Italy to extend coronavirus schools shutdown past current April 3 limit: minister
Italy’s education minister on Friday said schools across the country would remain closed beyond the current April 3 limit due to the coronavirus outbreak.
India rolls out coronavirus call centers to stop stampede to hard-pressed hospitals
Health authorities set up coronavirus call centers in urban centers across India on Friday, scrambling to stop people flooding hospitals demanding immediate tests to see if they have come down with coronavirus.
Singapore reports 49 new coronavirus cases, taking tally to 732
Singapore reported 49 new coronavirus cases on Friday, the city-state’s health ministry said, taking total infections to 732.
Swiss death toll from coronavirus hits 197, cases top 12,000
The Swiss death toll from the coronavirus hit 197 people on Friday, the health ministry said, up from 161 on Thursday, as the country makes drugs including painkillers from strategic reserves available to cover growing demand.
Swiss government allows regional economic shutdowns to curb coronavirus spread
Switzerland’s federal government has given regional authorities the authority to shut down or restrict sectors of the economy temporarily if needed to fight the spread of the coronavirus, it said on Friday.
Russia confirms coronavirus case in Putin’s administration, tightens curbs
The Kremlin confirmed a coronavirus case in President Vladimir Putin’s administration on Friday and the government said measures imposed in Moscow to fight the virus should be extended across Russia.
Dutch coronavirus cases rise by 16%, 112 new deaths: health authorities
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Netherlands rose by 1,172, or 16%, to 8,603, health authorities said on Friday, with 112 new deaths.
China gives chilly response to request for U.S. journalists to remain in country
China hit out at what it called “biased” reporting on Friday in a frosty response to a request by three major U.S. newspapers to reverse the expulsion of several of their China-based journalists.
Thailand closes more public facilities as coronavirus cases top 1,100
The Thai government on Friday ordered the closing down of more public facilities and businesses in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus, and extended existing closures until the end of April.
German baker cleans up with toilet roll cakes
A German baker has drummed up some much-needed demand during the coronavirus crisis by making cakes in the shape of toilet rolls.
