Over 1.6 million people are infected by Covid-19 which has brought the planet's major cities and economies to a grinding halt. It has been 100 days since the Chinese government reported the first coronavirus cases. The country has been reporting fewer coronavirus cases, most of them returnees. In India, cases continue to surge as the nation remains under a lockdown. European Union after a lot of arguments between its 27 finance minister have reached a deal to help out its ravaged economies and healthcare systems.
Global coronavirus death toll crosses 100,000
The number of deaths linked to coronavirus reached 100,000 on Friday, as the tally of cases passed 1.6 million, according to a Reuters tally. According to the worldometers.info, the global death toll due to coronavirus reached 100,371 on Friday.
We are now in the phase of panic, says WHO chief
"We are now in the phase of panic because there's this dangerous invisible virus which is wrecking havoc, but we must strengthen health systems," says WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
No country is immune, no country can claim it has strong health system: WHO chief
The World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during a press conference, said "No country is immune, no country can claim it has a strong health system."
WHO warns about dangers of premature lifting of COVID-19 restrictions
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday warned countries to be cautious about lifting restrictions introduced to curb the spread of coronavirus.
"The WHO would like to see an easing, but at the same time "lifting restrictions could lead to a deadly resurgence," Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference.
Punjab govt makes it mandatory for people to wear masks in public places
According to news agency ANI, Punjab government makes it mandatory for people to wear masks in public places, to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
I sought Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh suggestions regarding Covid-19: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan
"I have discussed with former CMs Uma Bharti, Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh and sought their suggestion regarding our strategy to contain coronavirus pandemic. All of them have given their suggestions," says Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, as quoted by ANI.
Overall situation in Andhra Pradesh now under control, says CM Jagan Reddy
Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday said the overall situation, consequent to the spread of COVID-19 in Andhra Pradesh, was now under control and normalcy would return in the coming days, according to PTI.
The Chief Minister conducted a high-level review meeting on coronavirus and also a videoconference with district Collectors and doctors of 13 COVID-19 hospitals in the state and discussed the plan of action in case the ongoing lockdown is lifted, a CMO release said.
Nepal refuses Everest clean-up amid pandemic calm
The Nepal government on Friday rejected calls to use the pandemic lockdown of Mount Everest to stage a cleanup of the world's highest mountain, according to news agency AFP.
Fluorescent tents, discarded climbing equipment, empty gas canisters and human excrement litter the well-trodden route to the 8,848-metre (29,029-feet) high summit.
Portugal may extend coronavirus lockdown till May 1
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said on Friday he would propose next week extending a national lockdown till May 1 as the number of coronavirus cases in the country rose above 15,000, according to a news report in Reuters.
Parliament is likely to approve his request. Portugal declared a 15-day state of emergency on March 18 and last week approved its extension by a further 15 days till April 17.
Gurugram makes wearing masks outside home compulsory
Gurugram district administration on Friday made wearing of masks outside of home compulsory, according to news agency ANI.
Any person found violating the instruction to be punishable under section 188 of Indian Penal Code.
Tamil Nadu reports one more coronavirus death, toll reaches 9 in the state
According to news agency PTI, Tamil Nadu reported one more death due to coronavirus, taking the total to nine. Total Covid-19 cases in the state are 77 positive cases.
Xi calls for tighter supervision of workplace safety as China resumes work
President Xi Jinping on Friday called for tighter supervision of safety measures at workplaces as China gears up to resume work and production after over two months of battle against Covid-19 pandemic, according to a news report in PTI.
“Authorities should firmly hold the bottom line of workplace safety,” Xi was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency on Friday.
EU leaders to discuss economic recovery from Covid-19 pandemic
European Council President Charles Michel on Friday called an EU leaders' videoconference for April 23 to discuss how Europe can pick itself up from the economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to news agency AFP.
"It is time to lay the ground for a robust economic recovery," he said in a statement a day after EU finance ministers agreed a 500-billion-euro (USD 550-billion) emergency package for the bloc.
WHO denies ignoring Taiwan early virus warning
The World Health Organisation on Friday denied ignoring Taiwanese warning on human-to-human transmission of coronavirus soon after its outbreak in China late last year, according to news agency AFP.
The US has accused the body of "putting politics first" by ignoring Taiwan's warning in late December, and thus helping Beijing conceal the pandemic's gravity.
First published: Apr 10, 2020 05:59 IST