The fourth phase of nationwide coronavirus lockdown, set to continue till May 31, will allow movement of people during the daytime, and inter-state transport. It will, however, continue to enforce prohibition on all public gatherings, closure of schools, malls and restaurants, and suspension of flight and metro services.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a nine-page guidelines listing the dos and don'ts during the lockdown 4.0. The guidelines came soon after the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) extended the national lockdown beyond Sunday till May-end.

According to the guidelines, people above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, children aged below 10 shall stay at home during the lockdown 4.0.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nationwide-lockdown-extended-till-may-31-to-contain-spread-of-coronavirus-299251">Also read |&nbsp;Nationwide lockdown extended till May 31 to contain spread of coronavirus</a>

The Centre has also allowed the states to delineate the red, green and orange zones themselves -- a key demand of the states during last week's meeting between chief ministers and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The movement of people will remain strictly prohibited across the country from 7 pm to 7 am, except for essential activities," the guidelines said.

All domestic, international air travel of passengers, except domestic air ambulance, will remain prohibited.

Inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses will be allowed with mutual consent of the states involved.

Metro rail services, schools, colleges will remain closed till May end. Hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, malls, swimming pools, gyms will also remain shut even as all social, political, religious functions, and places of worship will be closed till May 31.

Furthermore, all social, political, religious functions, and places of worship to remain shut during extended lockdown till May 3.

All shops, except those in containment zones and malls, will be allowed to open from Monday with staggered timings, and local authorities shall ensure that the rules are followed.

The shops will have to ensure six feet distance among customers; and more than five people should not be allowed at one time.

In order to facilitate the movement of persons, various modes of transport have already been opened up which includes limited train services since May 11.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lockdown-extended-in-tamil-nadu-till-may-31-transport-curbs-eased-in-25-districts-299232">Also read |&nbsp;Lockdown extended in Tamil Nadu till May 31; transport curbs eased in 25 districts</a>

Further, evacuation of foreign nationals from India, return of stranded Indian nationals from abroad, sign-on and sign-off of Indian seafarers, and intra-State and inter-State movement of stranded persons by bus and train, will continue to be allowed.

Under these guidelines, wearing of face covers is compulsory, spitting will be punishable with fine, and social distancing is to be followed by all persons in public places and in transport.

Rules barring not more than 50 persons for marriage and 20 for funeral will continue to remain in force.

The practice of work from home (WFH) should be followed to the extent possible and staggering of work hours should be adopted in respect of all offices and other establishments.

With a view to ensure safety in offices and work places, employers should ensure that Aarogya Setu app is installed by all employees having compatible mobile phones, it said.

State and UT Governments shall continue to strictly enforce the lockdown guidelines and they shall not dilute these guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, in any manner, the home ministry said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/maharashtra-government-extends-lockdown-till-may-31-299180">Also read |&nbsp;Maharashtra government extends lockdown till May 31</a>

The death toll in India due to COVID-19 rose to 2,872 and the number of total positive cases climbed to 90,927 on Sunday morning.

(with inputs from PTI)

The fourth phase of nationwide coronavirus lockdown, set to continue till May 31, will allow movement of people during the daytime, and inter-state transport. It will, however, continue to enforce prohibition on all public gatherings, closure of schools, malls and restaurants, and suspension of flight and metro services.

The fourth phase of nationwide coronavirus lockdown, set to continue till May 31, will allow movement of people during the daytime, and inter-state transport. It will, however, continue to enforce prohibition on all public gatherings, closure of schools, malls and restaurants, and suspension of flight and metro services. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a nine-page guidelines listing the dos and don'ts during the lockdown 4.0. The guidelines came soon after the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) extended the national lockdown beyond Sunday till May-end. According to the guidelines, people above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, children aged below 10 shall stay at home during the lockdown 4.0. Also read | Nationwide lockdown extended till May 31 to contain spread of coronavirus The Centre has also allowed the states to delineate the red, green and orange zones themselves -- a key demand of the states during last week's meeting between chief ministers and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The movement of people will remain strictly prohibited across the country from 7 pm to 7 am, except for essential activities," the guidelines said. All domestic, international air travel of passengers, except domestic air ambulance, will remain prohibited. Inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses will be allowed with mutual consent of the states involved. Metro rail services, schools, colleges will remain closed till May end. Hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, malls, swimming pools, gyms will also remain shut even as all social, political, religious functions, and places of worship will be closed till May 31. Furthermore, all social, political, religious functions, and places of worship to remain shut during extended lockdown till May 3. All shops, except those in containment zones and malls, will be allowed to open from Monday with staggered timings, and local authorities shall ensure that the rules are followed. The shops will have to ensure six feet distance among customers; and more than five people should not be allowed at one time. In order to facilitate the movement of persons, various modes of transport have already been opened up which includes limited train services since May 11. Also read | Lockdown extended in Tamil Nadu till May 31; transport curbs eased in 25 districts Further, evacuation of foreign nationals from India, return of stranded Indian nationals from abroad, sign-on and sign-off of Indian seafarers, and intra-State and inter-State movement of stranded persons by bus and train, will continue to be allowed. Under these guidelines, wearing of face covers is compulsory, spitting will be punishable with fine, and social distancing is to be followed by all persons in public places and in transport. Rules barring not more than 50 persons for marriage and 20 for funeral will continue to remain in force. The practice of work from home (WFH) should be followed to the extent possible and staggering of work hours should be adopted in respect of all offices and other establishments. With a view to ensure safety in offices and work places, employers should ensure that Aarogya Setu app is installed by all employees having compatible mobile phones, it said. State and UT Governments shall continue to strictly enforce the lockdown guidelines and they shall not dilute these guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, in any manner, the home ministry said. Also read | Maharashtra government extends lockdown till May 31 The death toll in India due to COVID-19 rose to 2,872 and the number of total positive cases climbed to 90,927 on Sunday morning. (with inputs from PTI)

Lockdown 4.0: 7 pm-7 am night curfew to continue; red, orange, green zones to be delineated by states

Japan's economy slipped into recession for the first time in 4-1/2 years in the last quarter, putting the nation on course for its deepest postwar slump as the coronavirus crisis ravages businesses and consumers.

Monday's first-quarter GDP data underlined the broadening impact of the outbreak, with exports plunging the most since the devastating March 2011 earthquake as global lockdowns and supply chain disruptions hit shipments of&nbsp;Japanese goods.

Analysts warn of an even bleaker picture for the current quarter as consumption crumbled after the government in April requested citizens to stay home and businesses to close, intensifying the challenge for policymakers battling a once-in-a-century pandemic.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/japan-pm-abe-lifts-state-of-emergency-except-in-some-virus-hit-regions-298682" hreflang="en">Japan PM Abe lifts state of emergency except in some virus-hit regions</a>

"It's near certainty the economy suffered an even deeper decline in the current quarter," said Yuichi Kodama, chief economist at Meiji Yasuda Research Institute. "Japan&nbsp;has entered a full-blown recession."

The world's third-largest economy contracted an annualised 3.4% in the first quarter, preliminary official gross domestic product (GDP) data showed, less than a median market forecast for a 4.6% drop.

The slump came on top of an even steeper 7.3% fall in the October-December period, with the consecutive quarters of contraction meeting the technical definition of a recession.&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;last suffered recession in the second half of 2015.

The coronavirus, which first emerged in China late last year, has ravaged the global economy as many nations went into strict lockdowns to curb the outbreak that has so far killed over 310,000 people worldwide. The pandemic has been massively disruptive on supply chains and businesses, particularly in trade-reliant nations such as&nbsp;Japan.&nbsp;

Indeed, the fallout of the virus on corporate&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;was telling with exports diving 6.0% in the first quarter, the biggest decline since April-June 2011.

"Exports to China began to fall in February, followed by a wave of slumping shipments to Europe and the United States," said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute.

"Exports were also hurt by slumping inbound tourism," which counts as a drop in non-residents' purchases of&nbsp;Japanese services, he said.

Deeper slump, slower recovery

The shakeout in global trade was underlined in recent March data, with exports shrinking the most in nearly four years due to plunging US-bound shipments.

Even the nation's major globe-trotting manufacturers weren't spared the pandemic's sweeping impact.

Toyota Motor Corp has said it will cut domestic vehicle production by 122,000 units in June and expects an 80% drop in full-year operating profit.

The gloom in&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;is expected to deepen over coming months.

Analysts polled by Reuters estimate&nbsp;Japan's economy will shrink an annualised 22.0% in the current quarter, which would be a record decline, with pressure on output intensifying after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in April declared a nationwide state of emergency amid the widening pandemic.

The emergency was lifted for most regions on Thursday, but remained in effect for some big cities including Tokyo.&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;has so far reported 16,337 coronavirus cases and 756 deaths.

Private consumption, which accounts for more than half of&nbsp;Japan's $5 trillion economy, slipped 0.7% in January-March, less than a market forecast for a 1.6% drop, as robust demand for daily necessities partially offset the impact on services spending.

All the same, it marked the second straight quarter of decline, as households endured the double-whammy of the coronavirus and a sales tax hike to 10% from 8% in October last year.

Capital expenditure fell 0.5% in the first quarter after plummeting 4.8% in October-December last year, the GDP data showed, suggesting that uncertainty over the outlook is discouraging companies from boosting spending.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/japanese-experiment-shows-how-quickly-one-person-can-spread-coronavirus-298584" hreflang="en">Japanese experiment shows how quickly one person can spread coronavirus</a>

Taken together, domestic demand knocked 0.7 percentage point off GDP growth, while external demand shed 0.2 point.

All of this has put a strain on the labour market. The jobless rate in March rose to its highest in a year, while job availability slipped to a more than three-year low.

The government has already announced a record $1.1 trillion stimulus package, and the Bank of&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;expanded stimulus for the second straight month in April. Abe has pledged a second supplementary budget later this month to fund fresh spending measures to cushion the economic blow from the outbreak.

Still, many analysts warn that government support will come too little, too late.

"As always in&nbsp;Japan, the implementation is very slow. It will take the later half of the second quarter (and) the third quarter" for government stimulus to kick in, said Martin Schulz, chief economist at Fujitsu.

"The recovery will be slower than many are hoping for ... To recover from this crisis, it will take about two years at least."

Japan's economy slipped into recession for the first time in 4-1/2 years in the last quarter, putting the nation on course for its deepest postwar slump as the coronavirus crisis ravages businesses and consumers.

Japan's economy slipped into recession for the first time in 4-1/2 years in the last quarter, putting the nation on course for its deepest postwar slump as the coronavirus crisis ravages businesses and consumers. Monday's first-quarter GDP data underlined the broadening impact of the outbreak, with exports plunging the most since the devastating March 2011 earthquake as global lockdowns and supply chain disruptions hit shipments of Japanese goods. Analysts warn of an even bleaker picture for the current quarter as consumption crumbled after the government in April requested citizens to stay home and businesses to close, intensifying the challenge for policymakers battling a once-in-a-century pandemic. Also read: Japan PM Abe lifts state of emergency except in some virus-hit regions "It's near certainty the economy suffered an even deeper decline in the current quarter," said Yuichi Kodama, chief economist at Meiji Yasuda Research Institute. "Japan has entered a full-blown recession." The world's third-largest economy contracted an annualised 3.4% in the first quarter, preliminary official gross domestic product (GDP) data showed, less than a median market forecast for a 4.6% drop. The slump came on top of an even steeper 7.3% fall in the October-December period, with the consecutive quarters of contraction meeting the technical definition of a recession. Japan last suffered recession in the second half of 2015. The coronavirus, which first emerged in China late last year, has ravaged the global economy as many nations went into strict lockdowns to curb the outbreak that has so far killed over 310,000 people worldwide. The pandemic has been massively disruptive on supply chains and businesses, particularly in trade-reliant nations such as Japan. Indeed, the fallout of the virus on corporate Japan was telling with exports diving 6.0% in the first quarter, the biggest decline since April-June 2011. "Exports to China began to fall in February, followed by a wave of slumping shipments to Europe and the United States," said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute. "Exports were also hurt by slumping inbound tourism," which counts as a drop in non-residents' purchases of Japanese services, he said. Deeper slump, slower recovery The shakeout in global trade was underlined in recent March data, with exports shrinking the most in nearly four years due to plunging US-bound shipments. Even the nation's major globe-trotting manufacturers weren't spared the pandemic's sweeping impact. Toyota Motor Corp has said it will cut domestic vehicle production by 122,000 units in June and expects an 80% drop in full-year operating profit. The gloom in Japan is expected to deepen over coming months. Analysts polled by Reuters estimate Japan's economy will shrink an annualised 22.0% in the current quarter, which would be a record decline, with pressure on output intensifying after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in April declared a nationwide state of emergency amid the widening pandemic. The emergency was lifted for most regions on Thursday, but remained in effect for some big cities including Tokyo. Japan has so far reported 16,337 coronavirus cases and 756 deaths. Private consumption, which accounts for more than half of Japan's $5 trillion economy, slipped 0.7% in January-March, less than a market forecast for a 1.6% drop, as robust demand for daily necessities partially offset the impact on services spending. All the same, it marked the second straight quarter of decline, as households endured the double-whammy of the coronavirus and a sales tax hike to 10% from 8% in October last year. Capital expenditure fell 0.5% in the first quarter after plummeting 4.8% in October-December last year, the GDP data showed, suggesting that uncertainty over the outlook is discouraging companies from boosting spending. Also read: Japanese experiment shows how quickly one person can spread coronavirus Taken together, domestic demand knocked 0.7 percentage point off GDP growth, while external demand shed 0.2 point. All of this has put a strain on the labour market. The jobless rate in March rose to its highest in a year, while job availability slipped to a more than three-year low. The government has already announced a record $1.1 trillion stimulus package, and the Bank of Japan expanded stimulus for the second straight month in April. Abe has pledged a second supplementary budget later this month to fund fresh spending measures to cushion the economic blow from the outbreak. Still, many analysts warn that government support will come too little, too late. "As always in Japan, the implementation is very slow. It will take the later half of the second quarter (and) the third quarter" for government stimulus to kick in, said Martin Schulz, chief economist at Fujitsu. "The recovery will be slower than many are hoping for ... To recover from this crisis, it will take about two years at least."

Japan braces for worst postwar slump as pandemic tips economy into recession

Restaurants are turning to new delivery methods as quarantine continues with robots filling in some roles to increase distance between people.

Automated delivery drives restaurant changes during pandemic

A Sao Paulo gym instructor has taken to his rooftop to host outdoor workout sessions for neighbours amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Rooftop workouts a hit in virus-stricken Brazil

A Dallas suburb is helping seniors isolated in their homes by the coronavirus pandemic with regular telephone chats. The program being offered by the city of Plano is among those that have popped up across the U.S. during the pandemic to help older adults with a simple offer to engage in small talk.

Phone chats combat senior isolation in Texas city

Dozens of nurses and healthcare workers took a Zumba class on Sunday to boost morale before returning to work to treat COVID-19 patients.

Kenya nurses dance to boost morale amid pandemic

Soaring temperatures sent Israelis to beaches across the country on Sunday (May 17) with many violating the coronavirus restrictions. Some areas in the country and Israeli-occupied West Bank exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in the country's first seasonal heatwave.

People flock to beaches as Israel, West Bank bake in heatwave

Roman Catholics in a town in eastern France were able to attend mass in their cars on Sunday (May 17), in the country's first drive-in religious service since the start of a lockdown eight weeks ago aimed at halting the spread of the Coronavirus.

French Catholics celebrate mass in parking lot

India has backed the Australia-EU draft to be adopted at the World Health Organisation's (WHO) World Health Assembly (WHA) -- which will start on Monday.

India is among the 62 countries backing the draft which calls for "impartial, independent and comprehensive" probe into the coronavirus crisis.

The draft says, "Initiate, at the earliest appropriate moment, and in consultation with Member States, stepwise process of impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation, including using existing mechanisms, as appropriate, to review experience gained and lessons learned from theWHO-coordinated international health response to COVID-19, including (i) the effectiveness of the mechanisms at WHO’s disposal."

The draft resolution is backed by Albania, Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, South Korea, Moldova, Russia, San Marino , Sierra Leone, South Africa, EU, Turkey, Ukraine, UK and Zambia.

The meeting will take place virtually and India's health minister will represent the country. He is expected to address the meet at 3.30 pm IST.&nbsp;

WHO's WHA is the top body of the UN organ and is made up of health ministers.

The meeting this year has assumed significance due to the coronavirus crisis. But Taiwan's participation in the meet is another issue that is getting the limelight.&nbsp;

China, which considers Taiwan as its part, has not allowed it to participate as a country and voting will hence decide whether it should or should not.

While New Delhi is yet to take a position, Taiwan's envoy to India, Chung-Kwang Tien, in an exclusive conversation with WION, said that as a "valued partner", India will "appreciate Taiwan's rights" on participation at the WHA meet which is the "shared aspiration of the people of Taiwan".

"Participating in WHO is the common aspiration of all people of Taiwan. &nbsp;I would like to expresses sincere appreciation for the unprecedented level of support extended to Taiwan’s campaign for participation in the World Health Organization by diplomatic allies and like-minded nations," he added.

India will take over the Chair of the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation after its annual meeting later this month.

India has backed the Australia-EU draft to be adopted at the World Health Organisation's (WHO) World Health Assembly (WHA) -- which will start on Monday. India is among the 62 countries backing the draft which calls for "impartial, independent and comprehensive" probe into the coronavirus crisis.

India has backed the Australia-EU draft to be adopted at the World Health Organisation's (WHO) World Health Assembly (WHA) -- which will start on Monday. India is among the 62 countries backing the draft which calls for "impartial, independent and comprehensive" probe into the coronavirus crisis. The draft says, "Initiate, at the earliest appropriate moment, and in consultation with Member States, stepwise process of impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation, including using existing mechanisms, as appropriate, to review experience gained and lessons learned from theWHO-coordinated international health response to COVID-19, including (i) the effectiveness of the mechanisms at WHO’s disposal." The draft resolution is backed by Albania, Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, South Korea, Moldova, Russia, San Marino , Sierra Leone, South Africa, EU, Turkey, Ukraine, UK and Zambia. The meeting will take place virtually and India's health minister will represent the country. He is expected to address the meet at 3.30 pm IST. WHO's WHA is the top body of the UN organ and is made up of health ministers. The meeting this year has assumed significance due to the coronavirus crisis. But Taiwan's participation in the meet is another issue that is getting the limelight. China, which considers Taiwan as its part, has not allowed it to participate as a country and voting will hence decide whether it should or should not. While New Delhi is yet to take a position, Taiwan's envoy to India, Chung-Kwang Tien, in an exclusive conversation with WION, said that as a "valued partner", India will "appreciate Taiwan's rights" on participation at the WHA meet which is the "shared aspiration of the people of Taiwan". "Participating in WHO is the common aspiration of all people of Taiwan. I would like to expresses sincere appreciation for the unprecedented level of support extended to Taiwan’s campaign for participation in the World Health Organization by diplomatic allies and like-minded nations," he added. India will take over the Chair of the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation after its annual meeting later this month.

India backs Australia-EU draft at WHO's world health meet

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele declared a state of emergency to extend coronavirus measures without a prior approval by the Congress, sparking a controversy, on Saturday.

Congress approved an emergency declaration in March to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, but after an extension in April, the measure was due to expire on Sunday. Lawmakers planned to discuss an extension when they reconvened on Monday.

To this end, Salvadoran lawmakers and prosecutors on Sunday vowed to challenge the decree, which they said had overstepped Bukele's powers.

Bukele's administration, however, maintains that a civil protection law authorises the president to declare a state of emergency if congress cannot hold a session.

They contend that the risk of the coronavirus spreading further in El Salvador justifies the measures.&nbsp;

The emergency declaration, which will remain in force over the next 30 days, extends the suspension of classes, restrictions on movement in areas affected by the pandemic and bans on gatherings of large groups. It also authorises additional government spending during the emergency.

Lawmakers and civil society groups urged an investigation to determine whether Bukele had exceeded his powers.

The country has 1,338 confirmed cases of the virus and 27 deaths.

This is not the first time the brash 38-year-old leader has angered rights groups, who say he has shown authoritarian tendencies. In February, Bukele and a group of soldiers armed with automatic weapons briefly occupied Congress. Last month, he released startling photos of hundreds of jailed gang members stripped to underwear and pressed together in formation, horrifying advocates.

(with inputs)

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele declared a state of emergency to extend coronavirus measures without a prior approval by the Congress, sparking a controversy, on Saturday.

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele declared a state of emergency to extend coronavirus measures without a prior approval by the Congress, sparking a controversy, on Saturday. Congress approved an emergency declaration in March to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, but after an extension in April, the measure was due to expire on Sunday. Lawmakers planned to discuss an extension when they reconvened on Monday. To this end, Salvadoran lawmakers and prosecutors on Sunday vowed to challenge the decree, which they said had overstepped Bukele's powers. Bukele's administration, however, maintains that a civil protection law authorises the president to declare a state of emergency if congress cannot hold a session. They contend that the risk of the coronavirus spreading further in El Salvador justifies the measures. The emergency declaration, which will remain in force over the next 30 days, extends the suspension of classes, restrictions on movement in areas affected by the pandemic and bans on gatherings of large groups. It also authorises additional government spending during the emergency. Lawmakers and civil society groups urged an investigation to determine whether Bukele had exceeded his powers. The country has 1,338 confirmed cases of the virus and 27 deaths. This is not the first time the brash 38-year-old leader has angered rights groups, who say he has shown authoritarian tendencies. In February, Bukele and a group of soldiers armed with automatic weapons briefly occupied Congress. Last month, he released startling photos of hundreds of jailed gang members stripped to underwear and pressed together in formation, horrifying advocates. (with inputs)

Salvadoran president declares emergency without approval from Congress

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a draft resolution which calls for 'impartial, independent and comprehensive' probe into the coronavirus pandemic. India is backing the demand for probe into COVID-19 pandemic.

India backs demand for probe into COVID-19 pandemic

The Chinese leadership allowed its people to travel outside the country despite knowing the risk of the transmission of the coronavirus, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has alleged, saying that President Donald Trump will decide on the future course of action on penalising China.

Pompeo's comments came a day after Trump said that he does not want to talk to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping right now, expressing his displeasure at Beijing's handling of the coronavirus outbreak which has spread across the world, killing over 300,000 people.

The US has expressed disappointment over China's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic which has claimed over 88,000 lives in America. President Trump on Thursday threatened to "cut off the whole relationship" with China. 
Trump has been pressing China to agree for an inquiry into the origin of the virus, including the allegation that it emerged from a lab in Wuhan.

"Those are the kinds of decisions that, as you stare at them, it is unambiguous that they created increased risk, that people were still travelling around the world - why" While the Chinese Communist Party knew of the risk of transmission, it was still allowing people to travel outside of China while they had locked down a major city inside of their own country," Peompeo told Breitbart News Network and satellite radio station SiriusXM Patriot in an interview.

Pompeo said that had China made a "different set of decisions" at the front end, there would have been more time for the entire world- not just the US- but the entire world to prepare and react to the pandemic that has now spread all across the globe. 
"We know that in December at least, maybe earlier, the Chinese Communist Party came to understand the threat that was presented. And then we watched their actions " I've talked about some of them " denying information to the world," Pompeo said.

"We then saw that when the United States made the decision, when President Trump made the decision to close off travel between the United States and China, we saw China squawk at that, saying you shouldn't be doing that. Even though they had locked down Wuhan, they had not locked down travel all across the world," he said.

Evading a question on imposing penalty on China, Pompeo said that Trump would finally decide on the future course of action in this regard.

"I don't want to get out in front of what President Trump will ultimately decide, but I think we all know in this administration that we have to make sure that something like this can never happen again. That means deterrence. That means setting up processes."

"The President's already stopped funding to the WHO so that we can evaluate that and figure out which pieces of the WHO might actually work and which pieces don't, so that we can deliver good outcomes and keep Americans safe and make sure this doesn't happen again," he said.

"Then there'll come a time, there will come a day, when we will evaluate what it is needs to be done to convince the Chinese Communist Party that there are real costs - real costs - connected to this kind of misbehaviour. We see this all the time inside the United States but around the world too. We have to hold nations accountable," Pompeo said.

Pompeo said that he has spoken with many of his counterparts around the world. "We have to hold nations accountable for the things and actions that they undertake which create risk and, in this case, created enormous loss of life here in the US. President Trump is committed to doing that. The precise mechanisms that we will choose, I want to make sure that he gets the chance to get fully briefed and make those decisions," he said.

Responding to a question, the top American diplomat said that the Chinese Communist Party has relentlessly deceived and denied information to the West.

"We have repeatedly asked to have teams go in to assist them in identifying where the virus originated. We know it began in Wuhan, but we don't know from where or from whom, and those are important things. Your listeners need to know we still need to know that so that we can crack the code on this thing," he said.

"One of the key facts for scientists and epidemiologists to build out vaccines and therapeutics and to identify how this was ultimately delivered to the world " you have to know where patient zero began and how patient zero became infected," he noted.

"And yet the Chinese Communist Party, at every turn, has attempted to manage the WHO, to manage the information flow, to punish doctors who wanted to talk about this publicly, to undermine the central understandings of transparency that every country has a responsibility to deliver," he said.

And as a result of that, there are many unanswered questions.

"We, the US,&nbsp;the world has so many unanswered questions that are incredibly important so that we can address this issue going forward to keep American people safe. This isn't political. This isn't aimed at achieving a political victory. It is aimed squarely at getting the right health outcomes and saving lives all across the world," he said.&nbsp;

The Chinese leadership allowed its people to travel outside the country despite knowing the risk of the transmission of the coronavirus, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has alleged, saying that President Donald Trump will decide on the future course of action on penalising China.

The Chinese leadership allowed its people to travel outside the country despite knowing the risk of the transmission of the coronavirus, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has alleged, saying that President Donald Trump will decide on the future course of action on penalising China. Pompeo's comments came a day after Trump said that he does not want to talk to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping right now, expressing his displeasure at Beijing's handling of the coronavirus outbreak which has spread across the world, killing over 300,000 people. The US has expressed disappointment over China's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic which has claimed over 88,000 lives in America. President Trump on Thursday threatened to "cut off the whole relationship" with China. Trump has been pressing China to agree for an inquiry into the origin of the virus, including the allegation that it emerged from a lab in Wuhan. "Those are the kinds of decisions that, as you stare at them, it is unambiguous that they created increased risk, that people were still travelling around the world - why" While the Chinese Communist Party knew of the risk of transmission, it was still allowing people to travel outside of China while they had locked down a major city inside of their own country," Peompeo told Breitbart News Network and satellite radio station SiriusXM Patriot in an interview. Pompeo said that had China made a "different set of decisions" at the front end, there would have been more time for the entire world- not just the US- but the entire world to prepare and react to the pandemic that has now spread all across the globe. "We know that in December at least, maybe earlier, the Chinese Communist Party came to understand the threat that was presented. And then we watched their actions " I've talked about some of them " denying information to the world," Pompeo said. "We then saw that when the United States made the decision, when President Trump made the decision to close off travel between the United States and China, we saw China squawk at that, saying you shouldn't be doing that. Even though they had locked down Wuhan, they had not locked down travel all across the world," he said. Evading a question on imposing penalty on China, Pompeo said that Trump would finally decide on the future course of action in this regard. "I don't want to get out in front of what President Trump will ultimately decide, but I think we all know in this administration that we have to make sure that something like this can never happen again. That means deterrence. That means setting up processes." "The President's already stopped funding to the WHO so that we can evaluate that and figure out which pieces of the WHO might actually work and which pieces don't, so that we can deliver good outcomes and keep Americans safe and make sure this doesn't happen again," he said. "Then there'll come a time, there will come a day, when we will evaluate what it is needs to be done to convince the Chinese Communist Party that there are real costs - real costs - connected to this kind of misbehaviour. We see this all the time inside the United States but around the world too. We have to hold nations accountable," Pompeo said. Pompeo said that he has spoken with many of his counterparts around the world. "We have to hold nations accountable for the things and actions that they undertake which create risk and, in this case, created enormous loss of life here in the US. President Trump is committed to doing that. The precise mechanisms that we will choose, I want to make sure that he gets the chance to get fully briefed and make those decisions," he said. Responding to a question, the top American diplomat said that the Chinese Communist Party has relentlessly deceived and denied information to the West. "We have repeatedly asked to have teams go in to assist them in identifying where the virus originated. We know it began in Wuhan, but we don't know from where or from whom, and those are important things. Your listeners need to know we still need to know that so that we can crack the code on this thing," he said. "One of the key facts for scientists and epidemiologists to build out vaccines and therapeutics and to identify how this was ultimately delivered to the world " you have to know where patient zero began and how patient zero became infected," he noted. "And yet the Chinese Communist Party, at every turn, has attempted to manage the WHO, to manage the information flow, to punish doctors who wanted to talk about this publicly, to undermine the central understandings of transparency that every country has a responsibility to deliver," he said. And as a result of that, there are many unanswered questions. "We, the US, the world has so many unanswered questions that are incredibly important so that we can address this issue going forward to keep American people safe. This isn't political. This isn't aimed at achieving a political victory. It is aimed squarely at getting the right health outcomes and saving lives all across the world," he said.

China allowed people to travel outside despite knowing the risk of COVID-19 transmission: Mike Pompeo

World Health Organisation's World Health Assembly will be held on Monday virtually but China is blocking Taiwan's participation. Watch this video to know more.

Taiwan seeks observer status vote in W.H.A, China oposes

Hours after the Modi government announced extension of the coronavirus lockdown, Indian aviation regulator DGCA said all scheduled commercial passenger flights have been suspended till May 31 midnight.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said "foreign and domestic airlines shall be suitably informed about the opening of their operations whether international to or from India or domestic, respectively, in due course".

All commercial passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 25, when the lockdown was imposed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The regulator on Sunday said the suspension of all domestic and international scheduled commercial passenger flights have been "further extended up to 11.59 PM on May 31".

This restriction would not be applicable to domestic and international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA, it said.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the nodal department, has announced lockdown 4.0 till May 31 to check the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 2,872 and the number of total positive cases climbed to 90,927 Sunday morning, according to the Union health ministry.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lockdown-40-red-orange-green-zones-to-be-decided-by-states-7-pm-7-am-night-curfew-to-continue-299258">Also read |&nbsp;Lockdown 4.0: Red, orange, green zones to be decided by states; 7 pm-7 am night curfew to continue</a>

Hours after the Modi government announced extension of the coronavirus lockdown, Indian aviation regulator DGCA said all scheduled commercial passenger flights have been suspended till May 31 midnight.

Hours after the Modi government announced extension of the coronavirus lockdown, Indian aviation regulator DGCA said all scheduled commercial passenger flights have been suspended till May 31 midnight. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said "foreign and domestic airlines shall be suitably informed about the opening of their operations whether international to or from India or domestic, respectively, in due course". All commercial passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 25, when the lockdown was imposed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The regulator on Sunday said the suspension of all domestic and international scheduled commercial passenger flights have been "further extended up to 11.59 PM on May 31". This restriction would not be applicable to domestic and international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA, it said. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the nodal department, has announced lockdown 4.0 till May 31 to check the spread of the novel coronavirus. The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 2,872 and the number of total positive cases climbed to 90,927 Sunday morning, according to the Union health ministry. Also read | Lockdown 4.0: Red, orange, green zones to be decided by states; 7 pm-7 am night curfew to continue

All scheduled commercial passenger flights suspended till May 31 midnight

Shops, restaurants and hair salons prepared to reopen in Italy on Monday as the government further eased one of the world's strictest coronavirus lockdowns, saying it was taking a "calculated risk" to put the country back on its feet.

The euro zone's third biggest economy is slowly emerging from more than two months of hibernation, with businesses allowed to gradually go back to work as long they can enforce tight sanitary protocols and keep people at least 1 metre apart.

At Milan's upscale Rinascente department store, guards will keep count through an app of how many people are in the store at any one time. Clothes tried on in changing rooms will be quarantined for 24 hours and shop assistants will spill perfumes on paper tissues rather than having customers handle testers. Access to restaurants will be strictly limited, with only family members allowed to sit close to each other.

Rinascente's Chief Executive Pierluigi Cocchini said it was difficult to predict what appetite there would be to shop after weeks of isolation. The store is reopening with markdowns of up to 60% as, like most retailers, it needs to clear unsold stocks.

"The hope is to take a step towards normality. It won't be business as usual given all the protocols, but this is the new normal for now and we have to accept it," he told Reuters.

Tourists, still absent, would normally generate a third of the store's sales.

Italy's fashion industry alone, boasting brands like Armani, Prada and Moncler, accounts for 5% of gross domestic product.

Business association Confcommercio expects consumer spending for clothing, which stood at 60 billion euros ($65 billion) in 2019, to shrink by 20% this year and a quarter of the country's 115,000 fashion retailers to go bust.

"I know that for several sectors of the economy, reopening does not mean recovery," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said late on Saturday as he announced the lifting of the restrictions.

With its economy facing severe recession and public debt expected to spiral to more than 150% of its annual economic output, the government has been desperate to get the country back to work without triggering a second wave of the epidemic.

"We have to restart," said Rosy Riente, which runs the Cafe de l'Ange in the posh Alpine resort of Courmayeur, even though distancing rules mean that she can now sit a maximum of 35 people at any one time in her bar instead of 100.

"So far all we have done is spend money to buy sanitising gels and disinfectants," she said. 
Others prefer to wait until European borders reopen on June 3. Tourism contributes 13% to the country's economic output.

"My shop looks like a hospital, with plexiglass screens at the till, sanitisers, face masks and gloves," said Maurizio Di Rienzo, owner of suitcase shop Pellux in central Milan, whose eight employees have been furloughed.

"90% of my clients are tourists, most of them Chinese. It doesn't make sense for me to reopen just yet."

Shops, restaurants and hair salons prepared to reopen in Italy on Monday as the government further eased one of the world's strictest coronavirus lockdowns, saying it was taking a "calculated risk" to put the country back on its feet.

Shops, restaurants and hair salons prepared to reopen in Italy on Monday as the government further eased one of the world's strictest coronavirus lockdowns, saying it was taking a "calculated risk" to put the country back on its feet. The euro zone's third biggest economy is slowly emerging from more than two months of hibernation, with businesses allowed to gradually go back to work as long they can enforce tight sanitary protocols and keep people at least 1 metre apart. At Milan's upscale Rinascente department store, guards will keep count through an app of how many people are in the store at any one time. Clothes tried on in changing rooms will be quarantined for 24 hours and shop assistants will spill perfumes on paper tissues rather than having customers handle testers. Access to restaurants will be strictly limited, with only family members allowed to sit close to each other. Rinascente's Chief Executive Pierluigi Cocchini said it was difficult to predict what appetite there would be to shop after weeks of isolation. The store is reopening with markdowns of up to 60% as, like most retailers, it needs to clear unsold stocks. "The hope is to take a step towards normality. It won't be business as usual given all the protocols, but this is the new normal for now and we have to accept it," he told Reuters. Tourists, still absent, would normally generate a third of the store's sales. Italy's fashion industry alone, boasting brands like Armani, Prada and Moncler, accounts for 5% of gross domestic product. Business association Confcommercio expects consumer spending for clothing, which stood at 60 billion euros ($65 billion) in 2019, to shrink by 20% this year and a quarter of the country's 115,000 fashion retailers to go bust. "I know that for several sectors of the economy, reopening does not mean recovery," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said late on Saturday as he announced the lifting of the restrictions. With its economy facing severe recession and public debt expected to spiral to more than 150% of its annual economic output, the government has been desperate to get the country back to work without triggering a second wave of the epidemic. "We have to restart," said Rosy Riente, which runs the Cafe de l'Ange in the posh Alpine resort of Courmayeur, even though distancing rules mean that she can now sit a maximum of 35 people at any one time in her bar instead of 100. "So far all we have done is spend money to buy sanitising gels and disinfectants," she said. Others prefer to wait until European borders reopen on June 3. Tourism contributes 13% to the country's economic output. "My shop looks like a hospital, with plexiglass screens at the till, sanitisers, face masks and gloves," said Maurizio Di Rienzo, owner of suitcase shop Pellux in central Milan, whose eight employees have been furloughed. "90% of my clients are tourists, most of them Chinese. It doesn't make sense for me to reopen just yet."

Italy to reopen shops, restaurants as lockdown eases further

China has started easing restrictions, our report looks at how China's three big cities have changed in the post pandemic world.

Coronavirus Outbreak: Life in China in a post-pandemic world

New coronavirus poor stood in long queues, waiting to pick up bags of basic necessities, abruptly tipped into dependence on handouts by the pandemic.

Europe's unemployed stand in queues for handouts

Chinese cartoonist's art in support of Hong Kong protests in Denmark. COVID-19 inspires artist's work in support of Hong Kong protest.

Chinese cartoonist's art in support of Hong Kong protests in Denmark

Egypt will bring forward the start of its curfew by four hours to 5 p.m. and halt public transport from May 24 for six days during the Eid holiday, as it seeks to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, the prime minister said on Sunday.

Shops, restaurants, parks and beaches will be closed for the extended holiday at the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, and restrictions on citizens` movements will remain in place for at least two weeks afterwards, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said.

Egypt has reported 11,719 cases of the novel coronavirus, including 612 deaths. Daily increases in the number of cases have been rising as the government slightly eased a night curfew and other measures. The number of cases rose by 491 on Saturday, the Health Ministry said.

Madbouly indicated that there could be a gradual reopening of some activities including sports clubs and restaurants from mid-June, and that a reopening of places of worship would also be considered.

After Eid, the curfew will last from 8pm-6am, as it did before Ramadan.

Anyone entering enclosed spaces with other citizens or taking public transport will be required to wear a mask, and the government was working on producing washable masks for general use, Madbouly said.

Egypt will bring forward the start of its curfew by four hours to 5 p.m. and halt public transport from May 24 for six days during the Eid holiday, as it seeks to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, the prime minister said on Sunday.

Egypt will bring forward the start of its curfew by four hours to 5 p.m. and halt public transport from May 24 for six days during the Eid holiday, as it seeks to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, the prime minister said on Sunday. Shops, restaurants, parks and beaches will be closed for the extended holiday at the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, and restrictions on citizens` movements will remain in place for at least two weeks afterwards, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said. Egypt has reported 11,719 cases of the novel coronavirus, including 612 deaths. Daily increases in the number of cases have been rising as the government slightly eased a night curfew and other measures. The number of cases rose by 491 on Saturday, the Health Ministry said. Madbouly indicated that there could be a gradual reopening of some activities including sports clubs and restaurants from mid-June, and that a reopening of places of worship would also be considered. After Eid, the curfew will last from 8pm-6am, as it did before Ramadan. Anyone entering enclosed spaces with other citizens or taking public transport will be required to wear a mask, and the government was working on producing washable masks for general use, Madbouly said.

Egypt tightens coronavirus restrictions for Eid holiday

The ongoing countrywide lockdown has been extended till May 31, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) announced on Sunday.

The NDMA said lockdown measures need to be implemented for a further period of 14 days in the country to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 2,872 and the number of total positive cases climbed to 90,927 Sunday morning.

The NDMA, in exercise of powers under Section 6 (2) (i) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, directed the ministries and departments of the Government of India, state governments and state authorities to continue the lockdown measures up to May 31.

The authority further directed the National Executive Committee, headed by the Union Home Secretary, to issue modifications in the guidelines as necessary, keeping in view the need to open up economic activities while containing the spread of COVID-19, the order said.

The lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 for 21 days with effect from March 25. It was then extended till May 3 and again till May 17.

The ongoing countrywide lockdown has been extended till May 31, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) announced on Sunday. The NDMA said lockdown measures need to be implemented for a further period of 14 days in the country to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

The ongoing countrywide lockdown has been extended till May 31, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) announced on Sunday. The NDMA said lockdown measures need to be implemented for a further period of 14 days in the country to contain the spread of the deadly virus. The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 2,872 and the number of total positive cases climbed to 90,927 Sunday morning. The NDMA, in exercise of powers under Section 6 (2) (i) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, directed the ministries and departments of the Government of India, state governments and state authorities to continue the lockdown measures up to May 31. The authority further directed the National Executive Committee, headed by the Union Home Secretary, to issue modifications in the guidelines as necessary, keeping in view the need to open up economic activities while containing the spread of COVID-19, the order said. The lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 for 21 days with effect from March 25. It was then extended till May 3 and again till May 17.

Nationwide lockdown extended till May 31 to contain spread of coronavirus

A Bangladeshi medical team has claimed their research on the combination of two widely used drugs has yielded "astounding" results in curing the patients with acute symptoms of the novel coronavirus.

The global pandemic has claimed the lives of over 3,12,000 people across the world.

The claim by the Bangladeshi medical team comes amidst the desperate global attempts for a remedy to the deadly coronavirus.

Out of 60 COVID-19 patients, all recovered as the combination of the two drugs were applied, Professor Dr Md Tarek Alam, the head of medicine department at private Bangladesh Medical College Hospital (BMCH), claimed.

According to the research, a frequently used antiprotozoal medicine called Ivermectin in a single dose with Doxycycline, an antibiotic, yielded virtually the near-miraculous result in curing the patients with COVID-19.

Bangladesh has so far reported 20,995 coronavirus cases and 314 deaths.

The coronavirus, which broke out initially in China, has claimed the lives of 3,12,115 people while infected over 46,50,793, according to Johns Hopkins University.&nbsp;

A Bangladeshi medical team has claimed their research on the combination of two widely used drugs has yielded "astounding" results in curing the patients with acute symptoms of the novel coronavirus.

A Bangladeshi medical team has claimed their research on the combination of two widely used drugs has yielded "astounding" results in curing the patients with acute symptoms of the novel coronavirus. The global pandemic has claimed the lives of over 3,12,000 people across the world. The claim by the Bangladeshi medical team comes amidst the desperate global attempts for a remedy to the deadly coronavirus. Out of 60 COVID-19 patients, all recovered as the combination of the two drugs were applied, Professor Dr Md Tarek Alam, the head of medicine department at private Bangladesh Medical College Hospital (BMCH), claimed. According to the research, a frequently used antiprotozoal medicine called Ivermectin in a single dose with Doxycycline, an antibiotic, yielded virtually the near-miraculous result in curing the patients with COVID-19. Bangladesh has so far reported 20,995 coronavirus cases and 314 deaths. The coronavirus, which broke out initially in China, has claimed the lives of 3,12,115 people while infected over 46,50,793, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Bangladesh doctors claim to have found effective drug combination to cure COVID-19 patients

London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Sunday called on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to commission an independent public inquiry into the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the British capital's black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

The impact on these communities has become increasingly clear in recent weeks with statistics from the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing clear disproportionality.

The ONS figures earlier this month showed that black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die from the coronavirus than white men and women, and South Asian communities were also at higher risk from the disease, after taking into account age and socio-demographic factors.

"It is shocking that Londoners of different ethnicities are being impacted by COVID-19 in such disproportionate ways. It has exposed the major inequalities in our society and simply cannot be ignored,"&nbsp;said Khan.

The UK government had initiated a Public Health England (PHE) led review into the factors behind this disparity, but the Opposition Labour Party mayor demanded a much wider inquiry.

He said: "This pandemic must be a wake-up call for our country and the government's current review is not enough. We need a wide-ranging independent public inquiry that will get to the root of these problems. A public inquiry is crucial to ensure that communities are properly involved and to help build trust and confidence in its findings.

"Every Londoner, regardless of background or ethnicity, deserves the opportunity to live and work in safety, and only by asking the difficult questions can we move towards fundamental and lasting change."

Khan has joined with hundreds of community leaders, academics and activists in signing the call by African diaspora's Ubele Initiative for an independent public inquiry to investigate the level of exposure to COVID-19 across all Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) key workers; the way BAME communities were factored into the preparedness and emergency planning; an examination of funding levels across communities; and the impact of the COVID-19 emergency powers and social distancing policy on these communities.

"The devastating impact of COVID-19 on London's BAME communities is deeply disturbing but not in the least surprising. The government's handling of its biggest disaster since the World War II has left communities reeling throughout the country.

"We welcome the Mayor of London's decision to support the growing call for an independent public inquiry. It is important that community led action continues to be supported, and that BAME communities are at the heart of solutions moving forward. We have to bring the government to account for this catastrophic systemic failure," said Yvonne Field, CEO of The Ubele Initiative.

Previously, Khan has also raised serious concerns about the impact of the virus on BAME communities and called for ethnicity data to be added to death certificates.

This week the Mayor convened a meeting of experts from transport, business, health, academia and the voluntary and community sectors, as well as trade union representatives to discuss this further.

His City Hall office is also analysing available data to improve the understanding of this disproportionate impact, looking into the social and economic factors behind infections and deaths, and its impact in other ways, including education, employment and welfare.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-indians-among-worst-affected-ethnic-groups-in-england-294232">Also read |&nbsp;COVID-19: Indians among worst affected ethnic groups in England</a>

London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Sunday called on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to commission an independent public inquiry into the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the British capital's black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Sunday called on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to commission an independent public inquiry into the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the British capital's black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. The impact on these communities has become increasingly clear in recent weeks with statistics from the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing clear disproportionality. The ONS figures earlier this month showed that black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die from the coronavirus than white men and women, and South Asian communities were also at higher risk from the disease, after taking into account age and socio-demographic factors. "It is shocking that Londoners of different ethnicities are being impacted by COVID-19 in such disproportionate ways. It has exposed the major inequalities in our society and simply cannot be ignored," said Khan. The UK government had initiated a Public Health England (PHE) led review into the factors behind this disparity, but the Opposition Labour Party mayor demanded a much wider inquiry. He said: "This pandemic must be a wake-up call for our country and the government's current review is not enough. We need a wide-ranging independent public inquiry that will get to the root of these problems. A public inquiry is crucial to ensure that communities are properly involved and to help build trust and confidence in its findings. "Every Londoner, regardless of background or ethnicity, deserves the opportunity to live and work in safety, and only by asking the difficult questions can we move towards fundamental and lasting change." Khan has joined with hundreds of community leaders, academics and activists in signing the call by African diaspora's Ubele Initiative for an independent public inquiry to investigate the level of exposure to COVID-19 across all Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) key workers; the way BAME communities were factored into the preparedness and emergency planning; an examination of funding levels across communities; and the impact of the COVID-19 emergency powers and social distancing policy on these communities. "The devastating impact of COVID-19 on London's BAME communities is deeply disturbing but not in the least surprising. The government's handling of its biggest disaster since the World War II has left communities reeling throughout the country. "We welcome the Mayor of London's decision to support the growing call for an independent public inquiry. It is important that community led action continues to be supported, and that BAME communities are at the heart of solutions moving forward. We have to bring the government to account for this catastrophic systemic failure," said Yvonne Field, CEO of The Ubele Initiative. Previously, Khan has also raised serious concerns about the impact of the virus on BAME communities and called for ethnicity data to be added to death certificates. This week the Mayor convened a meeting of experts from transport, business, health, academia and the voluntary and community sectors, as well as trade union representatives to discuss this further. His City Hall office is also analysing available data to improve the understanding of this disproportionate impact, looking into the social and economic factors behind infections and deaths, and its impact in other ways, including education, employment and welfare. Also read | COVID-19: Indians among worst affected ethnic groups in England

London Mayor calls for probe into disproportionate COVID-19 ethnicity impact

Coronavirus lockdown was on Sunday extended till May 31 in Tamil Nadu. New relaxations such as resumption of intra-district transportation in 25 districts after a hiatus of nearly two months were, however, announced.

In the remaining 12 districts, including Chennai, there will be no change in the curbs and they will continue as existed during the third phase of lockdown, set to end on Sunday.

The said curbs include bar on functioning of educational institutions, public entry into religious places and relaxations already in force.

The 25 districts include Coimbatore, Salem, Erode, Tirupur, Namakkal and Karur, where people could avail government and private buses for commute within the district and they do not need "TN e-pass," (permission for travel).

Effective March 24 evening, public transport ceased to operate in the state as part of lockdown measures.

Coronavirus lockdown was on Sunday extended till May 31 in Tamil Nadu. New relaxations such as resumption of intra-district transportation in 25 districts after a hiatus of nearly two months were, however, announced.

Coronavirus lockdown was on Sunday extended till May 31 in Tamil Nadu. New relaxations such as resumption of intra-district transportation in 25 districts after a hiatus of nearly two months were, however, announced. In the remaining 12 districts, including Chennai, there will be no change in the curbs and they will continue as existed during the third phase of lockdown, set to end on Sunday. The said curbs include bar on functioning of educational institutions, public entry into religious places and relaxations already in force. The 25 districts include Coimbatore, Salem, Erode, Tirupur, Namakkal and Karur, where people could avail government and private buses for commute within the district and they do not need "TN e-pass," (permission for travel). Effective March 24 evening, public transport ceased to operate in the state as part of lockdown measures.

Lockdown extended in Tamil Nadu till May 31; transport curbs eased in 25 districts

China's health authority has officially included damage to a number of internal organs as among the potential effects of the novel coronavirus, expanding medical insurance coverage for patients as the long-term toll of the disease emerges.

China's National Health Commission (NHC) in its guidelines on COVID-19 survivors said some recovered patients would require treatment for lung and heart damage, for movement problems from muscle loss, as well as for psychological disorders.

In addition to informing health workers about the potential long-term treatment needs of the patients, the authorities have classified these conditions as chronic diseases, allowing residents to claim for medical expenses under government-run medical insurance schemes.

"As the number of COVID-19 patients discharged from hospital increases, the rehabilitation needs have become prominent," the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Sunda, citing the NHC guidelines.

As of Saturday, 78,227 people in China have recovered from the disease since the government started action from January 23 to contain the infection.

The novel coronavirus, which emerged in Wuhan in December last year, has killed more than 312,000 people worldwide and infected over 4.6 million others.

As of Saturday, the number of coronavirus cases stood at 82,947 in China. Of the total cases, 86 patients were being treated.

The deadly virus has claimed 4,634 lives in the country, the NHC said.

Understanding is growing of the effects of the novel coronavirus on the organs of patients, even after they apparently recover.

While most patients, especially those with mild and moderate symptoms, can recover without long-term consequences to their health, studies indicated that those with severe symptoms can have organ damage and require a much longer time for rehabilitation, the report said.

The NHC said some COVID-19 patients might also develop heart problems such as angina and arrhythmia conditions that could result directly from the virus or arise after a patient has been bedridden for a long time.

The guidelines also list potential mental health problems resulting from COVID-19, including depression, insomnia, eating disorders and various changes in cognitive functions. Other problems identified in the guidelines include muscle and limb-function loss, the Post reported.

China's health authority has officially included damage to a number of internal organs as among the potential effects of the novel coronavirus, expanding medical insurance coverage for patients as the long-term toll of the disease emerges.

China's health authority has officially included damage to a number of internal organs as among the potential effects of the novel coronavirus, expanding medical insurance coverage for patients as the long-term toll of the disease emerges. China's National Health Commission (NHC) in its guidelines on COVID-19 survivors said some recovered patients would require treatment for lung and heart damage, for movement problems from muscle loss, as well as for psychological disorders. In addition to informing health workers about the potential long-term treatment needs of the patients, the authorities have classified these conditions as chronic diseases, allowing residents to claim for medical expenses under government-run medical insurance schemes. "As the number of COVID-19 patients discharged from hospital increases, the rehabilitation needs have become prominent," the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Sunda, citing the NHC guidelines. As of Saturday, 78,227 people in China have recovered from the disease since the government started action from January 23 to contain the infection. The novel coronavirus, which emerged in Wuhan in December last year, has killed more than 312,000 people worldwide and infected over 4.6 million others. As of Saturday, the number of coronavirus cases stood at 82,947 in China. Of the total cases, 86 patients were being treated. The deadly virus has claimed 4,634 lives in the country, the NHC said. Understanding is growing of the effects of the novel coronavirus on the organs of patients, even after they apparently recover. While most patients, especially those with mild and moderate symptoms, can recover without long-term consequences to their health, studies indicated that those with severe symptoms can have organ damage and require a much longer time for rehabilitation, the report said. The NHC said some COVID-19 patients might also develop heart problems such as angina and arrhythmia conditions that could result directly from the virus or arise after a patient has been bedridden for a long time. The guidelines also list potential mental health problems resulting from COVID-19, including depression, insomnia, eating disorders and various changes in cognitive functions. Other problems identified in the guidelines include muscle and limb-function loss, the Post reported.

COVID-19 can cause long-term organ damage; China adds aftereffects to medical insurance

Beijing has announced that henceforth it would not be mandatory to wear a mask outdoors -- the first city in China and perhaps in the world to do so in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

The novel coronavirus, which broke out in China's Wuhan in December, 2019, has claimed 3,13,545 lives so far across the world. There are currently 47,36,389 confirmed cases in 213 countries.

State-run China Daily reported, "After months of wearing masks to prevent virus infection risks, people can now breathe freely outside without a mask in Beijing."

The new guidelines announced by the Beijing Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on Sunday said people don't need to wear masks outside, but still should avoid close contact with others. They also encouraged the public to take some outdoor exercise when the weather is good, which is helpful to increase the quality of life and health.

The announcement comes ahead of China's Parliament -- the National People's Congress (NPC) -- all set to hold its postponed annual session on May 22 amid a steady decline in the coronavirus cases in the country.

The annual session of the national advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), is also expected to be held in Beijing on May 21.

The deadly virus has claimed 4,634 lives in the country.

As of Saturday, the number of coronavirus cases stood at 82,947 in China. Of the total cases, 86 patients were being treated, while 78,227 people had been discharged from hospitals after recovery.

Beijing has reported nine deaths due to the viral infection and a total of 593 cases since late January.

Beijing has announced that henceforth it would not be mandatory to wear a mask outdoors -- the first city in China and perhaps in the world to do so in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Beijing has announced that henceforth it would not be mandatory to wear a mask outdoors -- the first city in China and perhaps in the world to do so in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The novel coronavirus, which broke out in China's Wuhan in December, 2019, has claimed 3,13,545 lives so far across the world. There are currently 47,36,389 confirmed cases in 213 countries. State-run China Daily reported, "After months of wearing masks to prevent virus infection risks, people can now breathe freely outside without a mask in Beijing." The new guidelines announced by the Beijing Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on Sunday said people don't need to wear masks outside, but still should avoid close contact with others. They also encouraged the public to take some outdoor exercise when the weather is good, which is helpful to increase the quality of life and health. The announcement comes ahead of China's Parliament -- the National People's Congress (NPC) -- all set to hold its postponed annual session on May 22 amid a steady decline in the coronavirus cases in the country. The annual session of the national advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), is also expected to be held in Beijing on May 21. The deadly virus has claimed 4,634 lives in the country. As of Saturday, the number of coronavirus cases stood at 82,947 in China. Of the total cases, 86 patients were being treated, while 78,227 people had been discharged from hospitals after recovery. Beijing has reported nine deaths due to the viral infection and a total of 593 cases since late January.

Beijing announces wearing masks outdoors not necessary

An artwork by a dissident Chinese cartoonist depicting a coronavirus particle driving a tank towards a protester was unveiled in Copenhagen on Friday (May 15) in support of arrested Hong Kong demonstrators whose trial begins next week.

Art in support of Hong Kong protests in Denmark | COVID-19 Pandemic

This year streets of Baghdad are quiet during the holy month of Ramzan due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch this video to know more.

Iraq: Streets of Baghdad quiet during the holy month of Ramzan

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has given its nod to bring back 414 Indians stranded in Italy to Goa.

Most of these Indian nationals are ship crew members, and will be brought by three chartered flights -- arranged by M/s Costa Cruise company.

The flights are tentatively scheduled to land in Goa on May 20.

Pratap Singh Rawat, under secretary, MHA, said in an official memo that the ministry had no objection to "carrying out immigration functions in respect of 414 Indian nationals coming to India (Dabolim Airport, Goa) from Italy through three special flights".

The clearance was subject to production of No Objection Certificates from competent authorities in Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Director General of Civil Aviation, the memo added.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant tweeted about the development, thanking the MHA and Ministry of External Affairs.&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I thank the Ministry of Home Affairs and <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MEAIndia</a> for facilitating special Chartered Flight carrying 414 Goan seafarers from Italy to land at Dabolim airport in Goa. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoaFightsCOVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoaFightsCOVID19</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaFightsCOVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaFightsCOVID19</a> <a href="https://t.co/fNelLkGTVv">pic.twitter.com/fNelLkGTVv</a>
— Dr. Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrPramodPSawant/status/1261668641487101953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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As per the state government data, at least 7,000 Goans working on ships are stranded across the globe since the outbreak of coronavirus.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has given its nod to bring back 414 Indians stranded in Italy to Goa. Most of these Indian nationals are ship crew members, and will be brought by three chartered flights -- arranged by M/s Costa Cruise company.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has given its nod to bring back 414 Indians stranded in Italy to Goa. Most of these Indian nationals are ship crew members, and will be brought by three chartered flights -- arranged by M/s Costa Cruise company. The flights are tentatively scheduled to land in Goa on May 20. Pratap Singh Rawat, under secretary, MHA, said in an official memo that the ministry had no objection to "carrying out immigration functions in respect of 414 Indian nationals coming to India (Dabolim Airport, Goa) from Italy through three special flights". The clearance was subject to production of No Objection Certificates from competent authorities in Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Director General of Civil Aviation, the memo added. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant tweeted about the development, thanking the MHA and Ministry of External Affairs. I thank the Ministry of Home Affairs and @MEAIndia for facilitating special Chartered Flight carrying 414 Goan seafarers from Italy to land at Dabolim airport in Goa. #GoaFightsCOVID19#IndiaFightsCOVID19 pic.twitter.com/fNelLkGTVv — Dr. Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) May 16, 2020 × As per the state government data, at least 7,000 Goans working on ships are stranded across the globe since the outbreak of coronavirus.

MHA gives nod to bring back 414 seafarers stranded in Italy

Italy's luxury hotels sit empty for the first time in decades as the coronavirus pandemic continues to grip the country's tourism and hospitality industries.

Italy's luxury hotels vacant due to COVID-19 pandemic

The total number of coronavirus cases in India jumped to 85,940, while the death toll stood at 2,752 as of Saturday evening.&nbsp;

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), in its most recent update, said that 30,153 people have so far recovered from the infection.

MADHYA PRADESH 
The number of coronavirus cases in Madhya Pradesh rose to 4,790 on Saturday as 195 more people, including 79 in Indore and 28 in Bhopal, tested positive for infection.

The virus also claimed four more lives since Friday night, which took the death toll in the state to 243.

Indore, the worst-affected district, has reported 99 deaths. With 79 new patients, it has reported 2,378 confirmed cases so far.

ODISHA 
Odisha recorded 65 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of cases in the state to 737. A total of 30 patients also recovered from the deadly virus, taking the number of people who have been cured of the disease in the state to 196.

MAHARASHTRA 
Maharashtra recorded 1,606 new COVID-19 cases and 67 deaths, taking the case count to 30,706 and the number of the fatalities to 1,135.

As many as 884 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in Mumbai on Saturday, taking the tally of cases in the city to 18,396, while death toll due to the pandemic rose to 696 with 41 new deaths.

The BMC also said that of the 41 deaths recorded on Saturday, 14 had taken place between May 7 and 12.

TAMIL NADU 
As many as 477 people tested Covid-19 positive and 939 patients were cured and discharged in Tamil Nadu on Saturday.

Three Covid-19 patients died, taking the toll to 74, it added.

The new cases took the state's tally to 10,585. The new infections included, 93 people who had come to Tamil Nadu from Maharashtra (81), Gujarat (7), Andhra Pradesh (1) and Dhaka (4).

DELHI 
The death toll due to coronavirus in Delhi has mounted to 129, even as the total number of COVID-19 cases reported in the national capital climbed to 9,333 on Saturday.

GUJARAT 
The number of COVID-19 cases in Gujarat crossed the 10,000-mark on Saturday, with 1,057 new patients being found positive for coronavirus including 709 "super spreaders" in Ahmedabad, which accounted for 14 of the total 19 deaths.

The total cases now stands at 10,989 while the number of fatalities rose to 625.

(compiled from agencies)

The total number of coronavirus cases in India jumped to 85,940, while the death toll stood at 2,752 as of Saturday evening. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), in its most recent update, said that 30,153 people have so far recovered from the infection.

The total number of coronavirus cases in India jumped to 85,940, while the death toll stood at 2,752 as of Saturday evening. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), in its most recent update, said that 30,153 people have so far recovered from the infection. MADHYA PRADESH The number of coronavirus cases in Madhya Pradesh rose to 4,790 on Saturday as 195 more people, including 79 in Indore and 28 in Bhopal, tested positive for infection. The virus also claimed four more lives since Friday night, which took the death toll in the state to 243. Indore, the worst-affected district, has reported 99 deaths. With 79 new patients, it has reported 2,378 confirmed cases so far. ODISHA Odisha recorded 65 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of cases in the state to 737. A total of 30 patients also recovered from the deadly virus, taking the number of people who have been cured of the disease in the state to 196. MAHARASHTRA Maharashtra recorded 1,606 new COVID-19 cases and 67 deaths, taking the case count to 30,706 and the number of the fatalities to 1,135. As many as 884 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in Mumbai on Saturday, taking the tally of cases in the city to 18,396, while death toll due to the pandemic rose to 696 with 41 new deaths. The BMC also said that of the 41 deaths recorded on Saturday, 14 had taken place between May 7 and 12. TAMIL NADU As many as 477 people tested Covid-19 positive and 939 patients were cured and discharged in Tamil Nadu on Saturday. Three Covid-19 patients died, taking the toll to 74, it added. The new cases took the state's tally to 10,585. The new infections included, 93 people who had come to Tamil Nadu from Maharashtra (81), Gujarat (7), Andhra Pradesh (1) and Dhaka (4). DELHI The death toll due to coronavirus in Delhi has mounted to 129, even as the total number of COVID-19 cases reported in the national capital climbed to 9,333 on Saturday. GUJARAT The number of COVID-19 cases in Gujarat crossed the 10,000-mark on Saturday, with 1,057 new patients being found positive for coronavirus including 709 "super spreaders" in Ahmedabad, which accounted for 14 of the total 19 deaths. The total cases now stands at 10,989 while the number of fatalities rose to 625. (compiled from agencies)

India's coronavirus tally nears 86,000; over 2,750 deaths reported

Italy's government on Saturday said that it would allow travel to and from abroad from June 3 as the country tries to turn the clock back on after one of the world's most rigid coronavirus lockdowns.

COVID-19 pandemic: Major milestone on Italy's road to recovery

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