deaths.
Panama has registered 112 new infections, bringing the country’s total to 2,100 confirmed cases and 55 deaths.
Brazil’s education minister accused Chinese medical equipment makers of profiteering from the coronavirus pandemic, further souring diplomatic relations.
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Mainland China reported a drop in new cases, while Wuhan, the initial epicentre of the outbreak, saw no new deaths for the first time. China had 32 new cases on Monday, down from 39 cases a day earlier.
Thailand reported 38 new cases and the death of a 54-year-old man.
India, the world’s main supplier of generic drugs, has lifted restrictions on the export of 24 pharmaceutical ingredients and medicines.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to announce a state of emergency for the capital Tokyo and six other prefectures.
Japan will compile a supplementary budget worth 16.80 trillion yen ($154.45 billion) to help fund stimulus spending to combat the outbreak.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte approved the extension of lockdown and home quarantine measures covering more than half of the population.
Migrant workers living in vast Singapore dormitories cut off from the outside world due to the outbreak fear these are fast becoming a hotbed for infection.
India hopes to be testing 20,000 people daily by the end of the week, twice the current rate, while a statistical oddity in its testing data has sparked questions.
Indonesia announced its biggest daily increase in cases and a medical association said 24 doctors had now died.
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
Egypt on Monday reported 149 new cases, its highest daily toll since confirming the first infection in February. It reported seven new deaths.
Morocco made wearing face masks mandatory starting on Tuesday for anyone allowed to go out during the outbreak.
Saudi Arabia placed its capital Riyadh and other big cities under a 24-hour curfew, while Kuwait announced a full lockdown of two densely populated districts and extended a public holiday by two weeks until April 26.
Iran will never ask the United States for help in the fight against the coronavirus, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.
Kenya’s president ordered a halt to all movement in affected areas, including the capital Nairobi.
Syria is dragging its feet on releasing prisoners under an amnesty declared by President Bashar al-Assad, raising fears of mass infections, rights groups said on Monday.
More than 20,000 Pakistani workers stuck in the United Arab Emirates are seeking to return home, as the Gulf Arab state tightens restrictions.
ECONOMIC FALLOUT
Illinois became the first state to get a negative rating outlook in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, which will put the state’s finances and economy under pressure, an S&P Global Ratings analyst said on Monday.
Australian job advertisements suffered their largest drop in more than a decade in March as strict social distancing rules and business closures curbed demand for labour.
Argentina’s economic outlook for 2020 has darkened abruptly, a central bank poll showed on Monday, a major hit as the country tries to emerge from recession and stave off a damaging sovereign default.
A near total closure of U.S. businesses as authorities try to control the spread of the novel coronavirus could make U.S. economic data unreliable in the coming months and harder to get a clearer picture of the severity of the recession caused by the virus.
The IMF cited limited but encouraging signs of recovery in China, but said it could not rule out a resurgence in China and elsewhere.
About 20 million jobs are at risk in Africa as the continent’s economies are projected to shrink this year.
Nigeria has requested a total of $6.9 billion from the IMF, World Bank and African Development Bank, the finance minister said on Monday.
Taiwan’s central bank pledged to double the amount of money earmarked to support small and medium-sized companies if needed.
Singapore unveiled $3.55 billion in additional economic spending such as wage support, waiver of levies and one-off payments.
JPMorgan Chase & Co’s top boss, Jamie Dimon, said he sees a “bad recession” in 2020.
SPORTS
The franchise-based Global Rapid Rugby competition cancelled their inaugural season after just one round of games.
This year’s 149th Open Championship due to be held at Royal St George’s has been cancelled.
IndyCar cancelled a doubleheader race weekend in Detroit.
German soccer clubs were allowed to return to training on Monday, with some opting to train players in small groups.
The Indonesia Open has been cancelled, the Badminton World Federation said on Monday.
(Reuters)
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