CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: Latest Updates
More than 790,000 cases
More than 790,640 cases of infection have been recorded in 185 countries and territories since the epidemic started in China in December, according to an AFP tally compiled at 1000 GMT Tuesday based on official sources. At least 38,464 deaths have been recorded, 27,740 of those in Europe. Italy has 11,591 deaths, Spain 8,189, mainland China 3,305, the United States 3,170, France 3,024, and Iran 2,898.
11m Asians face poverty
The World Bank warns China's growth in 2020 could be brought to a standstill, compared to 6.1 percent growth in 2019, which was already its worst performance since 1990. The country will postpone its notoriously difficult college entrance tests from June to July. The economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic could drive an additional 11 million people into poverty in East Asia and the Pacific unless "urgent action" is taken, the World Bank warned in a report released Monday.
Ray of hope amid record death tolls
Once again, Spain hit a new record with 849 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours although health chiefs said the rate of new infections was continuing its downward trend. The number of confirmed cases rose to 94,417 yesterday after another 9,222 people tested positive: a nearly 11-percent increase. This time last week, the rate of new infections stood at around 20 percent. Professionals of Italy also said the trend is slowing there despite the record death toll.
Iran, Europe to get medical equipment
European nations deliver medical goods to Iran in the first transaction under the Instex mechanism set up in January 2019 to bypass United States sanctions on Tehran. President Donald Trump says the US will send some shipments of excess medical equipment worth around $100 million to hard-hit Italy, and later to France and Spain.
More than 3.6 billion in lockdown
Panama announces strict quarantine measures that separate citizens by gender. From Wednesday for 15 days, men and women will only be able to leave their homes for two hours at a time, and on different days. On Sunday all outings are banned. Mexico extends its state of emergency to April 30, which also allows it to prolong its suspension of all non-essential activities. Guinea announces a night-time curfew between 2100-0500 GMT and restrictions on movement out of the capital. More than 3.6 billion people -- 46.5 percent of the world population -- are now either under orders or have been asked to stay home, according to an AFP database tally on Tuesday.
Spain bans funeral ceremonials
Spain banned funeral ceremonies, including vigils at home, and decreed that no more than three people could attend burials as the government struggles with thousands of fatalities from the coronavirus pandemic. Madrid announced that "religious celebrations and civilian funeral ceremonies are postponed until the end of the alert,," which has been declared until at least April 11 and keeps the population confined.