Tag: Virus

Singapore teachers drop Zoom after online class gatecrashed

  SINGAPORE (AFP) — Singapore’s teachers have stopped using controversial video-conferencing app Zoom for remote education during the coronavirus lockdown, officials said Friday, after intruders reportedly made lewd comments in a virtual class. The city-state’s schools were closed this week as part of tough curbs to tackle a worsening virus outbreak, but students are still being taught via so-called “home-based learning”. During a geography lesson involving teenage girls conducted on Zoom, two men intruded into […]

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Jakarta imposes partial lockdown as virus cases surge

  JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Soldiers and police hit the streets of Indonesia’s capital Jakarta Friday to enforce its toughest social-distancing rules yet as coronavirus infections surge and critics warn of a looming public-health disaster. Violators face heavy fines and up to a year in jail for breaking the new rules, which include a ban on gatherings of more than five people, limiting restaurants to online delivery orders and reducing public transport. Motorbike taxis seen […]

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COVID-19 cases worldwide surpass 1.6 million while deaths hit more than 95,000

  (Eagle News) – Cases of COVID-19 worldwide have reached more than 1.6 million, with those dying from the disease surpassing 95,000, according to the latest data from the Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Global COVID-19 cases have reached 1,602,885 while virus-related deaths have reached 95,745 based on the virus dashboard of JHU that tracks data from various official sources. Those who recovered worldwide have reached 355,079, with China having the most recoveries so far at […]

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Chile to issue virus-free certificates for recovered patients

SANTIAGO, Chile (AFP) — Chile will issue certificates to people that have recovered from the coronavirus, which would allow them to move freely, the health minister said. As of Thursday, Chile has seen 1,274 recover from the deadly virus. “As of next week we’ll issue a certificate. These people can be a great help to the community,” said Jaime Manalich. Chile has had almost 6,000 infections and 57 deaths from COVID-19. Manalich expects a “slight […]

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US records 1,783 virus deaths in past 24 hours: Johns Hopkins

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States recorded 1,783 deaths related to the novel coronavirus over the past 24 hours, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 8:30 pm Thursday (0030 GMT Friday). The number of fatalities was lower than the previous day’s record toll of 1,973. The total number of US fatalities linked to the virus now stands at 16,478, the second-highest tally in the world after Italy. © Agence […]

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Morgan Stanley CEO has recovered after positive COVID-19 test

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Morgan Stanley Chief Executive James Gorman tested positive for COVID-19 but had mild symptoms and has recovered, a spokesperson said Thursday. Gorman disclosed the information near the end of a 12-minute video message to employees released Thursday that also discussed the impact of the coronavirus on the economy and financial markets, the spokesperson said. “His symptoms were mild,” the spokesperson said. “He self-isolated but continued working from home.” The […]

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OPEC puts heads together over oil output cuts

by Benoît PELEGRIN Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Top oil producers were trying to finalize a crucial agreement on output cuts in the small hours of Friday in an attempt to counter a collapse in prices due to the coronavirus and a Saudi-Russian price war. The video conference meeting of OPEC countries and their OPEC+ allies including Russia, as well as other key non-members, began just after 1440 GMT on Thursday and […]

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Boris Johnson out of COVID-19 intensive care

by David HARDING / Joe JACKSON Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday left intensive care after three days of treatment for COVID-19, his office said. “The Prime Minister has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward, where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery,” a statement said. “He is in extremely good spirits,” it added. The 55-year-old […]

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US cautiously optimistic as coronavirus curve appears to flatten

by Ivan Couronne with Peter Hutchison in New York Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US health officials made cautiously optimistic noises about coronavirus despite a jump in deaths Thursday, suggesting Americans might be able to take summer holidays, as falling hospitalization rates hint at a turning point in the battle against COVID-19. With unemployment skyrocketing and the economy tanking, President Donald Trump is keen to lift social confinement measures and get the […]

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World faces new ‘Great Depression’ as virus toll mounts

  by Dave Clark with AFP bureaus World powers scrambled on Thursday to build a global response to the human tragedy and once-in-a-century economic collapse caused by the coronavirus epidemic, as the worldwide death toll topped 90,000. In a locked-down New York, the UN Security Council was to meet on the pandemic for the first time. And, by video conference, EU finance ministers are wrangling over how to bail out their worst hit members Italy […]

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TikTok pledges $250 million for COVID-19 relief

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)– TikTok, the fast-growing mobile video app, pledged Thursday to contribute $250 million to coronavirus relief efforts around the world. TikTok, which US officials and lawmakers have assailed for potential security risks, said the funds would be for “front line medical workers, educators, and local communities deeply affected by the global crisis.” The move follows similar announcements from technology firms including Google, Facebook and Netflix as well as from leaders of Microsoft, […]

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Pandemic may cause Africa’s 1st recession in 25 years: World Bank

  by Susan NJANJI and Sofia CHRISTENSEN Agence France Presse JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — The World Bank warned Thursday that sub-Saharan Africa could slip into its first recession in a quarter of century because of the coronavirus pandemic on the world’s most impoverished continent. “We project that economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa will decline from 2.4 percent in 2019 to -2.1 to -5.1 percent in 2020, the first recession in the region in 25 […]

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