Coronavirus

French to be allowed outside to adopt a pet

France has decided to allow people outside to adopt a pet from animal shelters, despite strict home confinement measures to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The interior ministry announced on Saturday…

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Italy reaches 100,000 Covid-19 infections

Italy has exceeded the 100,000 threshold for persons infected with the novel coronavirus, an increase of 1,996 on Friday. This was announced by the Head of the Civil Protection, Angelo…

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Jane Goodall says ‘disrespect for animals’ caused pandemic

World-renowned British primatologist Jane Goodall says the coronavirus pandemic was caused by humanity's disregard for nature and disrespect for animals. Goodall, who is best known for trail-blazing research in Africa…

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Liam Gallagher leads wave of free concerts for NHS staff

Liam Gallagher has announced a free concert for NHS workers to acknowledge their efforts during the coronavirus outbreak. Gallagher said it was an “honour” to announce the concert at London’s…

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Photo Story: Holy Week in the time of pandemic

A health official wearing a protective suit sprays disinfectant shortly before the Easter Service at the cathedral in Dili, East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, 11 April 2020.…

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Bill Gates urges rich countries to fund coronavirus vaccine search

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has urged rich countries to put “a few per cent” of their gross domestic product towards finding and distributing a Covid-19 vaccine, highlighting a potentially huge…

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Coronavirus tally soars in several Arab nations

Six Arab nations recorded additional coronavirus cases and deaths in the past 24 hours. Saudi Arabia’s confirmed 364 new cases, bringing its total to 3,651, including 685 who have recovered.…

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Singapore suspends use of Zoom by teachers

Singapore has suspended the use of video-conferencing tool Zoom by teachers after “very serious incidents” in the first week of a coronavirus lockdown that has seen schools move to home-based learning,…

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Obama cautions the biggest mistake leaders ‘can make in these situations is to misinform

"Speak the truth. Speak it clearly. Speak it with compassion. Speak it with empathy for what folks are going through," Obama Former President Barack Obama had some words of advice…

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UK reports another 917 deaths, including 11-year old

The UK has reported another staggering increase in deaths this afternoon. The UK Department of Health registered another 917 deaths, among them an 11 year old. 9,875 persons have now…

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Photo Story Adapting to the times in Poland

A Catholic priest holds a cross as he rides in a horse-drawn carriage on the street as part of Easter celebrations on Good Friday during the coronavirus pandemic in Zakopane,…

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Europe’s hot summer weather could worsen the effects of COVID-19

Unseasonably warm temperatures across most of Europe is currently enjoying could aggravate the situation for the agricultural sector as crops will suffer greatly. And experts say there is a very…

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Siemens CEO rules out job cuts from coronavirus impact

Siemens will not cut its workforce because of the economic downturn triggered by the new coronavirus, Chief Executive Joe Kaeser said, although short-time working measures could be extended in Germany.…

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Furloughed staff in Sweden retrain to help hospitals

Furloughed because of the coronavirus pandemic, airline and hotel employees in Sweden are retraining to work as hospital and nursing home assistants as the death toll nears 900 in the…

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Photo Story: Death toll in Thailand increases

Thailand recorded 45 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, bringing the total in the country to 2,518. The death toll in the country also rose from 33 to 35. Earlier this…

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Morocco has started manufacturing its own ventilators with oxygen masks

Morocco has started manufacturing its own ventilators with oxygen masks, with 500 expected to be ready by mid-April to help meet demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Industry Ministry…

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Romania bans exports of cereals over virus crisis

Romania announced an export ban on certain cereals as part of new measures to cope with the coronavirus outbreak, national media reported. Calling it an “extremely important provision,” the country's…

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Social distancing measures may need to remain in place ‘indefinitely’

Social distancing measures may need to remain in place "indefinitely", government experts believe under plans being drawn up in Whitehall which could see Britain begin to emerge from lockdown next…

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Hope and determination has always given us the strength to overcome the greatest of odds – Dr Adrian Delia

We are all witnessing and living challenging times, times that will undoubtedly bring on huge changes to our society. Despite all this, despite the challenge that the whole world is…

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Photo Story: Holy Week amid coronavirus pandemic in Bangkok

Hand sanitizer is offered to parishioners next to a sign advising there will be no holy water to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at an almost empty church on Good…

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200,000 hospitalisations averted with Italy’s lockdown

Some 200,000 coronavirus hospitalisations were averted in March by Italy's lockdown, according to a new study that says the government's containment measures progressively reduced infection capacity by 45%. The…

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WHO investigating reports of some COVID-19 patients testing positive again

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that it was looking into reports of some COVID-19 patients testing positive again after initially testing negative for the disease while being…

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Russia reports 1,667 new coronavirus cases in last day

Russia reported 1,667 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, bringing the national tally of confirmed cases to 13,584. The number of coronavirus-related deaths in the country rose by 12 to 106,…

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Photo Story: Coronavirus crisis in Los Angeles

A man wearing a facemask passes in front a graffiti by street artist Teachr1 showing Prince Harry wearing a hoodie that reads 'Keep Calm and Wash Your Hands' in Los…

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British scientists confident that vaccine could be ready by September

The Times of London carries a report that British scientists are making great steps forward in developing a vaccine for the coronavirus. A vaccine against coronavirus could be ready as…

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Health workers continue to pay the ultimate price in the UK

Nineteen health workers have died in the UK after contracting coronavirus, the health secretary has revealed. Speaking to Sky News, Matt Hancock said it was a "heartbreaking story" and it…

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The Philippines bans health workers from leaving for overseas jobs

The Philippines has temporarily banned health workers from leaving for overseas jobs in an attempt to strengthen its own health systems. On Friday the death toll from the coronavirus in…

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Mafia distributes food in Italy

As Italy struggles to pull its economy through the coronavirus crisis, the Mafia is gaining local support by distributing free food to poor families in quarantine who have run out…

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Brazil reports over 1,000 deaths

Brazil has become the first country in the southern hemisphere to surpass 1,000 deaths with coronavirus. The South American country has recorded at least 1,068 deaths and 19,789 cases, according…

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Two-day lockdown imposed in much of Turkey, Ankara stops all international flights

Istanbul, Ankara and other major Turkish cities locked down for two days from midnight on Friday to combat the spread of the coronavirus under an Interior Ministry order, as the…

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Friends’ Reunion Special postponed

Variety reports that the Friends’ Reunion Special has been postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic. Variety reports that according to an individual with knowledge of the situation, the continued…

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Mainland China reports increase in new coronavirus cases

China on Saturday reported a rise in new coronavirus cases, as authorities try to head off a second wave of COVID-19, particularly from imported and asymptomatic infections, as city and…

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Three new cases of coronavirus in Benghazi, Libya

According to the latest bulletin by the Tripoli-headquartered National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Benghazi reported three new cases of Coronavirus cases, bringing the country’s total to 24. It also…

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Sanofi to donate 100 million doses of hydroxychloroquine across 50 countries

As of Friday, Sanofi has committed to donating 100 million doses of hydroxychloroquine to 50 countries around the world and has begun to progressively deliver the medicine to authorities…

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Trump issues orders to help Italy in coronavirus fight

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered top U.S. administration officials to help Italy in fighting the novel coronavirus by providing medical supplies, humanitarian relief and other assistance. In a memo to…

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Yemen ‘faces nightmare’ as first coronavirus case confirmed

Aid agencies have expressed alarm after the first virus case was confirmed in Yemen, where years of civil war have devastated health systems. Oxfam said it was a “devastating blow”,…

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British PM Johnson up and walking in COVID-19 recovery

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was back on his feet in his recovery from COVID-19 on Friday as Britain recorded its deadliest day yet in the coronavirus pandemic, with 980 more…

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Live Update: Covid-19 Bulletin Malta – Saturday 11th April 2020

Updated 1230 Prof Charmaine Gauci is expected to deliver her daily update shortly. Twenty new cases were registered from over 1,000 swabs in the past 24 hours. Half of these…

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Oil prices fall again despite Opec+ deal to cut production

Oil prices dropped on Friday as traders feared that an Opec deal to slash global supplies by 10% would not offset a historic drop in demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.…

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A solitary Pope presided the Via Crucis on Good Friday

Pope Francis presides the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) in the empty square outside the Saint Peter's Basilica, due the lockdown to stem the spread of the COVID-19 infection…

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UK deaths expected to pass 10,000 this weekend

The total number of Britons who have died after testing positive for coronavirus will "almost certainly" pass 10,000 this weekend, a former public health director has told Sky News. Professor…

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US registers the highest death total seen so far

More than 2,000 people who tested positive for coronavirus died across the US on Friday - the highest number of fatalities seen so far. According to Johns Hopkins University, the…

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Killing the dead…

In an aerial photograph, a backhoe is seen working on large burial trenches and abandoned buildings on Hart Island, located in the Long Island sound, off the coast of the…

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Stay Home

Students put facial masks on the statues of Guadalajara amid coronavirus pandemic View of a statue adorned with a facial mask in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, 09 April 2020. Members…

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Kenny Daglish admitted to hospital – tests positive for Covid-19

Sir Kenny Daglish was admitted to hospital on Wednesday April 8 for treatment of an infection which required intravenous antibiotics. The family announced in a statement that "in keeping with…

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Over 100,000 people died globally, after testing positive for coronavirus

The number of people worldwide who have died after testing positive for coronavirus has passed 100,000. The grim milestone was reached on the day the UK reported its highest single…

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UK records worst daily fatality rate with 980 deaths

The UK has recorded its worst daily fatality rate yet during the coronavirus crisis, a higher number in a single day than any experienced by Italy or Spain. A record…

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Spain registers lowest daily number of deaths since March 24

Spain recorded a 605 increase in the death toll on Friday — the lowest daily number of fatalities since March 24. According to Friday’s figures, Spain has now registered a…

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325 new deaths recorded in Belgium

Belgium has recorded another 325 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number to 3,019. This figure includes 171 deaths in care homes in Flanders in March which…

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Great apes put on lockdown against coronavirus threat

Great apes have been put on lockdown against the threat of coronavirus. Gorilla tourism in Africa has been suspended, while sanctuaries for other apes, such as orangutans, have closed to…

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“Lifting restrictions too quickly could lead to a deadly resurgence” – WHO

Lifting coronavirus lockdown measures too early could spark a "deadly resurgence" in infections, the World Health Organization chief has warned. BBC reports that Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said countries should be…

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Italy to extend lockdown until May 3

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that his government was extending the stringent lockdown measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus until May 3. He said that relaxing the…

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Almost 150,000 people have contracted coronavirus in Italy, 18,849 of which died – Latest update

The Italian civil protection department that 98,723 people are currently infected with the coronavirus in Italy, 1,396 more than Thursday. That compares to Thursday's rise was 1,615. To date 18,849…

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Concern on well being of Pilots and Cabin Crew growing in US as first death is reported

In the United States the trade unions representing flight attendants have begun to share that many members have tested positive and the numbers are also alarming. According to Plane and…

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“Let it be hope” – Malta’s Emergency Nurses

If we can carry one thing throughout our daily job, let it be hope. Let it be hope that better things are always ahead. Let it be hope that get…

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Live Update: Covid-19 Bulletin Malta – Friday 10th April 2020

900 tests were carried out in the past 24 hours. These resulted in new 13 positive cases. The total of coronavirus-infected persons in Malta now stands at 350. This was…

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British PM Boris Johnson out of intensive care

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved out of intensive care but remains in hospital, Downing Street has said. No 10 said he "has been moved this evening from intensive…

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