Tag: Virus

New York reports 15 child cases of rare disease linked to COVID-19

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Fifteen children have been hospitalized in New York with a rare inflammatory disease possibly linked to coronavirus, officials said Tuesday, in the latest reports of the worrying syndrome. Kawasaki disease is a mysterious illness that primarily affects children up to the age of five and causes the walls of arteries to become inflamed, resulting in fever, skin peeling and joint pain. Britain’s National Health Service first sounded the alarm […]

Virus model sees near-doubling of US deaths

WASHINGTON DC, United States (AFP) — A prominent US pandemic model on Monday significantly increased its coronavirus death forecast after parts of the country began reopening. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) now foresees 134,475 deaths by August 4, up from 72,433 projected in an April 29 estimate. On Monday the United States had recorded around 68,000 deaths linked to COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. Previously criticized for being too […]

Doctor who treated first US COVID patient fears second wave

by Alina DIESTE Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The doctor who treated the first COVID-19 patient in the United States said Monday he fears a second outbreak of the disease when lockdown measures are lifted. George Díaz’s first patient, diagnosed in January in Washington state, has already recovered after receiving remdesivir, an experimental drug that the US approved on Friday for emergency use. While he feels encouraged by this anti-viral, Diaz emphasized […]

Virus deaths top 250,000 as billions raised for vaccine push

by Paul HANDLEY Agence France Presse Global deaths from the coronavirus pandemic topped a quarter-million on Monday, mostly in the US and Europe even as both regions slowly moved away from lockdown and world leaders raised billions towards a vaccine. An AFP tally of official figures showed that Europe is the hardest-hit continent with around 145,000 fatalities, and the United States recorded close to 68,700 — together accounting for more than 85 percent of global […]

Virus detectives tracking COVID-19 to its genetic origins

by Amélie BOTTOLLIER-DEPOIS with AFP bureaus Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — China reported its first cases of the new coronavirus in December. But was COVID-19 already silently circulating? To find out scientists are looking for “patient zeros” by tracking the evolution of the virus itself. This genetic detective work is tracing the family tree of the coronavirus that has killed tens of thousands in its relentless spread across the planet. It could also help find out if […]

Pres. Duterte orders LGUs to accept returning OFWs who have tested negative for COVID-19

  (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte directed local government units to allow the entry of returning overseas Filipino workers who had already tested negative for COVID-19, including those who had completed the mandatory 14-day quarantine period. Duterte, in his late night virtual presser on Monday, May 4, said that the national government would be forced to step in if LGUs would continue to deny entry to OFWs whose residences are in their areas of […]

Peru’s opposition leader Fujimori released from prison

LIMA, Peru (AFP) — Peru’s opposition leader Keiko Fujimori was released on Monday from a 15-month pre-trial detention on corruption charges after just three months, an AFP reporter witnessed. Fujimori, who left the woman’s prison in the capital Lima on bail wearing a face mask and white gloves, had earlier announced on Twitter that she would head straight from the facility to take a coronavirus test before going home. The 44-year-old’s release came four days […]

California to ease coronavirus restrictions from Friday

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Some retailers in California, including bookstores, flower shops and clothing stores, will be allowed to reopen for business at the end of the week, the state’s governor announced on Monday. “Millions of Californians answered the call to stay home and thanks to them, we are in a position to begin moving into our next stage of modifying our stay at home order,” Governor Gavin Newsom said. “But make no […]

Bahrain opens second field hospital on man-made island

MANAMA, Bahrain (AFP) — After turning a car park into an intensive care unit for coronavirus patients, Bahrain has set up its second field hospital — on a man-made island. The facilities are among five that the authorities plan to build to add 500 critical care beds to its health sector in case of a spike in novel coronavirus. The new 154-bed field hospital, staffed by 55 doctors and 250 nurses, took 14 days to […]

Funds raised for virus vaccine ‘powerful’ show of solidarity: WHO

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization hailed the billions of euros raised Monday during a teleconference of world leaders to boost development of a coronavirus vaccine as a strong show of “global solidarity”. “This was a powerful and inspiring demonstration of global solidarity,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual briefing, of the 7.4 billion euros ($8.1 billion) raised towards the development and distribution of a vaccine for the virus that causes […]

Spain ‘risks chaos’ if state of emergency not renewed

MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain’s coalition government warned the opposition Monday it could spark “chaos” in the healthcare system and the economy if it failed to approve an extension of the lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. Facing increasing criticism over its handling of the crisis, the minority government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will on Wednesday seek parliament’s approval for a fresh two-week extension of the state of emergency. Extended twice, the […]

Iran reopens mosques, records almost 80,00 hospital recoveries

TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iran on Monday reopened mosques in parts of the country deemed at low risk from coronavirus, as it said almost 80,000 people hospitalized with the illness had recovered and been released. Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said 74 new fatalities brought to 6,277 the total number officially recorded in Iran since it reported its first cases in mid-February. Iran on Sunday recorded 47 deaths, its lowest daily count in 55 days. […]