Coronavirus Pandemic: Key Updates
Nearly 6.3m cases
The novel coronavirus has killed at least 375,555 people since the outbreak first emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT yesterday. At least 6,279,390 cases of coronavirus have been registered in 196 countries and territories. The United States is the worst-hit country with 105,147 deaths from 1,811,277 cases. After the US, the hardest-hit countries are Britain with 39,045 deaths from 276,332 cases, Italy with 33,475 deaths from 233,197 cases, Brazil with 29,937 deaths and 526,447 cases and France with 28,833 deaths and 189,220 cases.
No hajj for Indonesians
Indonesia has cancelled the haj pilgrimage this year for people in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation due to concerns over the coronavirus, the religious affairs minister said yesterday. Saudi Arabia, where the hajj rituals are performed, has already said the hajj and umrah pilgrimages -- which attract millions of travellers from around the world -- will remain suspended until further notice.
First Rohingya refugee dies
A 71-year-old man has become the first Rohingya living in vast refugee camps in Bangladesh to die from the coronavirus, an official said yesterday. Health experts have long warned that the deadly virus could race through the vast network of settlements housing almost a million refugees in the country's southeast.
Singapore opens schools
Pupils wearing face masks returned to school in Singapore yesterday and some workplaces re-opened as coronavirus restrictions were eased in the hard-hit city-state. The country has recorded over 35,000 cases -- the highest official tally in Southeast Asia -- with the vast majority among foreign workers. The death toll stands at 24.
Thais re-open some beaches
People returned to some of Thailand's famed sandy beaches Monday, keeping well apart but enjoying the outdoors, as authorities eased some coronavirus restrictions for the first time in more than two months. In Pattaya, visitors marvelled at the clarity of the turquoise-blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Phuket, in the south, is still off-limits.
No deaths in Spain
Spain has recorded no coronavirus deaths over the past 24 hours for the first time since the beginning of March, a government source said Monday. It is one of the countries worst hit by the pandemic, having recorded 27,127 deaths from 239,638 cases notified.
Pakistan end curbs
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan announced Monday his government would end restrictions. His announcement came shortly after a report was leaked to the media that showed cases of coronavirus in Lahore are estimated to be at about 670,800. Officially, about 72,000 people have tested positive, with 1,543 deaths, across all of Pakistan.
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