Europe

Italy sees signs of hope in 651 new virus deaths

ROME, Italy (AFP) — Italian health officials voiced cautious hope Sunday after the coronavirus death toll edged down from the previous day’s world record and the rate of infections slowed. The Mediterranean country’s world-topping toll from its month-long crisis approached 5,500 and the number of COVID-19 infections neared 60,000. But top health officials sounded — while not upbeat — encouraged to see daily deaths fall back from Saturday’s grisly 793 to a slightly less shocking […]

Why Italy? The factors behind a coronavirus disaster

by Dmitry ZAKS Agence France Presse ROME, Italy (AFP) — Why Italy? Loads of people have been wondering why the beautiful Mediterranean country has become the new epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic. Experts list a range of reasons — from Italy’s relatively high age to its strained healthcare system to some old fashioned bad luck — that add up to a disaster not seen in generations. None of the answers alone explain why the nation […]

First French doctor dies as virus death toll rockets; hero doctor came back to treat patients despite risks

  by Fiachra GIBBONS in Paris with Zoe LEROY in Lille Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — The first French doctor battling the coronavirus has died as the death toll in the country spiralled to 674 Sunday. With the outbreak spreading to eight regions — and 112 more dying in a single day — authorities admitted their count does not include those who died at home and in old people’s homes. “We are looking […]

Spain reports 394 new virus deaths raising official death toll to 1,720

MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain on Sunday announced 394 new deaths caused by the novel coronavirus, raising to 1,720 the official death toll in Europe’s worst-hit country after Italy, a 30 percent increase over the previous day. The number of confirmed cases of the disease rose by 3,646, or 14.6 percent, to 28,572, according to health ministry figures, with officials warning infections will rise further in the coming days. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said […]

Russia sends virus experts, medics to Italy

  MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia on Sunday sent the first of nine military planes which are to take a total of 100 army virus experts and medics to Italy to help fight the coronavirus pandemic there. The Russian defence ministry said the aid mission was agreed by President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. They spoke on the phone Saturday evening, the Kremlin said. The military transport planes arrived overnight at an […]

Powerful quake damages buildings in Croatia capital amid coronavirus scare

  ZAGREB, Croatia (AFP) — A 5.3-magnitude earthquake tore down chunks of buildings in Zagreb and left a teenager in critical condition on Sunday, state media reported, as authorities warned residents not to gather together and further spread the coronavirus. The quake, the most powerful to strike the Croatia capital in nearly 140 years according to Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, jolted the city at around 6:00 am local time (0500 GMT), sending panicked residents running […]

New pandemic epicenter: Italy’s 4,825 total coronavirus fatalities now more than China’s virus death toll

  (Eagle News) – Italy’s death toll due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has exceeded that of China as virus cases continued to rise dramatically in this European country, becoming the country with the most number of COVID-19 fatalities. Deaths due to the coronavirus disease in Italy has hit 4,825 which is more than China’s death toll of 3,265, based on data from the information collated by the Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Italy’s COVID-19 deaths […]

France reports 78 more coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, total toll 450: official

PARIS, France (AFP) — France on Friday reported 78 more deaths from the coronavirus over the last 24 hours, bringing the total death toll from the outbreak in the country to 450 people. Top French health official Jerome Salomon told reporters that 12,612 people were now confirmed by tests in France to have been infected with the coronavirus while warning this was a “minimal figure” compared with the real number of those infected. He said […]

Wuhan recovery gives rest of world hope: WHO

by Robin MILLARD GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization said Friday that the original epicenter in China of the coronavirus outbreak at last reporting no new cases gave hope to the rest of the world battling the pandemic. The city of Wuhan registered no new cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours — for the first time since reporting its first case in December in an outbreak that has gone on to infect more […]

Spain virus toll tops 1,000, nearly 20,000 infected

MADRID, Spain (AFP) — The coronavirus death toll rose to 1,002 in Spain on Friday after 235 people died in 24 hours, and the number of cases approached 20,000, the health ministry said. The spiraling number of infections has propelled Spain into the top four worst-hit countries in the world — with the figures growing as the country steps up its capacity for testing, forcing doctors to have to make choices as to which cases […]

Dutch show love and appreciation to all health workers

by Emily Manuel and Prescila Cuadra Contributors, Eagle News ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands (Eagle News) — Chalk murals expressing love and support for health care workers began to appear in parts of Rotterdam. – Standing ovation and applause – A special nationwide social media event was organised last March 17, 2020 calling for everyone to stand on their balconies or in front of their doors to clap for all health workers. In a show of solidarity, […]

Belgium passes 2,000 coronavirus cases, deaths mount

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — The number of coronavirus cases recorded in Belgium surged past 2,000 on Friday and the number of deaths attributed to the disease COVID-19 jumped up by 16 to 37. According to the country’s national crisis center, 462 new confirmed cases of the virus have been reported, bringing the total to 2,257 in a country of 11.4 million people. Two-thirds of the new cases overnight were in Dutch-speaking Flanders, in northern Belgium. […]