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Countries, cities, and health authorities all over the world are reconsidering their coronavirus advice that most people don
Countries, cities, and health authorities all over the world are reconsidering their coronavirus advice that most people don't need to wear masks

Health authorities in Europe and the US had said that wearing a mask was not effective protection for most people. Now some may change that guidance.

WHO concerned by
WHO concerned by 'rapid escalation' of virus, as U.S. death toll nears 5,000

"In the next few days we will reach 1 million confirmed cases, and 50 thousand deaths," the World Health Organization's Director-General warned.

Top EU court says eastern states broke law by refusing to host refugees

The European Union's top court ruled on Thursday that Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic had broken the law by refusing to host refugees to help ease the burden on southern states such as Greece and Italy after a surge in migrant arrivals from 2015. The ruling underscores Europe's bitter

The South, Sickest Part of a Sick America, Falls Prey to Virus
The South, Sickest Part of a Sick America, Falls Prey to Virus

(Bloomberg) -- A virus that is particularly lethal for people with underlying health conditions is now spreading into the unhealthiest part of the U.S.: the South.For decades,­ people in the 11 states that seceded during the Civil War -- America's poorest region -- have suffered from a scourge of obesity and hypertension, which intensify the danger of the coronavirus and the Covid-19 respiratory disease that it causes. Four of the five states with the highest diabetes rates are in the South. And eight didn't expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, leaving thousands of families without access to routine care, even as financially troubled rural hospitals wither away.Those factors...

Infected but Feeling Fine: The Unwitting Coronavirus Spreaders
Infected but Feeling Fine: The Unwitting Coronavirus Spreaders

As many as 25% of people infected with the new coronavirus may not show symptoms, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns -- a startlingly high number that complicates efforts to predict the pandemic's course and strategies to mitigate its spread.In particular, the high level of symptom-free cases is leading the CDC to consider broadening its guidelines on who should wear masks."This helps explain how rapidly this virus continues to spread across the country," the director, Dr. Robert Redfield, told National Public Radio in an interview broadcast Tuesday.The agency has repeatedly said that ordinary citizens do not need to wear masks unless they are...

Iranian dual national Foroughi returns to UK, nine years after arrest

Kamal Foroughi, an 80-year-old man with dual Iranian-British nationality, has returned to Britain nine years after being arrested in Iran on spying charges, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement. Foroughi, who was working as a business consultant when he was arrested, was released

Coronavirus stokes tensions between Erdogan and Istanbul
Coronavirus stokes tensions between Erdogan and Istanbul's mayor

The coronavirus pandemic has rekindled rivalry in Turkey between President Tayyip Erdogan and Istanbul's opposition mayor, with disputes over fundraising and a potential lockdown possibly endangering a coordinated effort to combat the outbreak. The central government in Ankara has said a money-raising campaign launched by the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, is illegal and it has threatened to prosecute those involved. Imamoglu, seen as a possible future candidate for the presidency, launched the campaign this week with the slogan "We will succeed together", seeking cash and other donations from wealthier Turks for hundreds of thousands of those in need.

Democrats call for investigation into coronavirus response
Democrats call for investigation into coronavirus response

Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson wants to set up a commission modeled on the 9/11 Commission.

Latest on the spread of the coronavirus around the world
Latest on the spread of the coronavirus around the world

Transport hubs that should be teeming with travellers such as New York's Grand Central Terminal or Istanbul's Eminonu ferry docks are all but deserted. * Italy will extend lockdown restrictions to April 13, as data from this week suggests a slowdown of growth in total cases, though its national health institute says official death toll could be underestimated. * Cases in Spain topped 100,000 on Wednesday, and two planes with protective equipment arrived to restock an overloaded public health system.

Pence says Italy is probably best comparison to U.S. now
Pence says Italy is probably best comparison to U.S. now

The comparison comes after the White House on Tuesday projected at least 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S.

Japan Counting on Obedient Citizens to Lock Themselves Down

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's coronavirus numbers have been ticking up, sparking alarm that it could be the next major country to see an explosive jump in infections. It's also raising questions about whether Tokyo, where cases have tripled over the past 10 days, is about to go into a European-style lockdown

US working on plan to allow virus-hit ship to dock
US working on plan to allow virus-hit ship to dock

US authorities were finalizing a plan on Tuesday to allow a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship, the Zaandam, to dock in Florida after its operator warned that more passengers may die if it is left out at sea. "Already four guests have passed away and I fear other lives are at risk," Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line, said in a column published in the South Florida Sun Sentinel newspaper. The Zaandam, which left Buenos Aires on March 7, was originally meant to dock in Fort Lauderdale on April 7 at the conclusion of a month-long cruise.

The White House projects that shutting down the US to stop the coronavirus could save 2 million lives
The White House projects that shutting down the US to stop the coronavirus could save 2 million lives

With shutdowns and social distancing, coronavirus deaths are projected to number between 100,000 and 240,000 people in the US.

US calls on Maduro and Guaidó to stand down in Venezuela transition plan
US calls on Maduro and Guaidó to stand down in Venezuela transition plan

* Plan includes five-member council and sanctions relief * Sceptics see little incentive for government leadersThe US has proposed a political transition plan for Venezuela, offering to lift sanctions if the president, Nicolás Maduro, and his opponent, Juan Guaidó, step aside and pass power to an interim government made up of their supporters.Under the "democratic transition framework", all political prisoners would be released, and all foreign - principally Cuban - forces would leave. A five-member council of state would be selected, with two members chosen by the opposition, two by Maduro's Socialist party, and the fifth member picked by the other four. The military high command would...

McConnell: Impeachment
McConnell: Impeachment 'diverted' attention from coronavirus concerns

The Senate leader also accused Democrats of wanting to "turn the President's handling of all this into a political liability for him."

US airlines must continue flying if they accept coronavirus relief
US airlines must continue flying if they accept coronavirus relief

The U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed minimum service requirements for airlines based on schedules before the coronavirus outbreak.

UK scientists developed a breathing aid for coronavirus patients in less than 100 hours. Some say the device can spread the virus.
UK scientists developed a breathing aid for coronavirus patients in less than 100 hours. Some say the device can spread the virus.

Although the team won praise for creating the device amid a gaping shortage, some health officials say it's not an easy solution.

Taliban team arrives in Kabul to monitor prisoner release
Taliban team arrives in Kabul to monitor prisoner release

A three-member Taliban technical team arrived Tuesday in the Afghan capital to monitor the release of their prisoners as part of a peace deal signed by the Taliban and the U.S., a spokesman for the insurgent group said. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the team's arrival in a tweet. It marked the first time a Taliban delegation has been in Kabul since the group was driven out by the U.S. -led coalition in November 2001.

New York governor: Virus is "more dangerous than we expected"
New York governor: Virus is "more dangerous than we expected"

More than 75,000 people in New York state have been infected with COVID-19.

Vegas invited homeless to parking lot after virus closed shelter
Vegas invited homeless to parking lot after virus closed shelter

"Las Vegas is now packing people into concrete grids out of sight," said former Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro.

China zeroes in on coronavirus patients with no symptoms as new infections rise
China zeroes in on coronavirus patients with no symptoms as new infections rise

SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) - China will start releasing information from Wednesday on coronavirus patients who show no disease symptoms, ordering them into quarantine for 14 days, a health official said, after the mainland witnessed its first rise in infections in five days. As local infections peter out and new cases surface among travelers returning home, the existence of virus carriers with no symptoms is fuelling public concern that people could be spreading it without knowing they are ill. From April 1, the daily report of the National Health Commission will include details of such cases for the first time, Chang Jile, a commission official, told a briefing.

'So many patients dying': Doctors say NYC public hospitals reeling from coronavirus

"The situation is quite horrible and they're saying we haven't hit the peak yet and we're doing all sorts of crazy things to keep up," one doctor said.

Democratic lawmakers call for racial data in virus testing
Democratic lawmakers call for racial data in virus testing

Democratic lawmakers are calling out an apparent lack of racial data that they say is needed to monitor and address disparities in the national response to the coronavirus outbreak. In a letter sent Friday to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, both from Massachusetts, said comprehensive demographic data on people who are tested or treated for the virus that causes COVID-19 does not exist. "Any attempt to contain COVID-19 in the United States will have to address its potential spread in low-income communities of color, first and foremost to protect the lives of people in those communities, but also to slow the spread of the...

Wuhan
Wuhan's death toll could be astronomically higher than the Chinese government has reported, some residents say

Officials in Wuhan, China, reported that 2,535 people in the city have died from COVID-19. Some residents suspect that's a severe undercount.

Column: Trump
Column: Trump's daily coronavirus news briefings aren't just excruciating. They're dangerous

It is outrageous that we have to witness the spectacle of public health officials tailoring their statements so as to not offend the president.

U.S. renews sanctions waivers allowing Iran nonproliferation work
U.S. renews sanctions waivers allowing Iran nonproliferation work

The United States has allowed Russian, Chinese and European companies to continue their work at Iranian nuclear sites to make it harder for Tehran to develop nuclear weapons, the U.S. State Department said on Monday. Reuters earlier reported that the decision to renew waivers to sanctions that bar non-U.S. firms from dealing with Iran's Atomic Energy Organization was expected on Monday, citing four sources familiar with the matter including a U.S. official. Jewish News Syndicate, a news outlet predominantly focused on Israel and the Jewish world, first reported that the United States was expected to renew the waivers, citing two sources familiar with the decision.

Trump says Republicans would
Trump says Republicans would 'never' be elected again if it was easier to vote

President dismissed Democratic-led push for voter reforms amid coronavirus pandemic during Fox & Friends appearance * Coronavirus - live US updates * Live global updates * See all our coronavirus coverageDonald Trump admitted on Monday that making it easier to vote in America would hurt the Republican party.The president made the comments as he dismissed a Democratic-led push for reforms such as vote-by-mail, same-day registration and early voting as states seek to safely run elections amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Democrats had proposed the measures as part of the coronavirus stimulus. They ultimately were not included in the $2.2tn final package, which included only $400m to states to...

'Unacceptable': Florida officials concerned about Holland America ships headed there with ill passengers

Passengers on Holland America's MS Zaandam and MS Rotterdam may soon be home, though at least one Florida government official is concerned.

Out of toilet paper? Students
Out of toilet paper? Students' web tracker lets shoppers find essentials amid coronavirus

It's an all-too-common sight these days: long lines and empty shelves. As fears around the coronavirus drive essentials off the shelves, two students have an idea to help.

Hugs, Kisses, Dining Out During Virus Raise Fear in Mexico

(Bloomberg) -- In mid-March, as vast portions of humanity hunkered in coronavirus lockdown, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico was still hugging and kissing constituents. Eight days ago, he urged them to keep eating out.Stung by global criticism and disapproving national polls, the leftist

Saudi, UAE businesses battle cash crunch despite anti-coronavirus stimulus
Saudi, UAE businesses battle cash crunch despite anti-coronavirus stimulus

RIYADH/DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are spending tens of billions to prop up their economies during the coronavirus crisis and oil price slump but the scaling back of state projects is blunting the impact. Saudi Arabia last week announced suspension of work on the third phase of a $100 billion expansion of the Grand Mosque in Mecca over coronavirus fears. Two days earlier, construction giant Saudi Binladin Group said in an internal note, seen by Reuters, that two employees on the project had been infected.

As the pandemic rages, the president brags
As the pandemic rages, the president brags

Does President Trump think he is still the star of a reality TV show?The COVID-19 death toll in America continues to mount. As of Sunday, the number stood at more than 2,400 - but the president took little note. Instead, he was preoccupied with a different set of numbers: TV ratings.In a series of tweets, Trump purported to quote The New York Times about the huge audiences tuning into his daily pandemic press briefings.> ...On Monday, nearly 12.2 million people watched Mr. Trump's briefing on CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, according to Nielsen - 'Monday Night Football' numbers. Millions more are watching on ABC, CBS, NBC and online streaming sites, and the audience is expanding. On Monday,...

Passengers transferred from virus-stricken cruise ship off Panama
Passengers transferred from virus-stricken cruise ship off Panama

Passengers on a virus-stricken cruise liner stranded off Central America were transferred to another ship Saturday, after the US-bound vessel was given permission to pass through the Panama Canal. The Zaandam had been stuck in the Pacific Ocean since March 14 after dozens of the 1,800 people on board reported flu-like symptoms and several South American ports refused to let it dock. The ship's Dutch owner Holland America said Friday four passengers had died and two more had tested positive for COVID-19.

Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson's government is reportedly furious with China and believes it could have 40 times more coronavirus cases than it claims

UK government sources quoted on Sunday say China faces a "reckoning" over its handling of the coronavirus crisis.

German health institute warns pandemic could overstretch system -paper
German health institute warns pandemic could overstretch system -paper

Germany's health system could face strains similar to those in Italy if the coronavirus outbreak in the country worsens, the head of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the federal agency responsible for disease control, told a newspaper. Lothar Wieler's comments came as RKI data on Sunday showed the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany had risen to 52,547 and 389 people had died of the disease there. "We cannot rule out that we will have more patients than ventilators in this country ... Of course, we must expect that the capacities will not be sufficient," Wieler told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

Tornado rips through Arkansas city
Tornado rips through Arkansas city

The mayor of Jonesboro said the more people may could have been harmed by the tornado had the mall not been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Guaido urges unity government backed by loans to fight virus
Guaido urges unity government backed by loans to fight virus

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó called Saturday night for the creation of a "national emergency government" of diverse political leanings to fight the spread of the coronavirus with the assistance of $1.2 billion in international loans. Speaking in a video released on Twitter, Guaidó said the unity government would not be headed by Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela's socialist leader who was indicted this week in the U.S. on narcoterrorism charges. "Those who surround Maduro need to understand the gravity of the accusations," Guaidó said.

The US coronavirus death toll has surpassed 2,000, doubling in just 2 days
The US coronavirus death toll has surpassed 2,000, doubling in just 2 days

Coronavirus-related deaths have more than doubled since Thursday, when American health officials reported 1,000 deaths.

Tornado tears through Arkansas city, prompting curfew and National Guard response
Tornado tears through Arkansas city, prompting curfew and National Guard response

"I know there is property damage," Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. "Just praying all is safe."

American, Delta plan additional flight cuts for May amid coronavirus pandemic
American, Delta plan additional flight cuts for May amid coronavirus pandemic

American will slash May capacity by 80-90% and Delta will reduce international flights as travelers opt to - or are ordered to - stay home

The National Guard conducted door-to-door checks with Rhode Island police to track down New Yorkers traveling into the state
The National Guard conducted door-to-door checks with Rhode Island police to track down New Yorkers traveling into the state

Rhode Island issued strict restrictions to track those who have recently been in New York, which has emerged as the US epicenter of the outbreak.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is spending £5.7 million to write to all 66 million people in the UK, urging them to stay at home to fight coronavirus
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is spending £5.7 million to write to all 66 million people in the UK, urging them to stay at home to fight coronavirus

"The more we all follow the rules, the fewer lives will be lost and the sooner life can return to normal," Johnson said in a letter

North Korea fires more missiles than ever amid coronavirus outbreak
North Korea fires more missiles than ever amid coronavirus outbreak

North Korea fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles into the ocean off its east coast on Sunday, the latest in an unprecedented flurry of launches that South Korea decried as "inappropriate" amid the global coronavirus pandemic. Two "short-range projectiles" were launched from the coastal Wonsan area, and flew 230 kilometers (143 miles) at a maximum altitude of 30 kilometers (19 miles), South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported. "In a situation where the entire world is experiencing difficulties due to COVID-19, this kind of military act by North Korea is very inappropriate and we call for an immediate halt," South Korea's JCS said in a statement, according to...

Rhode Island Governor Announces National Guard Will Go
Rhode Island Governor Announces National Guard Will Go 'Door-to-Door' to Identify New Yorkers to Slow COVID-19 Spread

Rhode Island officials will order anyone coming from New York into quarantine

Turkey coronavirus deaths pass 100: health minister
Turkey coronavirus deaths pass 100: health minister

More than 100 people have died from the novel coronavirus in Turkey, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced Saturday, as 1,704 new cases were recorded. Koca shared the latest figures on Twitter, which showed 16 more people had died in the last 24 hours, pushing the total death toll to 108. With the new cases of COVID-19, Turkey has officially recorded 7,402 people with the virus.

Taliban says no to Afghan negotiators
Taliban says no to Afghan negotiators

The Taliban on Saturday rejected an Afghan government negotiation team set up to hold talks with the insurgent group in a bid to end the country's 18-year-old conflict. After months of delays, the government on Friday announced a 21-member team -- including five women -- to take part in the upcoming talks, a crucial step in bringing the warring parties to the table and getting a floundering, US-led peace process back on track. "We shall only sit for talks with a negotiation team that conforms with our agreements and is constituted in accordance with the laid out principles," the statement said.

Fauci said he
Fauci said he's 'willing to bet anything' that people who recover from the new coronavirus are 'really protected from reinfection'

"It's never 100%, but I'd be willing to bet anything that people who recover are really protected against reinfection," Fauci said in an interview.

Former Republican senator Tom Coburn dies aged 72
Former Republican senator Tom Coburn dies aged 72

* Oklahoman served in House of Representatives and Senate * Rightwing Republican advocated range of conservative causes * Resigned senate in 2014 after cancer diagnosisThe former Republican senator Tom Coburn has died at 72, according to a newspaper in his native Oklahoma.The Oklahoman published a statement from the senator's family and said he died after "a long fight with prostate cancer". Coburn, the paper said, "served in the Senate from 2005 to 2015 and in the US House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001. After leaving the Senate, he pushed for a constitutional convention and advocated for a range of conservative fiscal causes."Mike Pence, the vice-president, wrote on...

More Americans Should Probably Wear Masks for Protection
More Americans Should Probably Wear Masks for Protection

As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, experts have started to question official guidance about whether ordinary, healthy people should protect themselves with a regular surgical mask, or even a scarf.The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to state that masks don't necessarily protect healthy individuals from getting infected as they go about their daily lives.The official guidance continues to recommend that masks should be reserved for people who are already sick, as well as for the health workers and caregivers who must interact with infected individuals on a regular basis. Everyone else, they say, should stick to frequent hand-washing...

Hubei, the center of China
Hubei, the center of China's coronavirus outbreak, has emerged from a months-long coronavirus lockdown. Photos show the province slowly coming back to life.

Experts, and people who live in Hubei, are still fearful that the loosening of restrictions will help the coronavirus reappear.

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