Keeping you up to date on the latest novel coronavirus
(Covid-19) news from around the world.
FOLLOW LIVE | Government to clarify classification of industries for reopening of economy on Saturday
Coronavirus death toll passes 190 000 worldwide – AFP
tally
Paris
– The worldwide death toll from the coronavirus pandemic crossed 190 000 on
Friday, with nearly two-thirds of the fatalities in Europe, according to an AFP
tally compiled from official sources at 07:40 (GMT).
A total of 190 089 people have
died and 2 698 733 been infected since the virus emerged in China in December.
The hardest hit continent is Europe, with 116 221 deaths and 1 296 248 cases.
The country with the most deaths
is the United States with 49 963, followed by Italy with 25 549, Spain with 22 157,
France with 21 856 and Britain with 18 738.
– AFP
Pompeo says China may have known of virus in November
Washington
– US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo charged on Thursday that China may have
known of the new coronavirus as early as November, renewing accusations that
Beijing has not been transparent and again drawing ire from China.
“You’ll recall that the
first cases of this were known by the Chinese government maybe as early as
November, but certainly by mid-December,” Pompeo said in an interview.
“They were slow to identify
this for anyone in the world, including the World Health Organisation,” he
told conservative radio host Larry O’Connor.
Pompeo said the United States
still wanted more information from China including the original sample of the
SARS-CoV-2 virus detected in the metropolis of Wuhan.
“This issue of transparency
is important not only as a historical matter to understand what happened back
in November and December and January, but it’s important even today,” Pompeo
said. “This is still impacting lots of lives here in the United States
and, frankly, around the world.”
– AFP
Coronavirus surges in Djibouti as population ignores measures
Djibouti
– Djibouti has seen a rapid spike in coronavirus cases, with the Horn of Africa
nation now recording the highest prevalence on the continent as the population
largely ignores measures imposed by authorities.
The tiny but strategically
important country that hosts major US and French military bases has recorded
985 positive cases – small on a global scale, but the highest in East Africa.
Two people have died.
This is largely due to testing.
Djibouti, with a population of around one million, has conducted just over 10 000
tests – a similar number to neighbouring Ethiopia, which has more than 100
million people.
But more alarming than the figure
itself is the runaway rate of multiplication: in just two weeks, Djibouti has
recorded a seven-fold increase in cases. The
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday said that with
98.6 cases per 100 000 people, Djibouti has the highest prevalence on the
continent.
“The epidemic is getting worse,” the health
ministry said last week.
– AFP
UK submariners in hot water over lockdown party
London
– A British Royal Navy submarine commander has been put on leave after ignoring
social distancing rules and throwing a party for his crew on their arrival back
home, media reports said on Friday.
Footage on social media showed
two DJs playing dance music to the crew of the HMS Trenchant, who were sitting
at tables eating barbecue after the vessel docked for repairs at its base near
Plymouth, southwest England, following three months at sea.
The gathering went against
government social distancing rules introduced to try to slow the spread of
coronavirus, which has left more than 18 000 people dead in Britain alone.
“An investigation is under
way. It would be inappropriate to comment further,” said a Royal Navy spokesperson.
– AFP
Philippines extends curbs
The
Philippines extended to 15 May the quarantine covering the capital Manila and
surrounding areas, but ordered restrictions be loosened in places with fewer
coronavirus cases.
The lockdown covering Manila’s 12
million people was due to expire at the end of April, but President Rodrigo
Duterte announced an extension as the nation battles a growing number of
infections and deaths.
– AFP
Stay healthy and entertained during the national lockdown. Sign up for our Lockdown Living newsletter. Register and manage your newsletters in the new News24 app by clicking on the Profile tab