Belgium says COVID-19 peak passed, starts looking at lockdown exit
Belgium’s immediate coronavirus crisis appears to have passed its peak as the number of people admitted to hospitals with COVID-19 fell to its lowest level in a month, health officials said on Monday.
Merkel scorns ‘discussion orgies’ as German shops reopen
Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her frustration in a party meeting on Monday that moves to edge Germany out of lockdown had led to “discussion orgies” in some regions that risked higher rates of coronavirus infection, German media reported.
Merkel: Too far-reaching German rescue packages could raise questions – participants
Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday told the leadership of her party that if Germany spent too much on additional coronavirus rescue programmes, Italy and Spain might point to Europe’s largest economy and say it has enough money, participants in the cal…
UK’s Prince Philip breaks retirement silence to thank those fighting COVID-19
Prince Philip, the 98-year-old husband of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, made a rare statement on Monday to thank those involved in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some Syrians prefer ruined homes to crowded camps
Taher al-Matar’s home in northwest Syria is in ruins but he has gone back to live there anyway, driven by dire conditions in camps for displaced people, where he fears any outbreak of the coronavirus would be devastating.
Empty resorts spell long crisis for Caribbean as coronavirus hits
No one is swimming in the turquoise Caribbean waters of Cuba’s Varadero beach resort, nor lounging on its white, palm-fringed beaches. Its hundreds of hotels, shops and restaurants stand empty and eerily quiet.
Coronavirus crisis stoking anti-Semitism worldwide: report
The coronavirus crisis is stirring anti-Semitism around the world, fuelled by centuries-old lies that Jews are spreading infection, researchers in Israel said on Monday.
Taiwan virus cases jump after ship visit, Palau says not the source
Taiwan reported 22 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, almost all of them sailors who were on a navy visit to the small Pacific islands state of Palau, which said there was “little chance” it was the source of the infection.
Iran death toll from new coronavirus outbreak rises by 91 to 5,209: health ministry official
The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in Iran reached 5,209 on Monday with 91 deaths in the past twenty four hours, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said in a statement on state TV on Monday.
South Africa to increase welfare provision over coronavirus: Ramaphosa
South Africa will increase welfare provision to help poor households suffering because of a nationwide lockdown aimed at containing the coronavirus outbreak, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday.
