Death toll from coronavirus in France approaches 14,400: live updates | News

France has reported a drop in coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, with the total number of victims of the coronavirus epidemic in the country now 14,393.

There were 315 hospital deaths in the last day, compared to 345 the previous day.

Plus:

The Italian Civil Protection Agency has reported the lowest number of deaths from coronavirus since March 19, with 431 deaths recorded in the last 24 hours, compared to 619 the previous day.

In Spain, the death toll increased by 619 on Sunday from a nearly three-week low of 510 on Saturday, breaking a three-day streak of daily falls and bringing the country’s death toll to 16,972.

Globally, more than 109,000 people have died from the new coronavirus, and confirmed infections exceeded 1.7 million.

Here are all the latest updates:

Sunday, April 12

20:40 GMT – OPEC + approves historic oil deal amid coronavirus pandemic

OPEC, Russia and other oil-producing nations agreed on Sunday to cut production by a record amount, accounting for about 10 percent of world supply, to support oil prices amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The group, known as OPEC +, agreed to reduce production by 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) for May-June, after four days of marathon talks and after pressure from United States President Donald Trump to stop the decline in prices.

Read more here.

20:30 GMT – Could the coronavirus-induced recession be more deadly than the disease?

How deadly could a coronavirus-induced recession be? A recent study suggests that the current economic slowdown that is shaking the world may end up killing more people than the virus itself. But some economists say that the recession could actually increase overall life expectancy. In the end, how it affects you could be reduced to the role you play in the global economy.

United States President Donald Trump has taken advantage of the likely fatality of a recession to argue that the United States economy should reopen as soon as possible.

“You have suicides for things like this when you have terrible economies,” Trump said at a press conference on March 24. “You are dead. Probably, and I mean definitely, it would be in much greater numbers than the numbers we are talking about regarding the virus.”

Read more here.

20:00 GMT – What is behind the shortage of coronavirus protection equipment?

Masks cost less than a dollar, but they are so rare that they are removed during the coronavirus pandemic.

But this is not happening in the developing world. It is taking place in some of the wealthiest countries facing medical equipment shortages.

France is reported to have seized masks intended to be shipped to Spain and Italy. The United States is accused of diverting equipment destined for the German police.

The American health system needs about 3.5 billion masks to combat this outbreak. But there are not enough. So how is it hindering the fight against the pandemic?

19:00 GMT – Turkey’s interior minister resigns

Turkey’s Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has resigned over a much-criticized last-minute curfew in major Turkish cities to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

“May my country, which I never wanted to hurt, and our President, to whom I will be faithful all my life, forgive me,” Soylu said in a statement.

18:30 GMT – Jordan extends lockdown by one month

Jordan extended a month-long closure to the end of April that has seen the closure of schools, universities and government agencies.

Government spokesman Amjad Adailah said Prime Minister Omar Razzaz made the decision in light of “developments and recommendations” related to the pandemic.

The country had declared a curfew across the country on March 20 as part of measures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

18:00 GMT – Somali Minister of State dies of coronavirus

Somalia’s autonomous state justice minister Hirshabelle Khalif Mumin Tohow died after contracting the new coronavirus, the second recorded death in the country.

Tohow died Sunday at Mogadishu Martini Hospital the day after he tested positive for COVID-19 in Jowhar city, the administrative capital of Hirshabelle.

According to local media, Tohow, who was Somali-British, traveled to the United Kingdom in February before returning to the Horn of Africa nation.

17:35 GMT – Coronavirus cases in South Africa rise to 2,173

South Africa has announced 145 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections to 2,173, according to a statement from the health ministry.

The statement did not specify whether new deaths had been recorded, which were 25 as of Saturday.

17:25 GMT – Libyan hospital treating coronavirus patient attacked

Armed fighters loyal to Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar have attacked medical warehouses belonging to a hospital in the capital Tripoli, which is treating patients with coronavirus, the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) said.

The attack targeted tanks at the Al-Khadra Hospital in al-Swani in the capital Tripoli with Grad missiles, according to a GNA statement.

Last week, the UN condemned the heavy bombing of the hospital in which at least three civilians were wounded, calling it a “clear violation of international law”.

The North African country has so far reported 25 cases of coronavirus and one death.

Read more here.

17:15 GMT – The number of deaths from coronavirus in France increases to 14,393

The number of deaths from coronavirus in France rose to 14,393 from 13,832 a day earlier, the French public health authority said.

Meanwhile, the total number of infections reached 95,403.

17:00 GMT – Coronavirus cases in Turkey reach 56,956, total deaths 1,198

Turkey’s coronavirus cases increased by 4,789 to 56,956 in the past 24 hours, said Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.

The number of deaths reached 1,198 from 1,101 the previous day. So far 3,446 people have recovered, the minister said.

16:45 GMT – Amnesty video shows ‘extreme overcrowding’ in Cambodia prison

Amnesty International has shared a new video it received that it claims shows extreme overcrowding and “inhumane conditions” in a Cambodian prison amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The video, released Friday, shows at least 25 prisoners in a small cell and lying on the floor.

There is hardly any room for them to move, prompting Amnesty to label it as “first-hand evidence of inhumane conditions” in Cambodian prisons.

Read more here.

16:30 GMT – Italy reports lowest number of deaths from coronavirus since March 19

Italy has reported the lowest number of deaths from coronavirus since March 19, with 431 deaths recorded in the last 24 hours, compared to 619 the previous day.

According to the Civil Protection Agency, the death toll since the start of the outbreak is 19,899, the second highest after that of the United States.

The total number of infections reached 156,363, of which 34,211 have been recovered.

16:15 GMT – The number of deaths from coronavirus in Canada reaches 674, the total number of cases 23,719

The number of deaths from coronavirus in Canada increased from 74 to 674 in one day, according to official data released by the public health agency on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus infections reached 23,719.

16:00 GMT – Sri Lanka makes cremations mandatory for coronavirus deaths

Sri Lanka made cremations mandatory for coronavirus victims, ignoring protests by the country’s Muslim population that the rule runs contrary to Islamic tradition.

Three Muslims are among the seven people who have so far died from infectious disease in the country. Their bodies were cremated by the authorities despite protests from their relatives.

“The body of a person who died or is suspected of dying, of … COVID-19 will be cremated,” Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said Sunday. The decision has also been criticized by rights groups.

Read more here.

14:50 GMT – Etihad Airways will operate special flights to Europe, Japan

Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi will operate special flights to Brussels, Dublin, London, Tokyo and Zurich between April 14-22.

The announcement came after the UAE government said it would allow a limited number of outbound-only flights for those wishing to leave the country. after suspending regular service last month.

14:30 GMT – UK death toll from coronavirus exceeds 10,000

The death toll from the coronavirus in the UK has exceeded the 10,000 mark after 737 overnight deaths were recorded.

The figure now stands at 10,612.

With the number of virus victims in Italy and Spain on a downward slope, there is growing fear that the UK will end up being the country with the most virus deaths in Europe.

14:00 GMT – May 1 deadline to relax restrictions on home stay

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn said the Trump administration was considering May 1 as a target date to begin easing restrictions on staying home.

“We see light at the end of the tunnel,” he told ABC “This Week.”

Hahn, hHowever, he cautioned that there were many factors to consider in finally determining when it would be safe to lift the restrictions, he said.

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Hello this is Ramy Allahoum in Doha taking over from my colleague Joseph Stepansky.

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12:40 GMT – UK PM Johnson released from hospital

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been released from a London hospital while continuing his recovery from COVID-19, his office said.

“Following the advice of his medical team, the Prime Minister will not immediately return to work. He wishes to thank everyone at St Thomas’ for the brilliant attention he has received,” said a spokesman.

Read the full story here.

12:30 GMT – Where is the world regarding a coronavirus vaccine?

Scientists around the world compete against time to develop a vaccine against the new coronavirus that has killed more than 100,000 people and infected more than 1.7 million worldwide.

In some of the worst-affected countries, such as China and Italy, infections and deaths have stabilized in recent days, but experts warn that the risk of a new wave of outbreaks is imminent without a vaccine.

Read more about the current situation in the search for a coronavirus vaccine here.

12:15 GMT – Dutch infections exceed 25,000, deaths rise to 2,737 deaths

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Netherlands has exceeded 25,000, health authorities said Sunday, with the number of deaths increasing from 94 to 2,737.

The Netherlands National Institute of Health (RIVM) has reported 1,188 new infections in the last 24 hours, for a total of 25,587.

The rate of increase in infections and deaths has slowed for several days, helped by measures of social distancing.

11:45 GMT – Riot highlights coronavirus risk in Indonesian prisons

Mutiny in a prison in Indonesia north Sulawesi province, where at least one guard exhibits symptoms similar to COVID-19, has highlighted the risk posed by the coronavirus in the 524 overcrowded prisons of the Southeast Asian nation.

On Saturday afternoon, inmates at Tuminting Prison in Manado City rioted and set buildings on fire. Hundreds of police and soldiers later stormed the jail with live shots and at least one inmate shot in the chest, according to a source at the facility and various local media reports.

Read more here.

11:20 GMT – ‘We are social animals’: Hong Kong residents ignore virus rules

People in Hong Kong crowded beaches, ferries and outlying islands on Sunday, many of them violating the ban on gatherings of more than four people aimed at containing the spread of the new coronavirus.

The clear blue sky drew people to popular areas across the territory during the long Easter weekend and many of them did not have surgical masks. People in the city of 7.4 million people have used masks in recent months.

“We always stay home and it’s pretty boring,” said Banny Mak, a 24-year-old local resident. “We are social animals, we need to go out for fun. I think with adequate protection (for ourselves) and to protect other people. I think it is okay to go out.”

Hong Kong has recorded 1,005 cases of COVID-19, which has killed four people in the city.

11:00 GMT – Sporting de Portugal will reduce players’ salaries by 40 percent

Sporting players will have their wages cut by 40 percent over three months as the club tries to mitigate financial losses from the suspension of games during the coronavirus outbreak, Portuguese news agency Lusa reported.

Lusa also reported that Sporting’s board of directors will have a 50 percent pay cut.

With the pandemic closing global sport on an unprecedented scale, Sporting is the first of Portugal’s top three soccer clubs to announce the cuts. FIFA has urged clubs around the world to consider cutting wages to protect their finances.

10:45 GMT – “Life will prevail,” says the Archbishop of Jerusalem on Easter Sunday

With Jerusalem under lockdown for a coronavirus, Easter Sunday was marked at the traditional site of Jesus’ death and resurrection by only a handful of Christian clerics.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, normally crowded with pilgrims, was closed to the public last month due to COVID-19, amid similar restrictions affecting holy sites for Jews and Muslims.

After walking through a deserted old city bathed in morning sunlight, a purple-robed archbishop, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Vatican apostolic administrator in the Holy Land, spoke briefly outside the church:

“Easter is a time for life. Despite the sign of death that we are seeing everywhere, life will prevail, as long as someone gives life for love of others. Happy Easter,” he said, before entering the old sandstone building.

10:30 GMT – The Pope gives an Easter prayer for the infected

Pope Francis offered a prayer on Easter Sunday for those killed and suffering from the new coronavirus that has killed more than 100,000 people worldwide.

“Today my thoughts are directed first of all to the many who have been directly affected by the coronavirus: the sick, those who have died, and the relatives who mourn the loss of their loved ones, who, in some cases, could not even to say goodbye definitively, “said the Pope in a message broadcast live from an empty St. Peter’s Basilica.

10:00 GMT – The death toll in Iran increases by 117 to 4,474

Iran’s death toll from COVID-19 rose by 117 in the last day to 4,474, said health ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur.

The Islamic Republic has recorded 71,686 cases of the new coronavirus that causes the disease, Jahanpur said.

Iran has been the country most affected by the pandemic in the Middle East.

09:45 GMT – The number of daily deaths in Spain increases after days of decline, totaling 16,972

Spain’s number of daily deaths from the coronavirus increased by 619 on Sunday from a nearly three-week low of 510 on Saturday, the health ministry said, snapping a streak of three-day daily declines.

The total death toll from the virus in the country rose to 16,972 from 16,353, the ministry said in a statement. The total number of cases increased to 166,019 from 161,852.

09:25 GMT – Malaysia reports 153 new cases with 3 new deaths

The Malaysian health ministry has reported 153 new confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, bringing the cumulative total to 4,683, the highest in Southeast Asia.

The latest data includes three new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths from the outbreak to 76.

The ministry said 45 percent of all confirmed cases have been recovered.

09:15 GMT – Indonesia reports highest daily jump in cases

Indonesia has reported 399 new cases of coronavirus, its biggest daily jump so far, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 4,241, according to data provided by a health ministry official, Achmad Yurianto.

Yurianto said there were also 46 new coronavirus-related deaths, totaling 373

09:05 GMT – Philippines reports highest number of deaths in a single day

The Philippines has recorded 50 deaths from coronavirus, the highest in a single day, with a total of 297.

In a bulletin, the health ministry said 220 new infections brought the number of virus cases to 4,648. But 40 more patients recovered, for a total of 197 recoveries.

09:00 GMT – China’s Harbin orders 28-day quarantine after surge in imported cases

The city of Harbin, in northeast China, will implement a 28-day quarantine measure for all those arriving from abroad, its government said in a statement published online.

People entering the capital of Heilongjiang province on the Russian border will be held in a quarantine center for 14 days at first, followed by another 14 days at home, he added.

They will also undergo two nucleic acid tests and one antibody test.

The government will also block residential units with confirmed and asymptomatic cases of coronavirus for 14 days, he added.

08:45 GMT – Beijing to reopen some schools after closure

Beijing schools closed by the coronavirus outbreak will reopen to high school students and high school students, state broadcaster CCTV reported, citing a spokesman for the Beijing Municipal Commission on Education.

High school students are due to return to campus on April 27, and seniors in middle schools will return to campus on May 11, spokesman Li Yi said at a news conference, according to the CCTV report.

08:30 GMT – Japan’s prime minister criticized for his muffled tone after a Twitter video in the living room

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe provoked an angry response from some Twitter users after sharing a video of him lounging on a couch with his dog, drinking tea and reading, along with a message telling people to stay at home.

“Who do you think you are?” It became one of the top trends on Twitter, and users said Abe’s message ignored the plight of those struggling to earn a living amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Abe’s video, featuring his pet dog, was a response to popular musician Gen Hoshino, who uploaded a video of himself singing about dancing indoors and invited people to collaborate.

“At a time when people are struggling to survive, to show such a luxurious video … one can’t help but wonder, ‘Who do you think you are?'” Said a Twitter user.

08:15 GMT – The Chinese city of Suifenhe, on the border with Russia, strengthens controls

The northeast city of Suifenhe, on the country’s border with Russia, has said it is strengthening border controls as part of measures to prevent imported cases.

The city will also step up traffic controls and apply strict quarantine measures, city officials said in a statement. It has also banned all kinds of meetings and has drawn up a list of businesses to be suspended from operations.

07:55 GMT – ‘I owe you my life’: British Prime Minister Johnson praises doctors

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he owes his life to the staff of the British National Health Service in his first comments since leaving intensive care for the treatment of COVID-19.

Johnson, 55, was taken to St Thomas’s Hospital in central London a week ago, suffering from persistent symptoms of the disease caused by the new coronavirus. On April 6, he was transferred to intensive care, where he remained until April 9.

“I can’t thank you enough. I owe you my life,” Johnson said of the hospital staff, which is just across the River Thames from the Houses of Parliament. The comments were released to journalists and confirmed by their office on Sunday.

Johnson stood up again on Friday, taking short walks between rest periods, in what his office described as the initial stage of recovery. In its most recent official update on Johnson’s condition, Downing Street said it “continues to progress very well.”

07:45 GMT – Russia’s cases rise by more than 2,000 in biggest daily increase

Russia has reported 2,186 new cases of coronavirus, the largest daily increase since the start of the outbreak, bringing the national count of confirmed cases to 15,770.

The number of coronavirus-related deaths increased from 24 to 130, said the Russian coronavirus crisis response center.

07:20 GMT – Egypt postpones sale of stake in Banco del Caire: president

Egypt has postponed its plans to sell a minority stake in state-owned Banque du Caire in an initial public offering (IPO) starting in mid-April due to the spread of the coronavirus, a local newspaper told the bank president on Sunday. .

President Tarek Fayed had told Reuters news agency in March that the plan was still to sell the stake, worth about $ 500 million, as long as investors’ interests remained in the face of the virus.

“Plans to offer the bank a stake in the Egypt Stock Exchange are currently being delayed due to the spread of the new coronavirus globally and locally, and the impact on local and global stock markets,” Fayed told the private newspaper. Almasry Alyoum in an interview published on Sunday.

He did not provide further details. The sale would be Egypt’s largest sale of state assets since 2006.

06:30 GMT – Britain promises help to avoid second wave

Gran Bretaña dice que está prometiendo $ 248 millones a la OMS y organizaciones benéficas para ayudar a frenar la propagación del coronavirus en países vulnerables y ayudar a prevenir una segunda ola de infecciones.

“Si bien nuestros brillantes médicos y enfermeras luchan contra el coronavirus en casa, estamos desplegando la experiencia y los fondos británicos en todo el mundo para evitar que una segunda ola mortal llegue al Reino Unido”, dijo en un comunicado la miembro del Parlamento Anne-Marie Trevelyan. “El coronavirus no respeta las fronteras de los países, por lo que nuestra capacidad para proteger al público británico solo será efectiva si fortalecemos también los sistemas de atención médica de los países en desarrollo vulnerables”.

El gobierno británico dijo que 130 millones de libras (162 millones de dólares) irían a las agencias de las Naciones Unidas, con 65 millones (81 millones de dólares) para la OMS. Otros 50 millones de libras ($ 62 millones) irían a la Cruz Roja para ayudar a las zonas devastadas por la guerra y difíciles de alcanzar, y 20 millones de libras ($ 25 millones) a otras organizaciones y organizaciones benéficas.

El efectivo ayudaría a áreas con sistemas de salud débiles, como Yemen, devastado por la guerra, que informó su primer caso el viernes, y Bangladesh, que alberga a 850,000 refugiados rohingya en campamentos llenos de gente, dijo.

05:40 GMT – Indonesia ordena frenos de transporte antes del éxodo del Ramadán

Indonesia ha impuesto restricciones al transporte público antes del éxodo anual a las aldeas de origen que marca el final del mes de ayuno musulmán del Ramadán, en un intento por frenar la propagación del coronavirus, dijo el gobierno.

Alrededor de 75 millones de indonesios generalmente llegan a sus hogares desde las ciudades más grandes al final del Ramadán, debido a este año a fines de mayo, pero los expertos en salud advirtieron contra un aumento en los casos después de que una respuesta lenta del gobierno enmascarara la magnitud del brote.

Los autobuses públicos, trenes, aviones y barcos podrán ocupar solo la mitad de sus asientos de pasajeros, bajo una nueva regulación que también limita la ocupación de un automóvil privado a solo la mitad de los asientos, mientras que una motocicleta puede ser conducida solo por una persona.

“La esencia de esta nueva regulación es llevar a cabo el control del transporte público … sin dejar de satisfacer las necesidades de la gente”, dijo la portavoz del ministerio de transporte, Adita Irawati, en un comunicado publicado en el sitio web de la secretaría del gabinete.

05:35 GMT – Tailandia reporta 33 nuevos casos, tres nuevas muertes

Tailandia informó el domingo 33 nuevas infecciones por coronavirus, para un total de 2,551 casos, así como tres muertes más, lo que elevó el número de personas en el sudeste asiático a 38.

Dos hombres tailandeses de 74 y 44 años, y una mujer de 65 años murieron, dijo Taweesin Wisanuyothin, portavoz del Centro de Administración de Situaciones COVID-19 del gobierno.

Más:

05:30 GMT – Guangzhou, China, dice que impone restricciones a los ciudadanos y extranjeros por igual

La ciudad de Guangzhou, en el sur de China, trata a los extranjeros y a los ciudadanos chinos por igual al aplicar medidas para contener el coronavirus, dijeron funcionarios del gobierno local, a medida que la ciudad intensifica el escrutinio de los extranjeros.

Las restricciones antivirus se aplican a todos los ciudadanos y extranjeros chinos, sin discriminación en la aplicación, dijo en conferencia de prensa Cai Wei, un funcionario de la oficina de seguridad pública de la ciudad.

Varios países africanos han exigido que China aborde sus preocupaciones de que los africanos en Guangzhou sean maltratados y hostigados en medio de temores de que el virus pueda extenderse a partir de casos importados.

La semana pasada, el consulado estadounidense de la ciudad dijo que los funcionarios del gobierno local estaban ordenando bares y restaurantes para no atender a clientes que parecían ser de origen africano. Anyone with “African” contacts faced mandatory virus tests followed by quarantine, regardless of recent travel history or previous isolation, it said in a statement, advising African-Americans or those who feared being targeted to stay away.

05:20 GMT – Guatemala registers 16 new cases, infections rise to 153

Guatemala has reported 16 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the Central American nation’s total to 153 cases, President Alejandro Giammattei said.

Three people have died from coronavirus infections in Guatemala so far, officials say

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Hello, this is Joseph Stepansky in Doha taking over from my colleague Zaheena Rasheed .

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05:12 GMT – UN envoys urge greater action on Middle East ceasefire call

The five United Nations envoys in the Middle East are urging all warring parties in the region to end hostilities and turn their focus to “the true fight of our lives” – tackling the threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The envoys for Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict stress that solidarity is required to face the challenge of COVID-19. But this cannot happen “if the guns of war and conflict are not silenced,” they say.

04:02 GMT – Passengers on virus-hit Antarctic cruise ship return to Australia

More than 100 Australians and New Zealanders stranded on board a virus-hit cruise ship off Uruguay has landed in Melbourne, according to Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.

Those on board the chartered flight to Melbourne includes people who tested negative and others confirmed ill with the virus. Passengers exhibiting symptoms are being taken to hospitals in Melbourne, while the rest will be taken to a hotel to begin a 14-day quarantine period, officials say.

Some 128 of the 217 passengers on board the Greg Mortimer have tested positive for the coronavirus. The tourists were on an expedition to Antarctica.

The flight carrying 112 🇦🇺&🇳🇿passengers from the Greg Mortimer cruise ship landed safely in Melbourne this morning. Thanks to all involved, a very complex undertaking. #we‘reallinthistogether @dfat @EmbAustraliaBA @polar_experts @VicGovAu

— Marise Payne (@MarisePayne) April 11, 2020

03:27 GMT – Myanmar extends ban on international flights

The Ministry of Health and Sports is extending a ban on international flights into the country as part of its efforts to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.

The initial ban was due to expire on April 13, but is now being extended until April 30, according to a government statement.

03:18 GMT – Japan’s Abe sets stay home example in Twitter video

Japan’s prime minister is urging the public to stay home with a Twitter video showing images of him sitting at home, cuddling his dog and reading a book.

“I can’t meet my friends and I can’t have a drinking party, but these actions are surely saving many lives,” Shinzo Abe says.

Popular singer Gen Hoshino is also featured in the video on a split screen, performing a song advocating social distancing. It goes: “Let’s survive and dance, each one of us, wherever we are, all of us as one, let’s sing at home.”

友 達 と 会 え な い。 飲 み 会 も で き な い。
た だ, 皆 さ ん の こ う し た 行動 に よ っ て, 多 く の 命 が 確 実 に 救 わ れ て い ま す.そ し て, 今 こ の 瞬間 も, 過 酷 を 極 め る 現場 で 奮 闘 し て 下 さ っ て い る, 医療 従 事 者 の 皆 負担 の の つ な が す。。お 一 人 お 一 人 の ご 協力 に 、 心 よ り 感謝 申 し 上 げ ま す。 pic.twitter.com/VEq1P7EvnL

— 安倍晋三 (@AbeShinzo) April 12, 2020

02:41 GMT – ‘Our job is to buy time’: Italian doctor describes what it’s like to treat virus patients

Maurizio Cecconi, chair of Anasthesia and Intensive Care at the Humanitas Hospital in Milan, describes the strategies doctors are using to treat coronavirus patients in Italy in the absence of therapeutics.

“In Lombardy, it became very clear there was a high percentage of cases that required respiratory support. Up to 10-12 percent required invasive mechanical ventilation,” he tells Al Jazeera.

“Unfortunately, so far, we don’t have specific therapies against this virus. What we do have is good supportive care. So what we try to do in intensive care is … to give our patients in intensive care rest while we do the work of breathing for them.

“We call some of these strategies protective lung strategies because the ventilators we use don’t cure the lung, they give precious time to the lungs to heal. So our job really is to buy time for our patients so that their immune systems can fight the virus.”

02:20 GMT – North Korea calls for stricter anti-virus measures

North Korea is calling for stricter measures to “check the inroads” of the rapidly spreading coronavirus, state media reported, without specifying if there were any reported infections in the country.

The Korean Central News Agency says officials at a meeting presided over by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un adopted a joint resolution “on more thoroughly taking national measures for protecting the life and safety of our people to cope with the worldwide epidemic disease”.

01:36 GMT – China reports 99 new coronavirus cases

China’s National Health Commission is reporting 99 new cases of the coronavirus on the mainland, including 97 involving overseas travellers.

The figure is a jump from a total of 46 new cases reported a day earlier. The infection count in mainland China is now 82,052, while the death toll is 3,339.

01:26 GMT – Do numbers lie? Data and statistics in the age of the coronavirus

Infection rates, death rates – the news is full of statistics about the coronavirus, but how accurate are they?

Watch the latest episode of The Listening Post to find out more about the challenges of quantifying the scale of a new pandemic and how that affects decision-making and risk calculations.

00:55 GMT – IRS deposits first stimulus payments in US taxpayer accounts

The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says the first coronavirus stimulus checks have been deposited in taxpayers’ accounts.

The economic impact payments are part of a $2.2 trillion package passed by the US Congress to help people and businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Most adults will get $1,200 and parents will receive $500 for each qualifying child.

“We know many people are anxious to get their payments; we’ll continue issuing them as fast as we can,” the IRS says in a tweet.

#IRS deposited the first Economic Impact Payments into taxpayers’ bank accounts today. We know many people are anxious to get their payments; we’ll continue issuing them as fast as we can. by #COVIDreliefIRS updates see: https://t.co/hEEWmgHA9V pic.twitter.com/2bSHOTjMAS

— IRS (@IRSnews) April 11, 2020

00:10 GMT – Trump warned ‘early and often’ on coronavirus pandemic

An examination by The New York Times reveals top White House advisers and experts in the US intelligence community warned President Donald Trump early on about the potential for a coronavirus pandemic.

The warnings include a memo by Peter Navarro, Trump’s top trade adviser, in which he said a pandemic could kill as many as 500,000 people in the US and cause trillions of dollars in economic losses.

Alex M Azar II, health and human services secretary, directly warned Trump of the possibility of a pandemic on January 30, the second warning he delivered to the president about the virus in two weeks, according to The Times.

But Trump “was slow to absorb the scale of the virus’s risk,” focusing instead on controlling the message and protecting gains in the economy. The Times also blames internal divisions, lack of planning and the president’s faith in his own instincts for the US’s halting response.

00:00 GMT – Saudi Arabia extends curfew until further notice

King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud is ordering the extension of Saudi Arabia’s coronavirus curfew until “further notice”, reports the state news agency SPA.

The Saudi monarch initially imposed a 21-day curfew on March 23, from 7pm to 6am, to contain the coronavirus, but expanded the controls to 24 hours in the capital, Riyadh, and other big cities last week.

The Ministry of Interior affirms the continuation “of all special precautionary measures that were previously announced in a number of cities, governorates and residential areas, in addition to preventing movement across the 13 regions of the kingdom”.

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Hello, I’m Zaheena Rasheed, in Male, Maldives, with Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. You can find all the updates from yesterday, April 11, here.