Coronavirus

Turkey halts intercity trains, limits domestic flights

Turkey halted all intercity trains and limited domestic flights on Saturday as part of measures to contain a fast-growing coronavirus outbreak, as the number of cases jumped by a third…

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Confirmed Covid-19 infections pass 600,000

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus around the world has now passed 600,000, according to the tally kept by Johns Hopkins university. However, with many countries, including the UK,…

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Europol warns against coronavirus scams

The European police authority has warned that con artists are preying on fears of illness by offering fake masks, medicine, COVID-19 tests and even vaccines. Across Europe, many companies and…

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Spain warns that crisis cannot be used by employers as an excuse to fire workers

The Spanish Cabinet held an extraordinary session on Friday, followed by a news conference at which the health, finance and labor ministers offered new information on the coronavirus crisis. Labor…

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Finland blocks roads to Helsinki to curb coronavirus spread

Police and the Finnish army set up roadblocks on all routes that connect Helsinki with the rest of the country, while Finland’s parliament approved the plan at the last moment…

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Number of coronavirus cases in Germany rises to 48,582

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Germany has risen to 48,582 and 325 people have died of the disease, statistics from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases…

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Photo Story: Messages of hope on the Matterhorn mountain

The iconic Matterhorn mountain is illuminated by Swiss light artist Gerry Hofstetter aiming to send messages of hope, support and solidarity to the ones sufferings from the global coronavirus disease…

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Australia tightens social distancing rules to combat coronavirus

Australia stepped up enforcement of social distancing rules on Saturday to contain community transmission of the novel coronavirus, implementing fines, closing beaches and threatening stricter measures if people defy…

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Coronavirus predicted it could kill 81,000 in U.S.

The coronavirus pandemic could kill more than 81,000 people in the United States in the next four months and may not subside until June, according to a data analysis done…

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Photo Story: Eiffel Tower says “Merci” to health workers fighting virus

Health workers racing to save lives as France contends with one of the world’s worst coronavirus outbreaks have received a huge show of gratitude with the help of the Eiffel…

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WHO warns countries will have to ‘live with’ coronavirus until vaccines emerges

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news conference in Geneva on Friday that while developing a vaccine will take at least 18 months, he announced that Norway and…

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Belgium extends confinement measures until April 19

Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès announced the extension of confinement measures for at least two weeks, until April 19. As of Friday, 7,284 people in Belgium had tested positive for…

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Jordan reports first death

Jordan reported the first death from coronavirus, a woman in her 80s. Jordan registered 23 new cases on Friday, bringing the total in the country to 235, the health minister…

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Macron says France is there for Italy

French President Emmanuel Macron sought on Saturday to win over Italians, saying in an interview with Italy’s leading newspapers that France was there to help and Italians should be wary…

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Chinese asked to stay vigilant as coronavirus cases continue to slow

China’s official media told people to stay on guard against the coronavirus on Saturday, and restrictions on foreigners entering went into effect, as the country reported no new locally…

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Donald Trump signs $2.2trn relief bill as New York pleads for hospital beds

Donald Trump has signed an unprecedented $2.2trn (£1.8tn) coronavirus relief bill to help American citizens and businesses affected by the outbreak. The US president said the bill would "deliver urgently…

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Why are you afraid?

by Pope Francis Pope Francis meditated on the calming of the storm from the Gospel of Mark during the prayer service over which he presided on the steps of St…

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Ireland put in lockdown, nation asked to ‘forego freedoms’

Ireland has been put under lockdown measures following three more coronavirus-related deaths. The Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said residents should stay home until at least 12 April unless they…

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WHO cautions “We’re only at the beginning of this fight”

A dire lack of protective gear for health workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most pressing threats in the fight to prevent deaths, the World Health Organization…

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President Mattarella warns EU to act before it was too late as Italy registers record number of deaths

In a rare, televised address to the nation, Italian President Sergio Mattarella warned that the European Union had to react before it was too late and should adopt new measures to confront…

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Covid-19 Bulletin Malta – Saturday 28th March

Updated 1234 Press Conference by Health Superintendent Prof Gauci announced that 487 tests were carried out yesterday, resulting in 10 positive cases. Unfortunately, this includes a 72 year old and…

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“Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? – Pope Francis

Pope Francis held the special Urbi et Orbi on Friday from the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica. Usually a colorful event reserved only for Christmas Day and Easter Sunday, this…

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Site at Birmingham airport to be transformed in temporary mortuary

NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens has announced that 33,000 hospital beds are available to treat further coronavirus patients. Exhibition centres in Manchester and Birmingham could be turned into hospitals by…

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Italy’s tragedy reaches new dimensions

The Italian civil protection agency said Friday that 9,134 people have died with the coronavirus in Italy, 969 up on the number given on Thursday. This was the highest daily…

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Italian scientists investigate possible earlier emergence of coronavirus

Italian researchers are looking at whether a higher than usual number of cases of severe pneumonia and flu in Lombardy in the last quarter of 2019 may be a signal…

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Flags to fly at half-mast across Italy March 31

Flags will be flown at half-mast in cities across Italy at midday on March 31 to commemorate the victims of coronavirus, the president of municipalities' association ANCI Antonio Decaro announced…

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Armani Group converts all production to manufacture single-use medical overalls

The fashion designer’s Group was one of the first firms to take measures to halt the spread of the epidemic, deciding to hold its Milan Fashion week show on…

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Bosch develops a COVID-19 rapid test

A handout photo made available by Bosch shows an analysis cartridge put into a 'Vivalytic' device in Germany, 26 March 2020. Bosch has developed a rapid test that can be…

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Photo Story: Social Distancing in Ireland

A painted sign asking people to stay two-meters apart is seen in Saint Stephen's Green Dublin City, Ireland. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the Irish government has closed all…

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Govt must support media as it has bigger role to play during crisis – Prof Azzopardi

Prof Andrew Azzopardi has urged Government to set up as soon as possible a financial package that can supports the media during this time of crisis. Prof Azzopardi argued that…

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Photo Story: Covid-19 precautions in Australia

A local council worker sticks a notice advising pedestrians not to push the button that triggers the traffic lights, in Brisbane, Australia, 27 March 2020. The Australia Federal…

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Italy’s coronavirus lockdown extension inevitable – Supreme Health Council

An extension of Italy's coronavirus lockdown containment measures is inevitable, the Supreme Health Council (CSS) said Friday. This is because, CSS head Franco Locatelli said, "we are not in a…

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UN warns ‘rapid deterioration’ in global investment flows as Coronavirus spread

Foreign direct investment flows are liable to drop by 30 to 40 per cent during 2020, into next year, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting a far more severe economic blow…

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UK registers sharpest day-on-day increase in number of ‘Covid-19’ deaths

The UK witnessed the sharpest day-on-day increase in the number of deaths which went up by 181 from 578 yesterday. There was a total of 113,777 which have been tested…

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Each month of lockdown in major economies to shave two percentage points off growth: OECD

Each month major economies spend in lockdown will knock 2 percentage points off annual growth, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said on Friday. “Our latest estimates show the…

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Photo Story: Social Distancing in the UK

People observe social distancing measures as they queue for a store in London, Britain. The UK has implemented social distancing measures banning social gatherings and groups of more than two…

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Virus cases spike on US aircraft carrier

The number of coronavirus cases on the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean has spiked to at least 23, with authorities moving to isolate the entire crew…

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Britain’s Tesco limits online shop to 80 items during coronavirus crisis

Britain’s biggest supermarket group Tesco will limit the number of items customers can order in an online shop to 80 during the coronavirus emergency, it said on Friday. It said…

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Photo Story: Presentation in Berlin of what it means to be on a ventilator

A dummy with a ventilator hose at the Vivantes Humboldt Hospital in Berlin, Germany. Berlin health senator Dilek Kalayci and Vivantes Managing Director Andrea Grebe presented a situation with a…

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Gatwick to close north terminal as flights dwindle

London's second-busiest airport is to close one of its two terminals after a slump in flights triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sky News has learnt that Gatwick Airport has decided…

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Facebook steps up efforts to combat the spread of coronavirus misinformation

As a global pandemic takes hold, more people are turning to Facebook in search of news about the coronavirus. But the traffic load on the social media platform is also…

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Photo Story: Coronavirus cases in Poland increase to 1,244

A soldier of the Territorial Defence Force checks on people placed in quarantine, during the coronavirus pandemic in Jaroslaw, south-eastern Poland, 27 March 2020. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases…

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Paris hospitals expected to reach full capacity in 48 hours

The increase in coronavirus patients in France, particularly in the capital, means hospitals in and around Paris will reach saturation point within 48 hours, the head of the French Hospital…

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UPDATED: British PM Boris Johnson and Health Secretary test positive for coronavirus

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for the coronavirus. The news was confirmed by 10 Downing Street and the Prime Minister himself. Shortly after, the health secretary, Matt…

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Romanian Health minister resigns as healthcare system faces meltdown

Romania’s health minister Victor Costache resigned on Thursday, prime minister Ludovic Orban announced in a press statement. The resignation comes in the middle of the biggest medical crisis Romania…

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Photo Story: Medical aid from the US arrives in Italy

A worker in a shed of the Rho fair unloads medical material from the United States sent to help the Lombardy region to deal with the health emergency due to…

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Spain death count rises to 769 in one day

The number of people who have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Spain has risen by 769 in one day, taking the total to 4,858. The number of positive…

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Hungary imposes lockdown, predicts coronavirus peak by July

Hungary is imposing a two-week lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, which is expected to peak in the country in June or July, Prime Minister Viktor Orban…

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Irish postal workers on the forefront in the battle against Covid-19

Ireland has found a readymade force in the fight against coronavirus: the postal service. Postal workers have volunteered to check in on elderly and vulnerable people during their rounds, a potentially…

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Number of deaths in Iran reach 2,378

Iran’s death toll from the coronavirus pandemic rose to 2,378 on Friday, with 144 people dying in the past 24 hours, Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said. The total number…

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Photo Story: Coronavirus vaccine proceeding faster than usual, but would still take at least a year

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the timeline for the development of a coronavirus vaccine was proceeding faster than usual, but would…

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First two death in South Africa as coronavirus cases exceed 1,000

Cases of coronavirus in South Africa passed 1,000 on Friday, the health ministry said, while also reporting its first two deaths on the first day of a three-week, nationwide lockdown.…

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Photo Story: Putin hopes Russia will defeat coronavirus in 2 to 3 months

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he hoped Russia would defeat coronavirus in 2 to 3 months if it imposed tough measures, as authorities suspended international flights, ordered most shops…

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Doctors death toll in Italy up to 39

Another two Italian doctors died with the coronavirus Thursday bringing the death toll among medics in Italy to 39. They were assistance doctor Antonio Maghernino in Foggia and a retired…

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China offers Trump help in fighting coronavirus

Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump during a phone call on Friday that he would have China’s support in fighting the coronavirus, as the United States faces…

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Australian troops to enforce self-isolation rules

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday tightened enforcement on self isolation for thousands of citizens returning from overseas, saying states and territories would quarantine all arrivals in hotels. The…

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China bars foreign visitors as imported cases rise

China has announced a temporary ban on all foreign visitors, even if they have visas or residence permits. The country is also limiting Chinese and foreign airlines to one flight…

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