WHO urges countries to investigate early COVID-19 cases
The World Health Organization said on Tuesday that a report that COVID-19 had emerged in December in France, sooner than previously thought, was “not surprising”, and urged countries to investigate any other early suspicious cases.
Ramping up COVID-19 testing earlier would have helped the UK, top adviser says
If the United Kingdom had ramped up testing for COVID-19 earlier, it could have been beneficial, the British government’s chief scientific adviser said on Tuesday.
Spain coronavirus tally stabilises but economic cost high
Spain reported its third day in a row of coronavirus deaths under 200, but a record number of people claiming social security benefits for April showed the cost to the economy of bringing the epidemic under control.
France’s early COVID-19 case may hold clues to pandemic’s start
A study by French scientists which suggests a man was infected with COVID-19 as early as Dec. 27, nearly a month before France confirmed its first cases, could be important in assessing when and where the new coronavirus emerged, experts said on Tuesda…
Poland’s May 10 presidential election hangs in balance
The Polish Senate starts an acrimonious debate on Tuesday on legislation that would allow a presidential election scheduled for May 10 to be held entirely by postal ballot instead of at polling stations because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Britain outpaces Italy with Europe’s highest official coronavirus death toll
Britain has overtaken Italy to report the highest official death toll from coronavirus in Europe with more than 32,000 deaths, figures released on Tuesday showed.
Israel extends coronavirus cell phone surveillance by three weeks
A parliamentary panel authorised Israel’s Shin Bet security service on Tuesday to continue using mobile phone data to track people infected by the coronavirus until May 26 despite privacy concerns.
Iran death toll from new coronavirus outbreak rises by 63 to 6,340: health ministry official
The death toll from the outbreak of new coronavirus in Iran rose by 63 in the past 24 hours to 6,340, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said in a statement on state TV on Tuesday.
Ireland sees crisis point in Brexit talks if no progress soon: Coveney
Progress in trade talks between the European Union and ex-member Britain “has not been good” and the two sides will hit a crisis point unless there is progress in the coming weeks, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said on Tuesday.
Lebanon to extend virus shutdown, fears second wave
Lebanon is set to extend its lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus by two weeks until May 24 with the prime minister warning on Tuesday that a failure to comply with a gradual easing of restrictions risked a second wave of infections.
