BEIRUT, Lebanon (AFP) — Lebanon on Sunday urged people to stay at home for two weeks and prepared to close its main airport to stem a novel coronavirus outbreak that has killed three people in the country. The COVID-19 virus has officially infected 99 people in the Mediterranean nation. Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad ordered “citizens to remain at home and not go out except out of extreme necessity” until March 29. The Beirut international […]
Other News
Germany wards off US virus vaccine interest
BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Germany staked its claim Sunday to ongoing work into a vaccine against the coronavirus, after media reports claimed US President Donald Trump was trying to poach research from a German company. “The German government has a strong interest in producing vaccines in Germany and Europe,” a spokesperson for the economy ministry told media group Funke. The ministry also pointed out that the government had the power to scrutinize foreign takeovers of […]
Venezuela puts seven states, including Caracas, in virus quarantine
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered on Sunday a “collective quarantine” in seven states, including the capital Caracas, from Monday to stem the spread of the new coronavirus pandemic. All activities in the seven states are to be suspended from 5:00 am on Monday, except food distribution, health services, transport and security, Maduro said in a television address to his crisis-devastated nation where the economy had already collapsed long before the pandemic […]
Puerto Rico decrees night-time curfew over coronavirus
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — The US territory of Puerto Rico on Sunday ordered a 9:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, the strongest measure yet taken on American soil. It took effect immediately and lasts until March 30. “Faced with the possibility of transmission and propagation of the virus, I have ordered the imposition of a curfew for all residents of Puerto Rico,” Governor Wanda Vazquez announced […]
Don’t give in to fear, Swiss told as virus cases almost double
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The Swiss health minister on Sunday urged people not to be afraid as Geneva residents applauded, whistled and rang bells from their balconies and windows to thank health workers on the frontline in the battle against the coronavirus. Health Minister Alain Berset’s comments came as cases of COVID-19 surged and drastic measures to halt the spread of the virus took hold. “We must not give in to fear,” Berset told NZZ […]
EU limits medical equipment exports in virus fight
by Damon WAKE BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — The EU on Sunday imposed restrictions on exports of masks and other protective medical equipment as it seeks to protect its own supplies for the fight against the coronavirus epidemic. Announcing the measure in an online video, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also warned that EU countries imposing border checks were threatening supply chains and increasing the risks of shortages. The move came as Germany became […]
Qatar restricts entry, announces $23 bn stimulus over virus
DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Qatar will bar entry to arriving air passengers except for citizens from Wednesday, the government said as it announced a $23 billion economic stimulus in response to the new coronavirus. The country is the worst affected in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with 401 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday. It has not reported any fatalities but has closed universities, schools, gyms, and cinemas as well as canceling many public […]
Iran urges people to stay home as virus claims 113 more lives
TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iran on Sunday urged its citizens to stick to guidelines and stay at home to stop the new coronavirus spreading, as it announced another 113 deaths from the outbreak. The latest death toll announced by the health ministry took to 724 the official number of people to have been killed by the disease since last month. People “should cancel all travel and stay at home so that we may see the […]
Dutch government announces new measures as COVID-19 cases increase
by Emily Manuel Contributor, Eagle News TILBURG, The Netherlands (Eagle News) – Update: as of 15 March 2020, all schools, cafes, restaurants, sports centres, and other establishments in the Netherlands will be closed until 6 April 2020. This was announced by Minister for Education Arie Slob in a press conference. On 12 March 2020, the Dutch government implemented measures to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. These include social distancing, cancellation of gatherings of more […]
Cloudy skies, rains forecast in PHL today
(Eagle News)–Cloudy skies and rains are expected in the country today. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Aurora, and Quezon will have cloudy skies with rains as the northeast monsoon affects Northern and Central Luzon. Ilocos Region and the rest of Central Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains. Metro Manila and the rest of the country, PAGASA said, will have partly cloudy […]
13-year old girl from Quezon City is youngest COVID-19 confirmed case, says DOH
(Eagle News)– A 13-year old girl from Quezon City is reported to be the youngest coronavirus case in the country, the Department of Health said on Sunday, March 15. The 13-year old is listed as patient no. 135 by the DOH. She tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) today, Sunday, March 15, the DOH said. She is among the 29 new confirmed coronavirus cases announced by the DOH on Sunday, March 15. Based on […]
Spain, France impose tight controls as global coronavirus infections pass 150,000
by Mariëtte Le Roux, with AFP bureaus Agence France Presse France and Spain became the latest European nations to impose lockdowns, while Australia joined New Zealand in ordering self-isolation for all arrivals Sunday as the number of coronavirus infections around the world passed 150,000, with nearly 6,000 deaths. France ordered the closure of restaurants, bars, cinemas and nightclubs — but said food shops, pharmacies and banks would remain open, and pressed ahead with voting […]





