Swiss government doubles size of coronavirus loan scheme to $41 billion
The Swiss government is doubling the size of its coronavirus emergency loan scheme to 40 billion Swiss francs ($40.94 billion) after being flooded by requests for help by businesses, it said on Friday.
Europe’s north-south lockdown divide revealed by Google data
Italy and Spain, the two European countries hardest hit by the new coronavirus, have enforced the most drastic lockdowns to curb the pandemic but one country, Sweden, stands out for allowing life to go on much as before, Google data show.
Chechnya becomes first Russian region to impose coronavirus curfew
The southern Russian region of Chechnya on Friday became the first to introduce a night curfew to try to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, despite having reported only a dozen confirmed cases.
Sticking to UK guidelines, Johnson to self-isolate until temperature falls
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will stick to guidelines issued by health officials and remain in self-isolation until his high temperature falls, his spokesman said on Friday.
Hospitals are ‘at maximum stress’ in Spain’s second worst-hit region by coronavirus
Hospitals in Catalonia, Spain’s second worst-hit region by the coronavirus pandemic, are at “maximum stress”, the regional leader Quim Torra told Reuters on Friday.
Poland’s ruling party coalition partner against May election: Kaczynski
Poland’s ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party junior coalition partner Porozumienie (Accord) is against presidential elections being held on May 10, head of PiS Jaroslaw Kaczynski and Poland’s de facto leader, said on Friday.
Coronavirus outbreak to delay Romania’s June election: PM
Romania’s centrist minority government will almost certainly postpone a June local election as the coronavirus outbreak ruled out the best conditions for such an exercise, Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said late on Thursday.
Latest on the spread of the coronavirus around the world
Global cases of the new coronavirus have shot past 1 million with more than 54,000 fatalities, a Reuters tally showed on Friday, as death tolls soared in the United States and western Europe while the world economy nosedived.
Malaysians send 3D-printed masks, meals to front-line coronavirus medics
From 3D-printed protective face shields to meal deliveries, Malaysian volunteer groups are stepping up to help medical workers on the front line of the campaign against the coronavirus.
Mexico stops brewing Corona beer, deemed non-essential in epidemic
Mexico’s Grupo Modelo said on Thursday it will temporarily stop brewing Corona beer and other brands exported to 180 countries after its business activities were declared non-essential under a government order aimed at curbing the spread of the corona…
