Daily coronavirus deaths in Spain reach a minimum of six weeks: live updates | China News

• The death toll in Spain rose from 164 to 25,264 on Sunday, the health ministry said, the lowest one-day increase since March 18. Confirmed cases of the virus rose to 217,466 from 216,582, the ministry said.

• The Afghan Health Ministry raised the alarm about the spread of the new coronavirus after a small randomized trial study in Kabul suggested that about a third of the capital’s residents could be infected.

• Russia and India both recorded their largest daily increase in coronavirus infections.

• Globally, the number of confirmed infections exceeds 3.44 million, with more than 244,000 deaths and approximately 1.1 million recoveries.

Here are the latest updates:

Sunday, May 3

15:00 GMT – Where are we with a coronavirus vaccine?

As government blockades focus on limiting the spread of the coronavirus, scientists around the world are working to treat and protect us.

They have their work cut. Vaccine and drug development is painstaking, full of experimentation and repeated testing. Knowing how the virus works is key.

But what other challenges do they face? And how long will it be before we can beat this virus with a pill or an injection?

Start here explains.

14:51 GMT – The death toll in Iran increases by 47

Meanwhile, in Iran, the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak increased by 47 in the past 24 hours to 6,203, Kianush Jahanpur, hspokesman for the ministry of health, he said on state television Sunday.

Iran, one of the Middle East countries most affected by the outbreak, has a total of 97,424 cases, he said.

14:00 GMT – Pompeo Says ‘Huge Evidence’ COVID-19 Came From Wuhan Laboratory

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday there was “enormous evidence” that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China.

“There is tremendous evidence that this is where it started,” he said on ABC’s “This Week.”

12:55 GMT – Latest figures from the Netherlands

According to health authorities, the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands increased by 335 to 40,471.

The National Institute of Public Health reported 69 new deaths, bringing the total deaths from COVID-19 to 5,056. Authorities believe the actual number of infections is likely higher because not all suspected COVID-19 patients are being examined.

12:43 GMT – Vienna airport to offer tests to avoid quarantine

On-site tests for coronavirus will be available Monday at the Austrian capital Vienna airport in a move aimed at allowing incoming passengers to avoid having to remain in quarantine for 14 days.

Until now, passengers arriving at the airport must present a health certificate that shows a negative COVID-19 result that is not earlier than four days or that they are quarantined.

The test at the airport would cost 190 euros ($ 209) and the results would be ready in two or three hours.

12:20 GMT – New York Governor Cuomo thanks Qatar for its help

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo thanked Qatar for helping to send critical supplies and aid to the most affected state in the United States.

“Thank you to the government and people of Qatar on behalf of the people of New York. We are grateful for your help in helping to send critical supplies and for donating aid,” he wrote on Twitter.

Thank you to the government and people of Qatar on behalf of the people of New York. We are grateful for your help in helping to send critical supplies and for donating aid.

– Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) May 3, 2020

11:35 GMT – First case in Vietnam after 9 days

Vietnam reported its first new coronavirus infection in nine days, a British oil expert who was quarantined upon arrival, the health ministry said.

The Southeast Asian country has recorded a total of 271 coronavirus cases and has reported no deaths.

More than 30,500 people have been quarantined and 261,000 tests have been carried out.

10:56 GMT – Palestinian stock exchange resumes

After 40 days of inactivity, the Palestinian stock exchange resumed operations as authorities began to ease restrictions on a total blockade.

Ahmad Aweidah, chief executive of the Palestine Exchange, said investors could operate remotely, according to the health guidelines.

Forty-eight companies are publicly traded and the market has a total market capitalization of approximately $ 3.8 billion.

10:47 GMT – Despite growing cases, Armenia reopens bars and shops

Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan said that shops, restaurants and bars will resume their activities, despite the number of confirmed infections continuing to rise.

The move comes as the government is trying to cushion the pandemic’s impact on its economy, which is expected to decrease by 2 percent this year.

To date, Armenia has reported 2,386 coronavirus cases and 35 deaths, and the number of infections has increased from an average of 50 per day in mid-April to more than 100 in recent days, including 134 reported on Wednesday.

10:35 GMT – Flights are expected to resume this year: Wizz Air

The Abu Dhabi-based Wizz Air joint venture is expected to start flying again this year, the low-cost Hungarian airline said in a statement.

The airline will also begin flights from European cities to Abu Dhabi starting in June, which it said would complement the launch of the joint venture.

10:20 GMT – The virus may spread faster than expected in Afghanistan: Ministry of Health

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health said 500 randomized tests of coronavirus in Kabul revealed more than 150 positive results, raising concerns that COVID-19 is spreading faster than originally thought.

Ministry spokesman Wahid Mayar called the capital’s results “troubling” and said people must stay home to stop the spread.

Afghanistan has so far taken about 12,000 samples, of which more than 2,700 have been positive and 85 people have died.

Kabul and most of the other cities are locked up.

09:24 GMT – Some Israeli students return to school after almost two months.

First, second and third grade in Israel and illegal settlements built in the occupied West Bank He returned to schools for the first time since they were closed 50 days ago to curb the spread of the pandemic.

Students in the last two grades of high school also returned to classes, allowing them to prepare for final exams, according to a government statement.

After introducing radical restrictions in mid-March, Israel in recent days has been gradually relaxing its blockade.

As of Sunday, Israel has recorded 16,194 infections and 230 deaths.

08:44 GMT – Malaysia, Indonesia report new cases

Malaysian health authorities reported 122 additional coronavirus infections, bringing the country’s total to 6,298 infections. The death toll rose to 105 due to two new deaths in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, Health Ministry official Achmad Yurianto reported 349 new cases, bringing the total number of infections to 11,192.

Yurianto said 14 new coronavirus-related deaths were confirmed, bringing the total to 845.

08:15 GMT – Iran to reopen some mosques as closure eases: Rouhani

Mosques in 132 Iranian counties will reopen on Monday after being closed since early March, President Hassan Rouhani said during a televised meeting of the coronavirus task force.

Maintaining “social distancing is more important than collective prayer,” he added, arguing that Islam considers security to be mandatory while praying in mosques.

Iran, one of the Middle East countries most affected by the pandemic with 6,156 deaths amid 96,448 cases, will divide into white, yellow and red regions based on the number of infections and deaths, Rouhani said last week.

07:40 GMT – Last count in Singapore, Russia

Singapore’s Ministry of Health confirmed 657 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, bringing the city-state total to 18,205. Most of the new cases are among migrant workers living in dormitories, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Russia reported 10,633 cases in the past 24 hours, an increase compared to 9,623 new cases reported the previous day.

07:15 GMT – Reopening of more shopping centers and restaurants in the UAE

Three Abu Dhabi shopping malls reopened to 30 percent of customer capacity after taking security measures, including installing thermal inspection devices, as the United Arab Emirates continued to relax blocking measures imposed more than a month ago .

Malls, restaurants and cafes in Dubai, the UAE’s business and tourism hub, had resumed operations with limited capacity. Buyers should wear face masks and gloves and stay away from others.

06:50 GMT – India records highest daily increase

India has reported 2,644 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, its highest daily number to date, totaling more than 39,000 confirmed infections. The country also reported 83 additional deaths for a total of total 1,301.

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force conducted air flights and flower petals at hospitals in different cities, including the national capital of New Delhi, as part of the armed forces’ efforts to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of the police who have been at the forefront of the country’s battle. against the pandemic.

06:35 GMT – S Korea to further facilitate physical distancing rules

South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said the country will further relax the rules for physical distancing starting May 6.

The government “will allow businesses to resume at phased facilities that have been closed so far, and will also allow meetings and events to take place assuming they follow disinfection guidelines,” he said at a televised meeting of government officials.

06:10 GMT – Philippines temporarily bans inbound flights

Inbound passenger flights are prohibited from entering the Philippines for a week to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

“This decision is intended to decongest our quarantine facilities to protect our people by preventing the spread of COVID-19 and also to ensure that our Filipino workers abroad are well cared for when they arrive from abroad,” officials said in a statement.

Some 20,000 repatriated Filipinos are undergoing mandatory quarantine in the capital Manila, authorities said. The entrance to the country is closed to all, except for the repatriated Filipinos.

As of Sunday, the country has reported 9,223 infections and 607 deaths.

05:30 GMT – Thailand reports the fewest number of cases as some restrictions ease

By dialing its lowest number since early March, Thailand reported three new cases of coronavirus and there were no new deaths as it began easing restrictions on some businesses and aspects of life.

The country allowed the reopening of companies such as restaurants, beauty salons and open-air markets, provided that physical distance was maintained and temperature controls were carried out.

So far, there have been a total of 2,966 infections and 54 deaths.

04:51 GMT – World ‘needs a robust airline system for COVID-19 recovery’

Geoffrey Thomas, editor-in-chief of Airline Ratings, has said that more needs to be done to help airlines recover.

“All over the world, we all have to compromise. This is all costing us money. At the same time, whether we are supporting our local airline or our favorite local restaurant with takeaways, everyone needs help, and the airlines don’t. They are different. Because airlines are losing half of their revenue by 2020, and some of the bailouts are absolutely massive, “he told Al Jazeera.

“In certain jurisdictions, it has been enough. For example, in the Middle East, some of the countries have increased significantly, such as Qatar. In other jurisdictions, they have not. In Australia, the federal government has not supported its two airlines. So leaving COVID-19, you will get some airlines that are very well cared for and others that are not. “

He added: “Much more needs to be done because aviation is the fabric of the world economy and we need a robust airline system to help with this recovery … We certainly want to preserve as many of these airlines as possible. competitive we want after COVID-19 “.

03:56 GMT – UK made a contingency plan for Johnson’s death while fighting COVID-19

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, said the British government made contingency plans for his death as his condition deteriorated while battling COVID-19 last month in intensive care.

In an interview with The Sun newspaper on Sunday, Johnson said he was given “gallons and gallons of oxygen” to keep him alive.

“They had a strategy to deal with a ‘Stalin death’ type scenario,” Johnson told The Sun. “It was a difficult time, I will not deny it.”

03:05 GMT – Roche gets approval from the US FDA. USA For antibody test

Roche Holding AG said it has received emergency use approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an antibody test to help determine if people have ever been infected with the coronavirus.

The Swiss drug maker said its antibody test, Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2, has a specificity of over 99.8 percent and may help assess patients’ immune response to the new coronavirus, officially known as SARS-Cov. -2.

02:36 GMT – South Korea reports 13 new cases

South Korean health authorities reported 13 new cases of coronavirus, of which 10 were imported.

The country reported fewer than 15 cases for more than two weeks, and authorities say they plan to loosen social distancing rules this week. Details of the so-called “quarantine of everyday life” are expected later today, according to the official Yonhap news agency.

02:17 GMT – Rise in virus cases in crowded Indian jails raises concerns

The spread of the coronavirus in India’s notoriously overcrowded prisons prompted authorities to impose jail closings and release thousands of detainees in pretrial detention, as health experts fear that the small facility is serving as a breeding ground for the disease.

“It is a terrifying situation. If action is not taken soon, things can become extremely difficult,” Madhurima Dhanuka, director of the Prison Reform Program for the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, told the Associated Press news agency.

Although there are no official figures on how many inmates have been infected with the virus, correction facilities in India are slowly registering more infections and have temporarily banned visits.

On Thursday, authorities locked up Nagpur Central Prison on the coast of Maharashtra, one of the Indian states most affected by the pandemic. It was the eighth prison in Maharashtra locked up. The move came after 19 inmates at Indore Central Prison in central Madhya Pradesh state tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.

Indian prisons are heavily overcrowded. According to the latest data from the National Crime Records Office in 2018, India has some 450,000 prisoners, surpassing the country’s official prison capacity by approximately 17 percent.

Prisons in New Delhi and the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh have the highest occupancy rates, with more than 50 percent capacity.

To make matters worse, “the health facilities in prisons are not up to par,” said Dhanuka.

02:06 GMT – China reports two new cases of coronavirus

China reported two new coronavirus cases for May 2, compared with one the day before, according to data from the National Health Commission.

One case was imported and the other is local. This compares to an imported case with no national broadcasts on May 1. The NHC also reported 12 asymptomatic cases for May 2, compared to 20 the previous day.

The number of confirmed cases in China has reached 82,877. With no new deaths reported, the number of deaths remains 4,633.

01:46 GMT – Hundreds in the US state of Oregon. USA They protest against the order to stay home

Hundreds of people opposed the Oregon stay-at-home order demonstrated in the city of Salem when health officials announced five additional deaths from COVID-19, respiratory disease caused by coronavirus.

Most of the protesters did not wear face masks, but waved American flags and Trump campaign posters in the rain. Other signs read: “Reopen Oregon” and “Let me make a living.”

A group of health workers demonstrated at the top of the Capitol steps, urging a phased plan to ease the state’s social distancing requirements. Most of the other protesters ignored them.

01:04 GMT – Pelosi and McConnell reject coronavirus tests for the US Congress. USA

Top Republicans and Democrats in Congress said they respectfully reject an offer of COVID-19 rapid tests offered by the Trump administration.

Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, usually fierce political rivals, say Congress is “grateful” for the offer, but “wants to continue to direct resources to front-line facilities where they can do the most good. ” quickly”.

The 100 United States senators, many of whom are elderly, will return to Washington, DC on Monday after a prolonged recess due to the pandemic.

00:54 GMT – Yemen’s Houthi rebels call for more test kits

Taha al-Mutawakel, the Houthi minister of public health, urged the United Nations to increase the number of test kits for COVID-19.

“We are sending this appeal given the global situation of the coronavirus, the ongoing assault against our country, the embargo on our country and because the amount of PCR tests that the World Health Organization has sent us is very small and is about to exhaust, “he told reporters in Sanaa on Saturday.

00:26 GMT – The UN calls to investigate the riots in Venezuela’s prisons that left 46 dead

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for an investigation into a riot at a prison in western Venezuela that left 46 people dead and 75 wounded.

OHCHR said on Twitter that it is “seriously concerned” about the incident on Friday at the Los Llanos penitentiary in the state of Portuguesa. Prisons in the South American country are infamous for their extreme levels of violence and poor conditions.

“We urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, address overcrowding and guarantee basic rights,” the office said.

The riots came shortly after prison officials banned inmates’ families from bringing them food, a measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus within prisons.

00:12 GMT – Guards released after prison riots in Manaus, Brazil

Prison authorities in Brazil said 10 guards and five inmates suffered non-critical injuries after an uprising in a prison in Manaus, a state capital in the Amazon jungle.

The prisoners held seven guards hostage for more than five hours, but the situation was brought under control, according to the state’s public security secretary.

Relatives of the inmates said that prisoners in the Puraquequara prison were protesting against the suspension of all family visits and the poor conditions in the confinement amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continued coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. I am Zaheena Rasheed in Male, Maldives with all the latest updates.

You can find all the key developments from yesterday, March 2, here.