LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Los Angeles will offer free coronavirus tests to all residents regardless of whether they show any symptoms, Mayor Eric Garcetti said. “Announcing that L.A. is now the first major city in America to offer free COVID-19 testing to all residents,” Garcetti tweeted Wednesday. Priority will be given to those with symptoms and front-line workers but individuals without symptoms can also be tested. Along with hand-washing and social distancing “testing […]
Other News
South Korea reports zero new domestic coronavirus cases
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korea Thursday reported no new locally transmitted coronavirus cases for the first time since the disease was detected in the country more than two months ago. Health authorities said, however, there was an additional death — taking the toll to 247. “For the first time in 72 days, we have zero new domestic cases,” President Moon Jae-in posted on his Facebook account. The country has seen 10,765 cases […]
DOH announces youngest, oldest COVID-19 survivor: over 2-week old baby and 95-yr old man
(Eagle News) – A baby just over two weeks old who contracted COVID-19 is the youngest survivor of the virus. The Department of Health (DOH) announced the good news in a Facebook post, that said that the baby at 16-days old conquered the coronavirus disease. “Meet our youngest COVID-19 survivor!” the DOH said in its Facebook post. “Meet BABY SURVIVOR, a 16-day old baby who conquered COVID-19!” it added. The youngest COVID-19 survivor is […]
German jobless total soars in April due to coronavirus
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany (AFP) — The jobless total in Germany rose unusually sharply in April, official data showed Thursday, highlighting the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on Europe’s top economy. The jobless total soared to 2.6 million in April from 2.3 million in March, according to data compiled by the federal labor agency BA. And in seasonally adjusted terms, the unemployment rate jumped to 5.8 percent this month from 5.0 percent the previous month, the agency […]
Spain daily virus death toll drops below 300
MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain on Thursday counted another 268 people who have died from the coronavirus, the lowest daily number since March 20 as the country prepares to ease its tough lockdown measures. The figures from the health ministry bring the total number of deaths from the pandemic in Spain to 24,543 — the fourth-highest after the United States, Italy and Britain. This is the fifth straight day that the number of daily deaths […]
South Korea leads virus success in Asia as drug trial raises hope
by Kang Jin-kyu with AFP bureaus Agence France Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korea, once one of the hardest-hit countries in the coronavirus pandemic, reported no new cases on Thursday, boosting hopes of an eventual return to normality as US scientists hailed the results of a major drug trial. The good medical news caused equities to rally, despite mounting deaths worldwide and abysmal economic figures caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Data showed the […]
COVID-19 to cause record emissions fall in 2020: IEA
by Patrick GALEY Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — COVID-19 is expected to cause global energy emissions to fall a record eight percent this year due to an unprecedented drop in demand for coal, oil and gas, the International Energy Agency said Thursday. The IEA’s Global Energy Review was based on an analysis of electricity demand over more than 100 days, during which much of the world has entered lockdown in a bid to control the […]
3.5-magnitude quake hits Isabela
(Eagle News)–A 3.5-magnitude earthquake struck Isabela on Thursday, April 30. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake, which struck at 5:48 p.m., had its epicenter 46 kilometers northeast of Palanan. It had a depth of eight kilometers. No damage to property nor aftershocks were recorded.
Washington state relaxes restrictions on recreational activities
Eagle News — Washington was the one of the first state to have reported cases of COVID-19, with the city of Seattle being the first to issue a lockdown in the United States. With 14,070 confirmed cases throughout the state of Washington, there’s a visible flattening of the curve. Because of these developments, Washington state government is confident in releasing and relaxing some of the lockdown restrictions when it comes to outdoor recreation. Although the […]
“We Heal as One Center” at PHL Arena turned over to gov’t; OFWs from Italy, Spain first to use quarantine area
(Eagle News) – At least 87 overseas Filipino workers repatriated from Italy and Spain were the first to use the quarantine facilities of the Philippine Arena Complex in Ciudad Victoria in Bocaue, Bulacan which were turned over to the Philippine government today, Thursday, April 30. There were 82 OFWs from Italy who arrived in the country on a chartered Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight Wednesday night, April 29. They included 71 OFWs from Milan and […]
Japan to extend state of emergency over virus: reports
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is likely to extend a nationwide state of emergency imposed over the coronavirus, possibly by another month, local media reported on Thursday. The measure was initially declared on April 7 across seven regions experiencing a spike in infections, but was later expanded to cover the entire country. With the initial month-long period coming to an end next week after the country’s annual Golden Week holidays, local […]
France in recession as virus-hit economy shrinks 5.8 percent
by Joseph Schmid Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — The French economy officially fell into recession after contracting 5.8 percent in the first quarter, the national statistics office said Thursday, underscoring the massive toll of the country’s nationwide shutdown to curb the coronavirus outbreak. Even though the business closures and stay-at-home orders were imposed only the final two weeks of the quarter, the drop-off in activity was a hammer blow that has put more […]





