Covid-19: South Africa’s ruthlessly efficient fight against virus

 PRETORIA, April 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) —One week into South Africa’s nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and it is tempting – dangerously tempting – to breathe a sigh of relief. After all, look at how much has already been achieved. More than 47,000 people have been tested, and 67 mobile testing…

Covid-19: New York forced to redistribute ventilators to shortage-hit parts of state

Many New Yorkers are already wearing masks NEW YORK, April 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ventilators will be taken from certain New York hospitals and redistributed to the worst-hit parts of the state under an order to be signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo. New York saw its highest single-day increase in deaths,…

Covid-19: Germany accused US of ‘piracy’ over mask ‘confiscation’

President Trump has invoked a Korean War-era law to demand that US firms provide more masks BERLIN/WASHINGTON, April 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US has been accused of redirecting 200,000 Germany-bound masks for its own use, in a move condemned as “modern piracy”. The local government in Berlin said the shipment of…

Covid-19: EU to fly home another 250,000 nationals stranded by coronavirus

People with balloons wait for the arrival of relatives, at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues BRUSSELS, April 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 250,000 European Union citizens are still trying to get home, as the number of people stranded by the coronavirus outbreak…

Pres Putin says Russia ready to cooperate on cutting oil production

MOSCOW, April 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia is ready to cooperate with Saudi Arabia and the United States to cut oil production, President Vladimir Putin said. Putin said Russia was willing to make agreements within the framework of the OPEC+ group and that “we are ready for cooperation with the United…

Covid-19: UN predicts ‘deep recession’ in Latin America

SANTIAGO, April 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Latin America is heading into “a deep recession” in 2020, with an expected drop in the region’s GDP of 1.8 to 4.0 percent due to the coronavirus pandemic, the UN economic commission for the region said. “We are at the beginning of a profound recession.…

Covid-19: ‘Worst yet to come’ for countries in conflict, says UN chief

UNITED NATIONS, April 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres renewed his call for a global ceasefire, urging all parties to conflict to lay down arms and allow war-torn nations to combat the coronavirus pandemic. “The worst is yet to come,” Guterres said, referring to countries beset with fighting like…

Covid-19: US employment plunges in March amid worsening coronavirus damage; 10 millions now jobless

WASHINGTON, April 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — As the US economy craters, crippled by coronavirus shutdowns, businesses jettisoned jobs at an alarming rate last month, government data showed Friday, and the situation will get dramatically worse. US employment plunged by 701,000 in March and the jobless rate surged to 4.4 percent, the…

Covid-19: Italy sees signs of hope despite 766 new virus deaths

ROME, April 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy saw more evidence that it might have made it through the worst of the coronavirus pandemic despite the world-leading death toll growing by 766 to 14,681. In new data from the civil protection service the daily rise of officially registered infections dropped to a…

Covid-19: US sets new global record with 1,480 virus deaths in 24 hours – Johns Hopkins

WASHINGTON, April 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States recorded nearly 1,500 deaths from COVID-19 between Thursday and Friday, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker, the worst 24-hour death toll globally since the pandemic began. With 1,480 deaths counted between 8:30 pm Thursday and the same time Friday, according to…