Coronavirus

Brazil’s Maracana stadium to serve as coronavirus hospital

Brazil’s Maracana sports complex in Rio de Janeiro, which includes the world famous soccer stadium, will become a temporary hospital to help fight coronavirus, state authorities said on Thursday. As…

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Crime down by 64% in Italy

Crime has dropped 64% in Italy since the start of the coronavirus lockdown earlier this month, the interior ministry said Thursday. It said there had been 52,000 reported crimes between…

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Belgium reserving hospital beds for residents only

Despite requests from other countries to help with rising numbers of infected, Belgium will not take additional coronavirus patients from abroad for the time being. As more and more…

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WHO warns G20: “We are at war”

The leaders of the powerful G20 countries have been urged to unite to find joint solutions to the coronavirus pandemic and “ignite a new global movement” to ensure it never…

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UK records biggest daily rise in deaths

The number of people who have died from coronavirus in UK hospitals has risen by 115 in a single day to 578, as of 5pm on Thursday. It is the…

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Ireland reports 10 coronavirus deaths to bring total to 19

Ireland reported 10 deaths from COVID-19 infections on Thursday, more than doubling the total number of fatalities to 19, Ireland’s Department of Health said. The country also reported an additional…

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Spain extends coronavirus lockdown

Spain extended its coronavirus lockdown on Thursday and said it was fighting a “real war” over medical supplies to contain the world’s second-highest virus death toll, turning to China for…

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Infection curve rises again in Italy

After four days going down, the curve of coronavirus infection Italy started rising again Thursday, with 4,492 more people positive for COVID-19 than Wednesday, the civil protection department said.…

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EU prioritizing free goods flow, vaccine search, Italy issues ultimatum

The European Union is prioritizing maintaining open borders for goods to flow and the hunt for a vaccine against the coronavirus, European Council president Charles Michel said in a video…

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Covid-19 Bulletin Malta – Friday 27th March 2020

Update 1246 Persons living with vulnerable persons or over 65 year olds can apply for an exemption to feed animals. With regards to relatives living with these persons they should…

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The US has the most cases of coronavirus worldwide

The US now has more confirmed cases of coronavirus than any other country, with more than 85,500 positive tests. According to the latest figures collated by Johns Hopkins University, the…

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Women are shaping history

This is coronavirus month, but it is also Women’s History Month. In March the world celebrates the contributions of women to society’s defining moments. Much of the awareness campaign this…

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Liverpool squad express their gratitude to health workers around the world

https://www.facebook.com/67920382572/posts/10158997910012573/?vh=e&d=n

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Dear Nurses, Doctors, Care Workers; Europe owes you all a debt of gratitude – Ursula Von der Leyen

by European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen I want to start by thanking all of those who have made this extraordinary session possible in what are truly extraordinary circumstances. It…

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Malta’s Health Minister address in English

https://www.facebook.com/735396419870282/posts/2871352072941362/?vh=e&d=n Deputy PM and Health Minister Chris Fearne announced two new measures to improve social distancing following the recent increase in cases. Government has announced a lockdown for persons of…

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In UK, self-employed will be able to claim grant worth 80% of their average monthly profit

The UK chancellor announced that self-employed people will be able to claim a grant worth 80% of their average monthly profits - up to £2,500 a month, Sky News reports. Rishi…

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Italy appeals for an international alliance to develop a vaccine

Italy’s Foreign Minister said that there is urgent need for a great international alliance against the coronavirus. In comments to Italy’s Corriere della Sera, after returning from a videoconference this…

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Milan city council halts cremations for deceased persons due ‘saturation’ of victims

Milan city council on Thursday ordered cremations to halt starting March 29 for people who died in, but were not resident in, the northern Italian city, due to a "saturation"…

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Photo Story: Social distancing in the Netherlands

A supermarket worker in a closed corridor for filling compartments in a supermarket in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Only one customer may enter per 10 square meters of retail space and…

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Orange juice prices soar on global markets

The future price of orange juice has spiked by more than 20% this month as consumers look for healthy products during the coronavirus pandemic. While demand has risen, supply…

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Coronavirus crisis leads to drop in UK in crime

In the UK, the coronavirus crisis has led to a drop in recorded crime, by as much as 20% in some areas. The Guardian reports that offences such as burglary…

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Prince Philip death rumours denied

Buckingham Palace has denied malicious rumours that Prince Philip, consort of Queen Elizabeth II, had died. A number of social media portals had speculated that the 98-year old royal had…

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Photo story: The travel restrictions in Europe

The EU’s border management agency has produced striking map of Europe highlighting the level of travel restrictions in each country. Where a mode of travel is restricted, it is highlighted…

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Top Gun anthem becomes the Belgian health care workers theme

Several artists shared videos of themselves playing the Top Gun theme song after the guitarist of a Belgian metal band launched an initiative for health care workers during the new…

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Photo Story: The war against the Covid-19 in Naples

An Italian Police's water cannon truck, usually deployed to disperse groups of demonstrators, sprays water as it drives on a street in front of the Castel Nuovo, in Naples, Italy,…

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UK issues guidelines to get the most from your internet

Offices, factories and schools across the world have shut to manage the spread of the coronavirus. And with millions told to "stay at home", this has put pressure on broadband…

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Cybersecurity experts tackle coronavirus-related hacking

An international group of nearly 400 volunteers with expertise in cybersecurity formed on Wednesday to fight hacking related to the novel coronavirus. Called the COVID-19 CTI League, for cyber threat…

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Photo Story: ‘Faith not Fear’

A neighbourhood wall displays a message as a resident walks past during restriction measures to combat the spread of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 which causes the Covid-19 disease, in Huntington Beach, California,…

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Coronavirus cases in Poland increase to 1,085

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Poland increased to 1,085, the Ministry of Health said on 26 March morning. To date, 15 people have died in Poland from the…

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FAO warns coronavirus measures could cause global food shortage

Protectionist measures by national governments during the coronavirus crisis could provoke food shortages around the world, the UN’s food body has warned. Harvests have been good and the outlook for…

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Record unemployment claims in US

More than three million people filed for unemployment benefits in the US last week. The New York Times reports that this is a record figure. In the half-century that the…

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Photo story: The coronavirus test kit

An employee in the Netherlands shows a test kit with which employees are tested for the coronavirus at the AMC location in the Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands. The hospital has…

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Switzerland restrict exports of protective equipment

Switzerland has introduced temporary restrictions on the export of protective equipment to head off shortages among medical staff and others fighting the coronavirus outbreak. Licences will now be needed to…

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FBI thwarts hospital bombing

A man suspected of planning to attack a hospital treating coronavirus cases in the US state of Missouri died after a shootout with the FBI, officials say. The confrontation happened…

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Photo Story: Social distancing in India

People stand on designated areas to maintain social distancing as they queue outside a medical store during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 disease caused…

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France honours virus victims with church bells and candles

From famed Gothic cathedrals to modest village churches, places of worship around France rang their bells in collective prayer Wednesday for people who have died and those who are helping…

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Number of coronavirus cases in Germany rises to 36,508

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Germany has risen to 36,508 and 198 people have died of the disease, statistics from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases…

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60% of cases and 70% global coronavirus deaths in Europe

Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, said: "Since we last broadcast over a week ago the number of cases and deaths have tripled in Europe. The rate of increase…

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Major telecom companies to help EU track virus

Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, Orange and five other telecoms providers have agreed to share mobile phone location data with the European Commission to track the spread of the coronavirus, lobbying…

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National round of applause tonight in the UK for health workers

To thank the NHS workers who are working tirelessly throughout the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in the UK, Thursday 26 March at 8pm will see a #ClapForOurCarers event dedicated to them.…

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Relatives of first positive Coronavirus case in Libya quarantined

The Libyan National Center for Disease Control has sent to quarantine the relatives of the first positive Coronavirus case; a 73-year-old man who return to Libya from Saudi Arabia, via…

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Israel preparing for dramatic increase in Covid-19 patients

The number of people with coronavirus in Israel continues to climb on the first day that a series of new restrictions to stop its spread are in place. As…

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‘Europe is in a fight for its life’ says Ursula Von Der Leyen

European Council President Ursula Von Der Leyen said that Europe was in a 'fight for its life' as the death toll and infection rate of coronavirus rises across the continent.…

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Russia grounds international flights, Moscow to close all shops

The Russian government has ordered the civil aviation authority to suspend all regular and charter flights to and from Russia from March 27, the government said on its website. Russian…

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“eCabs Delivers” Service Launched

As Government announced further restricting measures for most merchants and retail operators, eCabs is launched a new delivery service to assist all shops classified as ‘non-essential’ who are closed for…

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UPDATED: First UK prisoner dies of Covid-19

An 84-year-old man has become the first British prisoner to die after contracting coronavirus. The inmate, at HMP Littlehey, a category C male sex offenders’ prison in Cambridgeshire, died in hospital on…

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China reports second consecutive day of no new local coronavirus transmissions

Mainland China reported a second consecutive day of no new local coronavirus cases as the country’s epicenter of the epidemic Hubei province opened its borders, but imported cases rose as…

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EU guidelines to protect critical European assets and technology in current crisis

The European Commission issued guidelines to ensure a strong EU-wide approach to foreign investment screening in a time of public health crisis and related economic vulnerability. The aim is to…

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Confirmed Covid-19 infections approach half a million worldwide

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases globally is likely to reach half a million in just a few days, the latest Johns Hopkins University figures show, as Italy’s cases edge closer…

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UK deaths rise to 465 in last 24 hours

The number of people who have died in the UK after contracting coronavirus has risen by 43 to 465. It represents the smallest rise in the number of deaths…

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Covid-19 case at Papal residence

An Italian monsignor on duty at the Vatican Secretariat of State was found positive for coronavirus and taken to hospital. Italian news agency ANSA reports that the prelate has lived…

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US death toll surges past 1,000, Half of NY face infection

The U.S. death toll was at 1,042 early Thursday after eclipsing 600 on Tuesday. Globally, more than 21,200 people have been killed by the virus, according to the Johns Hopkins University data…

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WHO lists ‘key actions’ to control the pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a WHO briefing on Wednesday that over 16,000 people worldwide have died of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Warning…

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Queen Elizabeth in good health after Prince Charles tests positive for coronavirus

“Her Majesty The Queen remains in good health,” Buckingham Palace said. “The Queen last saw The Prince of Wales briefly after the investiture on the morning of 12th March and…

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Spain now has the world’s second-highest tally of Covid-19 deaths

A total of 3,434 coronavirus patients have now have died in Spain - more than the recorded number of deaths in China where the outbreak began. Spain now has…

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US Senate passes largest economic stimulus in US history

The US Senate has passed a $2.2tn emergency relief package as the coronavirus pandemic devastates the economy, marking the biggest rescue deal of its kind in US history. “This is a strange and…

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Tunisia coronavirus cases increase by around 50%

Tunisia has confirmed 59 new cases of the coronavirus, Health Minister Abdelatif el-Mekki said in a televised news conference on Wednesday, taking the total number to 173. Tunisia has instituted…

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