The UK has till now reported 18,000 COVID-19 deaths according to official figures but a study now suggests that the actual number might be double the official count. According to the report by the Financial Times, the coronavirus has already killed 41,000 people. Watch report.

UK's official COVID-19 death toll is above 18,000: Study shows high discrepancies in death toll

In shadow of coronavirus, Muslims face a Ramzan like never before

New York remains the worst affected state in the US with nearly 270000 cases of coronavirus so far but a new antibody study by the state shows that people infected could be far more. Watch report.

Nearly 3,176 deaths in last 24-hours | United States | Coronavirus Pandemic

New antibody study in New York: Nearly 14% tests positive for antibodies

As many as 91 crew members on an Italian cruise ship docked for repairs in Japan are confirmed to have been infected with coronavirus.

The vessel, the Costa Atlantica, was taken into a shipyard in Nagasaki in late February by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries after the pandemic scuttled plans for scheduled repairs in China.

Those who have tested negative will be repatriated, Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said on Friday, according to Kyodo news agency, a decision welcomed by officials in Nagasaki prefecture.

The infections come two months after more than 700 passengers and crew of the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama port were found to be infected.

The Italian cruise ship was carrying 623 crew members and no passengers.

The ship has been in quarantine. Just one of the Nagasaki ship's patients has been taken to hospital with severe symptoms, while those with slight, or no, symptoms stay aboard.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italian-cruise-ship-docked-in-japan-has-48-coronavirus-cases-294126">Also read | Italian cruise ship docked in Japan has 48 coronavirus cases</a>

Japan has seen more than 11,500 infections and close to 300 deaths from the new coronavirus, excluding figures from the Diamond Princess.

As many as 91 crew members on an Italian cruise ship docked for repairs in Japan are confirmed to have been infected with coronavirus. The vessel, the Costa Atlantica, was taken into a shipyard in Nagasaki in late February by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries after the pandemic scuttled plans for scheduled repairs in China.

As many as 91 crew members on an Italian cruise ship docked for repairs in Japan are confirmed to have been infected with coronavirus. The vessel, the Costa Atlantica, was taken into a shipyard in Nagasaki in late February by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries after the pandemic scuttled plans for scheduled repairs in China. Those who have tested negative will be repatriated, Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said on Friday, according to Kyodo news agency, a decision welcomed by officials in Nagasaki prefecture. The infections come two months after more than 700 passengers and crew of the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama port were found to be infected. The Italian cruise ship was carrying 623 crew members and no passengers. The ship has been in quarantine. Just one of the Nagasaki ship's patients has been taken to hospital with severe symptoms, while those with slight, or no, symptoms stay aboard. Also read | Italian cruise ship docked in Japan has 48 coronavirus cases Japan has seen more than 11,500 infections and close to 300 deaths from the new coronavirus, excluding figures from the Diamond Princess.

Coronavirus tally rises to 91 on Italian cruise ship docked in Japan

Palestinians in Gaza this year are facing the prospect of celebrations without the usual large gatherings for family meals or evening prayers, known as Tarawih. Palestinian officials have ordered the closure of schools, wedding halls, restaurants and mosques, sending tens of thousands into unemployment.

Palestinians in Gaza complete Ramzan shopping

Scientists in Britain are set to begin trials of a potential COVID-19 vaccine on humans on Thursday. This comes in the wake of the government warning it could have to rely on restrictions until next year assuming no vaccine or treatment is found before then.

The human vaccine trial has been developed by scientists at Oxford University's Jenner Institute and will begin Thursday. It is hoped about a million doses could be ready by September.

England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty has said the probability of having a vaccine or treatment "anytime in the next calendar year" is "incredibly small."

"Vaccines made from the ChAdOx1 virus have been given to more than 320 people to date and have been shown to be safe and well tolerated, although they can cause temporary side effects, such as a temperature, headache or sore arm," according to the University of Oxford.

The UK has been under a lockdown, with restrictions on leaving the house except for essential reasons and daily exercise in force since March 23.

To this end, the government has repeatedly promised the UK will test 1,00,000 people for coronavirus per day by the end of April.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, in order to carry out another study, the UK plans to enlist up to 3,00,000 people to a major long-term study to track the spread of coronavirus in the population, and understand the levels of immunity.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-to-test-prevalence-of-coronavirus-in-general-population-294178">READ FULL STORY | Britain to test prevalence of coronavirus in general population</a>

Scientists in Britain are set to begin trials of a potential COVID-19 vaccine on humans on Thursday. This comes in the wake of the government warning it could have to rely on restrictions until next year assuming no vaccine or treatment is found before then.

Scientists in Britain are set to begin trials of a potential COVID-19 vaccine on humans on Thursday. This comes in the wake of the government warning it could have to rely on restrictions until next year assuming no vaccine or treatment is found before then. The human vaccine trial has been developed by scientists at Oxford University's Jenner Institute and will begin Thursday. It is hoped about a million doses could be ready by September. England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty has said the probability of having a vaccine or treatment "anytime in the next calendar year" is "incredibly small." "Vaccines made from the ChAdOx1 virus have been given to more than 320 people to date and have been shown to be safe and well tolerated, although they can cause temporary side effects, such as a temperature, headache or sore arm," according to the University of Oxford. The UK has been under a lockdown, with restrictions on leaving the house except for essential reasons and daily exercise in force since March 23. To this end, the government has repeatedly promised the UK will test 1,00,000 people for coronavirus per day by the end of April. Meanwhile, in order to carry out another study, the UK plans to enlist up to 3,00,000 people to a major long-term study to track the spread of coronavirus in the population, and understand the levels of immunity. READ FULL STORY | Britain to test prevalence of coronavirus in general population

COVID-19 vaccine trial on humans starts in UK

In this hour of coronavirus pandemic that has hit both the Washington and New Delhi, the Indian-American community has resoundingly shown up across the country. An Indo-American NGO has raised USD 1 million to fight hunger in India and the United States amid the the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

This translates to 4,700,000 meals for people in the United States and ration kits for 106,000 migrant workers in India that will last them seven to 10 days.

NGO Indiaspora is a volunteer group in San Jose, California that made the last donation of USD 5,000 after which the campaign fund crossed USD 1 million.

Contributions given are sent to two beneficiary organisations, Feeding America in the US and Goonj in India.

Feeding America is using the contributions to bolster its nationwide network of 200 food banks. Goonj is using the funds to provide food, dry ration and hygiene kits to displaced migrants in parts of eighteen states in India.

The money raised by Indiaspora through its 'ChaloGive for COVID-19' online campaign will be used to provide relief directly to vulnerable population in both the countries.&nbsp;ChaloGive for COVID-19 is the second online campaign by Indiaspora.

Such an outpouring of support was last time seen during the Gujarat earthquake in 2001, but that time the call was given by the then US President Bill Clinton and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, M R Rangaswami, founder and chairman of the board of NGO said.

In addition to former Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi, noted philanthropists Rohini and Nandan Nilekani, former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and actor Nandita Das, all existing 'ChaloGive for COVID-19' Ambassadors, Indiaspora announced the addition of GiveIndia CEO Atul Satija, and Raj and Aradhana (Anna) Asava, the pioneers of the 'HungerMitao' (wipe out hunger) movement in America, on Thursday.

The campaign at ChaloGive.Org continues, with a live Facebook rally planned on May 4 at 9 pm EST/6 pm PST on the eve of Giving Tuesday for COVID-19.

In this hour of coronavirus pandemic that has hit both the Washington and New Delhi, the Indian-American community has resoundingly shown up across the country. An Indo-American NGO has raised USD 1 million to fight hunger in India and the United States amid the the coronavirus pandemic.

In this hour of coronavirus pandemic that has hit both the Washington and New Delhi, the Indian-American community has resoundingly shown up across the country. An Indo-American NGO has raised USD 1 million to fight hunger in India and the United States amid the the coronavirus pandemic. This translates to 4,700,000 meals for people in the United States and ration kits for 106,000 migrant workers in India that will last them seven to 10 days. NGO Indiaspora is a volunteer group in San Jose, California that made the last donation of USD 5,000 after which the campaign fund crossed USD 1 million. Contributions given are sent to two beneficiary organisations, Feeding America in the US and Goonj in India. Feeding America is using the contributions to bolster its nationwide network of 200 food banks. Goonj is using the funds to provide food, dry ration and hygiene kits to displaced migrants in parts of eighteen states in India. The money raised by Indiaspora through its 'ChaloGive for COVID-19' online campaign will be used to provide relief directly to vulnerable population in both the countries. ChaloGive for COVID-19 is the second online campaign by Indiaspora. Such an outpouring of support was last time seen during the Gujarat earthquake in 2001, but that time the call was given by the then US President Bill Clinton and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, M R Rangaswami, founder and chairman of the board of NGO said. In addition to former Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi, noted philanthropists Rohini and Nandan Nilekani, former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and actor Nandita Das, all existing 'ChaloGive for COVID-19' Ambassadors, Indiaspora announced the addition of GiveIndia CEO Atul Satija, and Raj and Aradhana (Anna) Asava, the pioneers of the 'HungerMitao' (wipe out hunger) movement in America, on Thursday. The campaign at ChaloGive.Org continues, with a live Facebook rally planned on May 4 at 9 pm EST/6 pm PST on the eve of Giving Tuesday for COVID-19.

Indo-American NGO raises USD 1 million for coronavirus relief work in India, US

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will help launch a global initiative on Friday to accelerate work to fight COVID-19, the World Health Organization said, but the United States said it will not take part.

The WHO said late on Thursday it would to announce a "landmark collaboration" on Friday to speed development of safe, effective drugs, tests and vaccines to prevent, diagnose and treat COVID-19.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/27-million-in-new-york-may-have-coronavirus-survey-suggests-294543">2.7 million in New York may have coronavirus, survey suggests</a>

WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told a UN&nbsp;briefing on Friday that Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would take part in the 1300 GMT announcement, led by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

British foreign minister Dominic Raab and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres were also to take part, diplomatic sources told Reuters.

"Today is a kind of political commitment from all these partners to make sure that when we have all these new tools no one is left behind, that those who can afford vaccines or therapeutics can buy them and (put) them at the disposal of the population," Chaib said.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fake-meat-gains-popularity-as-china-recovers-from-coronavirus-pandemic-294559">'Fake' meat gains popularity as China recovers from coronavirus pandemic</a>

"It is very important to make sure that you have equitable access to quality, efficient, new tools for COVID-19," she said.

A spokesman for the US mission in Geneva told Reuters the United States would not take part.

"There will be no US official participation", he said in an email reply to a query. "We look forward to learning more about this initiative in support of international cooperation to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 as soon as possible."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nicotine-to-help-fight-coronavirus-french-authorities-limit-sale-of-product-294565">Nicotine to help fight coronavirus? French authorities limit sale of product</a>

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has lambasted the WHO as being slow to react to the outbreak and being "China-centric" and announced a suspension of funding.

Asked to confirm whether the United States was going to be participating at the meeting, a WHO source said: "No, but almost everyone else is."

Vaccine trials

More than 2.7 million people have been infected with the disease, which has claimed nearly 190,000 lives since emerging in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, according to a Reuters tally.

More than 100 potential COVID-19 vaccines are being developed, including six already in clinical trials, said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI vaccine alliance, a public-private partnership that leads immunisation campaigns in poor countries.

"We need to ensure that there are enough vaccines for everyone, we are going to need global leadership to identify and prioritise vaccine candidates," he told a separate Geneva news briefing before taking part in the formal WHO announcement.

Global manufacturing capacity must be ramped up ahead of choosing "a winner" vaccine, Berkley said, noting that GAVI and the World Bank were looking at the issue.

"We can't have a repeat of what happened in 2009, the H1N1 vaccine, when there was not enough supply for developing countries or when supply did come it came much later," he said.

Another important questions was how well a vaccine would work in people most at risk from COVID-19, Berkley said.

"How well do they work in the elderly, are they single or multiple dose etc?" he said, noting that older people had weaker immune systems.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will help launch a global initiative on Friday to accelerate work to fight COVID-19, the World Health Organization said, but the United States said it will not take part.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will help launch a global initiative on Friday to accelerate work to fight COVID-19, the World Health Organization said, but the United States said it will not take part. The WHO said late on Thursday it would to announce a "landmark collaboration" on Friday to speed development of safe, effective drugs, tests and vaccines to prevent, diagnose and treat COVID-19. Also read: 2.7 million in New York may have coronavirus, survey suggests WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told a UN briefing on Friday that Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would take part in the 1300 GMT announcement, led by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. British foreign minister Dominic Raab and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres were also to take part, diplomatic sources told Reuters. "Today is a kind of political commitment from all these partners to make sure that when we have all these new tools no one is left behind, that those who can afford vaccines or therapeutics can buy them and (put) them at the disposal of the population," Chaib said. Also read: 'Fake' meat gains popularity as China recovers from coronavirus pandemic "It is very important to make sure that you have equitable access to quality, efficient, new tools for COVID-19," she said. A spokesman for the US mission in Geneva told Reuters the United States would not take part. "There will be no US official participation", he said in an email reply to a query. "We look forward to learning more about this initiative in support of international cooperation to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 as soon as possible." Also read: Nicotine to help fight coronavirus? French authorities limit sale of product US President Donald Trump has lambasted the WHO as being slow to react to the outbreak and being "China-centric" and announced a suspension of funding. Asked to confirm whether the United States was going to be participating at the meeting, a WHO source said: "No, but almost everyone else is." Vaccine trials More than 2.7 million people have been infected with the disease, which has claimed nearly 190,000 lives since emerging in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, according to a Reuters tally. More than 100 potential COVID-19 vaccines are being developed, including six already in clinical trials, said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI vaccine alliance, a public-private partnership that leads immunisation campaigns in poor countries. "We need to ensure that there are enough vaccines for everyone, we are going to need global leadership to identify and prioritise vaccine candidates," he told a separate Geneva news briefing before taking part in the formal WHO announcement. Global manufacturing capacity must be ramped up ahead of choosing "a winner" vaccine, Berkley said, noting that GAVI and the World Bank were looking at the issue. "We can't have a repeat of what happened in 2009, the H1N1 vaccine, when there was not enough supply for developing countries or when supply did come it came much later," he said. Another important questions was how well a vaccine would work in people most at risk from COVID-19, Berkley said. "How well do they work in the elderly, are they single or multiple dose etc?" he said, noting that older people had weaker immune systems.

World leaders to launch WHO COVID-19 plan, but US won't take part

Watch today in 'WION In Focus': Some Stories Related To Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.

WION In Focus: Some Stories Related To Coronavirus Pandemic | COVID-19 | Coronavirus News

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the COVID-19 pandemic shows the need to overhaul the World Health Organization, warning that Washington may never restore WHO funding and could even work to set up an alternative to the U.N. body instead.

Mike Pompeo: US may never restore funding to WHO

A rich breakfast, including poached eggs on a bean medley with chorizo sausage and porridge with spiced apple and almonds; and a mushroom frittata with buttered potatoes, a green salad with french dressing, a banana, a cheese scone with butter, hummingbird cake and a can of coke as lunch -- no, we are not referring to high-end culinary delight.

A rich breakfast, including poached eggs on a bean medley with chorizo sausage and porridge with spiced apple and almonds; and a mushroom frittata with buttered potatoes, a green salad with french dressing, a banana, a cheese scone with butter, hummingbird cake and a can of coke as lunch -- no, we are not referring to high-end culinary delight. This is what is being offered at a quarantine centre in New Zealand. So while one must have heard horror stories emerging from similar compulsory quarantines in Australia, the New Zealand quarantine is creating envy among many. A couple in a government-enforced quarantine at an Auckland airport hotel have been documenting their experience of luxury lockdown. They have stocked their Instagram feed with images of waffles delivered to the door, mini-fridges stocked full of cake, and escorted walks under stormy New Zealand skies. View this post on Instagram 🥐 Day Seven. Lunch: frittata with buttered potatoes; a side salad with classic French dressing; a banana; a cheese scone with butter; humming bird cake; and a can of coke . . . . . . . . . . #QuarantineCuisine #Dinner #Food #Foodie #FoodPic #Foodlover #FoodPorn #InstaFood #Quarantine #Covid19 #NewZealand #LockdownNZ #StruggleStreet #StayInYourBubble #NovotelHolidays #hummingbirdcake #Kiwi #Spoiled #SelfIsolation #StayHomeNZ #StaySafe #QuarantineAndChill #EasyRecipes #CovidCooking #Newshub #BonAppetit #NewstalkZB #StuffNZ #TheSpinoff A post shared by 🏝 Chuck Noland & Wilson 🏐 (@thequarantinecanteen_nz) on Apr 18, 2020 at 7:42pm PDT × The Instagram blog thequarantinecanteen_nz has recorded 13 days of quarantine at the four-star Novotel, a lockdown measure introduced by the Jacinda Ardern government to stop the spread of coronavirus. Other highlights include a slow-cooked beef stew, a Thai red chicken curry with mango fried rice, and plenty of fresh salads including caesar, beetroot and feta, and coleslaw. The authors of the blog have chosen not to be identified. They said they had, and quite understandably, so put on three kilograms in quarantine, despite taking walks with aviation security staff around the carpark. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 🏝 Chuck Noland & Wilson 🏐 (@thequarantinecanteen_nz) on Apr 23, 2020 at 5:32pm PDT × “The government has a real cake problem. We asked the kitchen to stop sending up cake. It was starting to become an issue in our day-to-day," the bloggers wrote. View this post on Instagram 🆗 Day Twelve. Dinner: butter chicken with plain rice and broccoli; mango fried rice; side salad with ranch dressing; and a slice of heaven (there was water too, but we forgot to take a photo of that). . . . . . . . . . #QuarantineCuisine #Dinner #Food #Foodie #FoodPic #Foodlover #FoodPorn #InstaFood #Quarantine #Covid19 #NewZealand #LockdownNZ #StruggleStreet #StayInYourBubble #NovotelHolidays #sliceofheaven #novotel #Spoiled #SelfIsolation #StayHomeNZ #StaySafe #QuarantineAndChill #EasyRecipes #CovidCooking #Newshub #BonAppetit #NewstalkZB #StuffNZ #TheSpinoff A post shared by 🏝 Chuck Noland & Wilson 🏐 (@thequarantinecanteen_nz) on Apr 22, 2020 at 3:16am PDT × The blog’s authors said they were enjoying watching the news, home school and exercise TV, and dropping in on the physically distanced knitting group run on the hotel’s front steps. They attended health checks every day, too. According to the blog those in quarantine at the Novotel were previously allowed to roam free in the carpark for exercise, but that privilege was cancelled when someone allegedly tried to “run away”. The majority of those in quarantine are New Zealanders, as the country closed its borders to foreign nationals in mid-March. Most of New Zealand’s 1,400 virus cases have links to overseas travel and arrivals, and more than 2,000 people are currently being held in enforced quarantine in more than a dozen hotels across Auckland.

New Zealand couple lead a luxurious COVID-19 quarantine, document life in photos

Jimmy Xavier who is a radio jockey contracted COVID-19. He went to the quarantine period as an infected person and also as a radio jockey. Who later described stories of his quarantine and others. In an exclusive conversation, he spoke to WION. Watch report.

COVID-19 survivor Jimmy Xavier speaks to WION about his quarantine period

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is still recuperating from COVID-19, has the biggest challenge of his life to deal with -- how to lift a lockdown that is destroying swathes of the British economy without triggering a deadly second wave of the outbreak.

Johnson is on the mend at his country residence after spending three nights in intensive care at a London hospital earlier this month with COVID-19 complications.

As the prime minister is preparing to return to work on Monday, he is under pressure to explain just how and when the world's fifth largest economy will exit the crippling lockdown.

Britain had already been under fire for its limited testing capacity and for failing to deliver enough personal protective equipment to front-line health workers.

The United Kingdom has the fifth worst official death toll in the world, after the United States, Italy, Spain and France, and government scientists have said that the death rate will only start to decline quickly in a another couple of weeks.

According to the country's budget forecasters, the economy could be heading into its deepest recession in more than 300 years even after the finance ministry and the Bank of England rushed out a string of emergency stimulus measures.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is still recuperating from COVID-19, has the biggest challenge of his life to deal with -- how to lift a lockdown that is destroying swathes of the British economy without triggering a deadly second wave of the outbreak.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is still recuperating from COVID-19, has the biggest challenge of his life to deal with -- how to lift a lockdown that is destroying swathes of the British economy without triggering a deadly second wave of the outbreak. Johnson is on the mend at his country residence after spending three nights in intensive care at a London hospital earlier this month with COVID-19 complications. As the prime minister is preparing to return to work on Monday, he is under pressure to explain just how and when the world's fifth largest economy will exit the crippling lockdown. Britain had already been under fire for its limited testing capacity and for failing to deliver enough personal protective equipment to front-line health workers. The United Kingdom has the fifth worst official death toll in the world, after the United States, Italy, Spain and France, and government scientists have said that the death rate will only start to decline quickly in a another couple of weeks. According to the country's budget forecasters, the economy could be heading into its deepest recession in more than 300 years even after the finance ministry and the Bank of England rushed out a string of emergency stimulus measures.

UK PM Johnson, recuperating from COVID-19, faces lockdown conundrum

The trajectory of coronavirus cases could have plateaued; but that's not it. India is likely to see a second wave in late July or August with a surge in the number of cases during the monsoon, scientists have said.

The timing of the peak will depend on how India is able to control physical distancing and on the level of infection spreads after restrictions are relaxed.

On March 25, when the number of coronavirus cases was 618 with 13 deaths, the government announced a nationwide lockdown that was later extended to May 3.

On Friday, the death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 718 and the number of cases to 23,077.

In their study unveiled this week, IISc and TIFR researchers analysed the impact of strategies such as case isolation, home quarantine, social distancing and various post-lockdown restrictions on COVID-19 that might remain in force for some time. 
The study modelled on Bengaluru and Mumbai suggests the infection is likely to have a second wave and the public health threat will remain, unless steps are taken to aggressively trace, localise, isolate the cases, and prevent influx of new infections.

"Once we return to normal activity levels, there is a chance that infection may begin to rise again. China is seeing this to some extent post easing of some restrictions on travel," an expert told PTI.

A study published in The Lancet journal earlier this month modelled the potential adverse consequences of premature relaxation of interventions, and found it might lead to a second wave of infections.

The finding is critical to governments globally, because it warns against premature relaxation of strict interventions, the researchers said.

According to a recent analysis by the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, the best strategy to ease the critical care burden and loss of life from COVID-19 might be on-again, off-again social distancing.

The trajectory of coronavirus cases could have plateaued; but that's not it. India is likely to see a second wave in late July or August with a surge in the number of cases during the monsoon, scientists have said.

The trajectory of coronavirus cases could have plateaued; but that's not it. India is likely to see a second wave in late July or August with a surge in the number of cases during the monsoon, scientists have said. The timing of the peak will depend on how India is able to control physical distancing and on the level of infection spreads after restrictions are relaxed. On March 25, when the number of coronavirus cases was 618 with 13 deaths, the government announced a nationwide lockdown that was later extended to May 3. On Friday, the death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 718 and the number of cases to 23,077. In their study unveiled this week, IISc and TIFR researchers analysed the impact of strategies such as case isolation, home quarantine, social distancing and various post-lockdown restrictions on COVID-19 that might remain in force for some time. The study modelled on Bengaluru and Mumbai suggests the infection is likely to have a second wave and the public health threat will remain, unless steps are taken to aggressively trace, localise, isolate the cases, and prevent influx of new infections. "Once we return to normal activity levels, there is a chance that infection may begin to rise again. China is seeing this to some extent post easing of some restrictions on travel," an expert told PTI. A study published in The Lancet journal earlier this month modelled the potential adverse consequences of premature relaxation of interventions, and found it might lead to a second wave of infections. The finding is critical to governments globally, because it warns against premature relaxation of strict interventions, the researchers said. According to a recent analysis by the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, the best strategy to ease the critical care burden and loss of life from COVID-19 might be on-again, off-again social distancing.

India may see second wave of COVID-19 outbreak in monsoon, say scientists

Higher levels of pollutants in the air may be associated with an increased number of deaths from COVID-19. The study has been substantiated by two sets of research reports.&nbsp;

The first research, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) in Germany, combined satellite data on air pollution and air currents with confirmed deaths related to COVID-19. It revealed that regions with permanently high levels of nitrogen dioxide have significantly more deaths than other regions.

Nitrogen dioxide is an air pollutant that damages the human respiratory tract. For many years it has been known to cause many types of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in humans. It is usually produced by cars, power plants and other industrial facilities.

Among the studied five coronavirus hotspot regions in Europe -- four in northern Italy and one in the Madrid region of Spain -- were Europe’s two main “hotspots” of nitrogen dioxide concentration, regions in which pollution was easily trapped by the surrounding mountains.

In another study, researchers at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health analysed air pollution and deaths from coronavirus in the United States. They found that coronavirus patients living under high levels of PM 2.5 are more likely to die. The scientists found that a small increase in long-term exposure to PM 2.5 could lead to a large increase in COVID-19 death rate.

To carry out the study, researchers at Harvard University collected data from approximately 3,000 counties in the United States up to April 4, 2020.

The latest finding comes at a time when scientists are looking into the possible link between coronavirus cases and air pollution. Governments in Asia, Africa and South America, usually the most polluted areas in the world, are struggling to enforce strict measures to contain the spread of the virus and save more lives.

Higher levels of pollutants in the air may be associated with an increased number of deaths from COVID-19. The study has been substantiated by two sets of research reports.

Higher levels of pollutants in the air may be associated with an increased number of deaths from COVID-19. The study has been substantiated by two sets of research reports. The first research, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) in Germany, combined satellite data on air pollution and air currents with confirmed deaths related to COVID-19. It revealed that regions with permanently high levels of nitrogen dioxide have significantly more deaths than other regions. Nitrogen dioxide is an air pollutant that damages the human respiratory tract. For many years it has been known to cause many types of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in humans. It is usually produced by cars, power plants and other industrial facilities. Among the studied five coronavirus hotspot regions in Europe -- four in northern Italy and one in the Madrid region of Spain -- were Europe’s two main “hotspots” of nitrogen dioxide concentration, regions in which pollution was easily trapped by the surrounding mountains. In another study, researchers at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health analysed air pollution and deaths from coronavirus in the United States. They found that coronavirus patients living under high levels of PM 2.5 are more likely to die. The scientists found that a small increase in long-term exposure to PM 2.5 could lead to a large increase in COVID-19 death rate. To carry out the study, researchers at Harvard University collected data from approximately 3,000 counties in the United States up to April 4, 2020. The latest finding comes at a time when scientists are looking into the possible link between coronavirus cases and air pollution. Governments in Asia, Africa and South America, usually the most polluted areas in the world, are struggling to enforce strict measures to contain the spread of the virus and save more lives.

Air pollution is linked to higher COVID-19 death rates, says study

An IIT-Roorkee professor claims to have developed a software which can detect COVID-19 within five seconds using an X-ray scan of the suspected patient.

The professor, who took over 40 days to develop the software, has filed a patent for the same and has approached the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for a review.

Kamal Jain, a professor at the institute's civil engineering department, claims that the software will not only reduce testing costs but will also reduce the risk of exposure to healthcare professionals.

So far, there is no verification of his claim by a medical institution.

"I first developed an artificial intelligence-based database after analysing over 60,000 X-ray scans, including those of COVID-19, pneumonia and tuberculosis patients to differentiate between the kind of chest congestion suffered in the three diseases. I also analysed the chest x-ray database of the United States' NIH Clinical Center," Jain told PTI.

"Using the software developed by me, the doctors can simply upload pictures of an individual's X-ray. The software will not only classify whether the patient has any sign of pneumonia, it will be able to tell whether it is due to COVID-19 or other bacteria and also measure the severity of the infection. The results can be processed within five seconds" he added.

Jain said the software can help in accurate preliminary screening which can be supplemented by clinical testing for those tested positive for the deadly virus.

"Pneumonia caused by COVID-19 is severe than other bacteria as it affects the lungs completely than smaller portions of lungs in other cases. The software will analyse bilateral opacity, the pattern of fluid build-up in lungs and nature of clump or clot if any," the professor said.

"Similar kinds of experiments are being conducted by the University of Amazon in the United States but there has not been a breakthrough yet," he claimed.

According to the Union Health Ministry, the death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 718 and the number of cases to 23,077 in the country on Friday.

The number of active COVID-19 cases is 17,610 as 4,748 people have been cured and discharged, and one patient migrated, it said.

The ICMR said a total 23,502 samples have been confirmed positive for coronavirus so far.

An IIT-Roorkee professor claims to have developed a software which can detect COVID-19 within five seconds using an X-ray scan of the suspected patient. The professor, who took over 40 days to develop the software, has filed a patent for the same and has approached the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for a review.

An IIT-Roorkee professor claims to have developed a software which can detect COVID-19 within five seconds using an X-ray scan of the suspected patient. The professor, who took over 40 days to develop the software, has filed a patent for the same and has approached the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for a review. Kamal Jain, a professor at the institute's civil engineering department, claims that the software will not only reduce testing costs but will also reduce the risk of exposure to healthcare professionals. So far, there is no verification of his claim by a medical institution. "I first developed an artificial intelligence-based database after analysing over 60,000 X-ray scans, including those of COVID-19, pneumonia and tuberculosis patients to differentiate between the kind of chest congestion suffered in the three diseases. I also analysed the chest x-ray database of the United States' NIH Clinical Center," Jain told PTI. "Using the software developed by me, the doctors can simply upload pictures of an individual's X-ray. The software will not only classify whether the patient has any sign of pneumonia, it will be able to tell whether it is due to COVID-19 or other bacteria and also measure the severity of the infection. The results can be processed within five seconds" he added. Jain said the software can help in accurate preliminary screening which can be supplemented by clinical testing for those tested positive for the deadly virus. "Pneumonia caused by COVID-19 is severe than other bacteria as it affects the lungs completely than smaller portions of lungs in other cases. The software will analyse bilateral opacity, the pattern of fluid build-up in lungs and nature of clump or clot if any," the professor said. "Similar kinds of experiments are being conducted by the University of Amazon in the United States but there has not been a breakthrough yet," he claimed. According to the Union Health Ministry, the death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 718 and the number of cases to 23,077 in the country on Friday. The number of active COVID-19 cases is 17,610 as 4,748 people have been cured and discharged, and one patient migrated, it said. The ICMR said a total 23,502 samples have been confirmed positive for coronavirus so far.

IIT professor develops software to detect COVID-19 within five seconds using X-ray scan

The Maharashtra government has amended its revised lockdown guidelines to allow carrying out of pre-monsoon-related works in Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri- Chinchwad, badly hit by the coronavirus outbreak.

In its revised guidelines issued on April 21 regarding relaxation of lockdown rules, the government had withdrawn all concessions to Mumbai and Pune regions, which account for a bulk of the more than 6,000 coronavirus cases in Maharashtra.

However, in an order issued on Thursday, the government said all pre-monsoon related works, including those concerning metro rail and any work permitted by the municipal commissioners of these three cities, will be allowed.

Bedside, attendants and care givers of senior citizens residing in their homeswill also be allowed to function during the lockdown, the order said.

The government has relaxed norms for some other activities in rest of the state provided social distancing measures are followed.

In relaxation to agriculture and horticulture, facilities for export/import such as pack houses, inspection and treatment facilities for seeds and horticulture produce, research establishments, inter and intra-state movement of planting materials, honey bee colonies, honey and other beehive products have been permitted, it said.

Essential goods supply will include food processing units like bread factories, milk processing plants, flour mills and dal mills, the order said.

Shops selling electric fans have been included in relaxations provided to private and commercial establishments,it said.

The order said responsibility of implementing social distancing and proper hygiene practices while carrying out these activities will be with the headof the organisation concerned to ensure compliance with lockdown norms.

The Maharashtra government has amended its revised lockdown guidelines to allow carrying out of pre-monsoon-related works in Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri- Chinchwad, badly hit by the coronavirus outbreak.

The Maharashtra government has amended its revised lockdown guidelines to allow carrying out of pre-monsoon-related works in Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri- Chinchwad, badly hit by the coronavirus outbreak. In its revised guidelines issued on April 21 regarding relaxation of lockdown rules, the government had withdrawn all concessions to Mumbai and Pune regions, which account for a bulk of the more than 6,000 coronavirus cases in Maharashtra. However, in an order issued on Thursday, the government said all pre-monsoon related works, including those concerning metro rail and any work permitted by the municipal commissioners of these three cities, will be allowed. Bedside, attendants and care givers of senior citizens residing in their homeswill also be allowed to function during the lockdown, the order said. The government has relaxed norms for some other activities in rest of the state provided social distancing measures are followed. In relaxation to agriculture and horticulture, facilities for export/import such as pack houses, inspection and treatment facilities for seeds and horticulture produce, research establishments, inter and intra-state movement of planting materials, honey bee colonies, honey and other beehive products have been permitted, it said. Essential goods supply will include food processing units like bread factories, milk processing plants, flour mills and dal mills, the order said. Shops selling electric fans have been included in relaxations provided to private and commercial establishments,it said. The order said responsibility of implementing social distancing and proper hygiene practices while carrying out these activities will be with the headof the organisation concerned to ensure compliance with lockdown norms.

Govt allows pre-monsoon works in coronavirus-hit Mumbai, Pune

During this pandemic, fake news is spreading like wildfire in Europe. Several reports are pointing fingers at Russia - accusing the Russian media, trolls and blogs for spreading fake news. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you more.

Gravitas: Russia disinformation campaign in Europe? | Wuhan Coronavirus

A french school for stunt performers has come up with the #CUCchallenge that is going viral on social media. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay gets you a report.

Gravitas: Coronavirus lockdown: What is the CUC Challenge?

Russia on Wednesday praised India for sending medicines as it described the decision as "noble". It also said that this friendly gesture would be reciprocated. Speaking to WION's Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Russian envoy to India Nikolay Kudashev praised India's "comprehensive efforts" and said that it resulted in significant "decrease in the rate of infection" in the country.

Russia on Wednesday praised India for sending medicines as it described the decision as "noble". It also said that this friendly gesture would be reciprocated. Speaking to WION's Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Russian envoy to India Nikolay Kudashev praised India's "comprehensive efforts" and said that it resulted in significant "decrease in the rate of infection" in the country. WION: COVID-19 crisis is something that is caused by a great deal of uncertainty. How is Moscow and New Delhi collaborating to deal with the crisis? Nikolay Kudashev: Continous spread of COVID-19 infection is a global challenge. In this battle, Russia and India fight a common enemy. We follow closely steps taken by the union governments and regional administrations. These comprehensive efforts resulted in a significant decrease in the rate of infection and we see a number of recoveries growing. In Russia too, the government introduced various measures to tackle the diseases, apart from lockdown and social distancing measures, additional hospitals are being operated, vaccines are tested which help in preventing the unchecked spread of the infection. Of course, people are at the centre of all our efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. While keeping in mind the safety of people in Russia, we also remember the citizens stranded abroad in lockdown. The embassy of Russia with the help of Indian authorities facilitated the repatriation of our tourist from India. So far about 1700 left India onboard special charted flights organised by the Russian government from Delhi and Goa from different cities and destinations of Russia. More flights are expected. At the same time, the Russian govt has provided support to Indian stranded in Russia, to ensure their safety. The Russian ministry of the interior ministry extended the visas of Indian nationals. WION: Termed as 'game-changer' in the battle against coronavirus, India is sending hydrocholoquine around the world. It will be sent to Russia also, how do you see it. And, any collaboration at BRICS Level? Nikolay Kudashev: The generous decision of the government of India to lift the ban on the export of important medicines to treat COVID-19 patients despite the increased demand in this country was very much appreciated in Russia. Be sure, it will be reciprocated. In our understanding, the conducive atmosphere for this noble decision was created during earlier contact of our leaders, PM Vladimir Putin and PM Modi followed by conversation and contact between top diplomats. We create a framework of cooperation within the United Nations, G20 and BRICS and we will push this close cooperation further in coming days. I am sure together we will be able to defeat the infection.

India's decision to send hydrocholoquine is 'noble'; it will be reciprocated: Russia

A number of Confucius institutes meant to promote Chinese language were operating in Sweden. The Swedish govt has now decided to shut these Beijing-backed schools. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you why.

Gravitas: Why are Sweden-China ties turning hostile?

Online games are now facing censorship in China. Chinese censors are now forbidding online interactions between between foreigners and gamers in China. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you why.

Gravitas: China extends its censorship to online gaming

The UK government is set to test a sample of 20,000 English households for the novel coronavirus in the coming weeks to try to establish how far the disease has spread across the country.

The research is being conducted jointly with the Office for National Statistics and the University of Oxford, and the results would be available in early May.

Health minister Matt Hancock said on Thursday the research would help the government understand the trajectory of the disease better. He had earlier faced criticism over limited testing facilities for some health and social care workers.

More than 18,000 British people have died in hospital of the disease so far, and the country is now in its fifth week of a lockdown.

THE PROCESS

The pilot will be expanded to 300,000 households throughout the United Kingdom over the next 12 months.

Participants will provide weekly samples from self-administered nose and throat swabs for the first five weeks, which will show if they currently have the virus, and then monthly samples for the following year.

Adults from around 1,000 households will also provide blood samples to see if they have developed antibodies following an earlier infection with the coronavirus.

Tests will be administered by IQVIA , a US health data company that has worked before with Britain's state-run health service, and analysed in British government laboratories.

The UK government is set to test a sample of 20,000 English households for the novel coronavirus in the coming weeks to try to establish how far the disease has spread across the country.

The UK government is set to test a sample of 20,000 English households for the novel coronavirus in the coming weeks to try to establish how far the disease has spread across the country. The research is being conducted jointly with the Office for National Statistics and the University of Oxford, and the results would be available in early May. Health minister Matt Hancock said on Thursday the research would help the government understand the trajectory of the disease better. He had earlier faced criticism over limited testing facilities for some health and social care workers. More than 18,000 British people have died in hospital of the disease so far, and the country is now in its fifth week of a lockdown. THE PROCESS The pilot will be expanded to 300,000 households throughout the United Kingdom over the next 12 months. Participants will provide weekly samples from self-administered nose and throat swabs for the first five weeks, which will show if they currently have the virus, and then monthly samples for the following year. Adults from around 1,000 households will also provide blood samples to see if they have developed antibodies following an earlier infection with the coronavirus. Tests will be administered by IQVIA , a US health data company that has worked before with Britain's state-run health service, and analysed in British government laboratories.

Britain to test prevalence of coronavirus in general population

The Coronavirus outbreak has put China on the backfoot. At home, it has asked bureaucrats and party members to focus on unemployment. Meanwhile, The Chinese Foreign Ministry has criticized demands for reparations. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you more about China's post outbreak strategy.

Gravitas: Decoding China's post outbreak strategy | Wuhan Coronavirus

Stakeholders in 5 countries are now raising their voice against China. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you how the demand to 'Make China pay' is gaining momentum.

Gravitas: Stakeholders in 5 countries say 'Make China Pay' | Coronavirus

All member nations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) should support a proposed independent review into the coronavirus pandemic, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday.

Australia has become as one of China's most forceful critics over the handling of the spread of the coronavirus, while the latter has fiercely been rejecting calls for an inquiry, terming this the US-led propaganda against them.

Morrison said all members of the WHO should be obliged to participate in a review.

The COVID-19 outbreak originated in China and has since spread to infect some 2.3 million people globally and killed nearly 1,60,000, according to Reuters.

Diplomatic ties between China and Australia frayed in recent years amid allegations Beijing committed cyber-attacks and attempted to interfere in Canberra’s domestic affairs.

The outbreak in China is said to have started in a wet market in the city of Wuhan.&nbsp;"Wet markets" are marketplaces that sell fresh food such as meat and fish. But some also sell wildlife.

To this end, the Australian government also called for the G20 countries to take action on wildlife wet markets, calling them a "biosecurity and human health risk" --&nbsp;after a meeting of G20 agriculture ministers.

China imposed a temporary ban on selling wildlife on January&nbsp;23 and is now reviewing its legislation to restrict commercial wild animal trading on a permanent basis.

Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said on Thursday he had asked government officials from the Group of 20 major economies to back a plan to end wildlife wet markets.

Australia's call for an inquiry is also being seen as bolstering ties with the United States -- which has been critical of China and the World Health Organisation`s handling of the pandemic, and has withdrawn US funding from the U.N. agency.

France and Britain have said now was the time to fight the virus, not to apportion blame.

Australia has about 6,600 cases of coronavirus and 76 deaths from the virus.

The Ruby Princess cruise ship, owned by Carnival Corp, is Australia's largest source of coronavirus infections after authorities granted the ship permission to disembark its 2,700 passengers last month without health checks.

All member nations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) should support a proposed independent review into the coronavirus pandemic, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday.

All member nations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) should support a proposed independent review into the coronavirus pandemic, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday. Australia has become as one of China's most forceful critics over the handling of the spread of the coronavirus, while the latter has fiercely been rejecting calls for an inquiry, terming this the US-led propaganda against them. Morrison said all members of the WHO should be obliged to participate in a review. The COVID-19 outbreak originated in China and has since spread to infect some 2.3 million people globally and killed nearly 1,60,000, according to Reuters. Diplomatic ties between China and Australia frayed in recent years amid allegations Beijing committed cyber-attacks and attempted to interfere in Canberra’s domestic affairs. The outbreak in China is said to have started in a wet market in the city of Wuhan. "Wet markets" are marketplaces that sell fresh food such as meat and fish. But some also sell wildlife. To this end, the Australian government also called for the G20 countries to take action on wildlife wet markets, calling them a "biosecurity and human health risk" -- after a meeting of G20 agriculture ministers. China imposed a temporary ban on selling wildlife on January 23 and is now reviewing its legislation to restrict commercial wild animal trading on a permanent basis. Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said on Thursday he had asked government officials from the Group of 20 major economies to back a plan to end wildlife wet markets. Australia's call for an inquiry is also being seen as bolstering ties with the United States -- which has been critical of China and the World Health Organisation`s handling of the pandemic, and has withdrawn US funding from the U.N. agency. France and Britain have said now was the time to fight the virus, not to apportion blame. Australia has about 6,600 cases of coronavirus and 76 deaths from the virus. The Ruby Princess cruise ship, owned by Carnival Corp, is Australia's largest source of coronavirus infections after authorities granted the ship permission to disembark its 2,700 passengers last month without health checks.

Australia bats for a proposed coronavirus inquiry, urges G20 action on wildlife wet markets

Two pet cats in the city of New York have tested positive for coronavirus. This is the first time that the virus has been found in a domestic animal. Watch report.

New York cats test positive for coronavirus: Infected cats to make full recovery

Can dogs detect COVID-19? A British charity believes so, and has begun training canines to sniff out the coronavirus following previous screening success with various illnesses.

Medical Detection Dogs, set up in 2008 to harness dogs' sharp sense of smell to detect human diseases, started working on the project late last month.

In its training room in Milton Keynes, in central England, the dogs are being intensively trained to sniff out samples of the virus, and indicate when they have found it to receive a treat. &nbsp;

The approach is based on a belief that each disease triggers a distinct odour, which canines are uniquely well-placed to smell.

The charity has previously worked with its dogs to detect cancers, Parkinson's disease and bacterial infections using samples taken from patients.

"We believe dogs can detect COVID-19 and will be able to screen hundreds of people very, very rapidly so we know who needs to be tested and isolated," Claire Guest, founder and chief executive of Medical Detection Dogs, told AFP.

"We have evidence that dogs can detect bacterias and other diseases, so we believe that taking this project forward will make a huge difference to the ability to control COVID-19 spread."

Guest is working with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Durham University in northeast England -- the same team that recently collaborated to show dogs can be trained to detect malaria.

James Logan, head of the LSHTM's disease control department, said that project demonstrated dogs can smell odours from humans with "extremely high accuracy".

He added there was "a very high chance" that they would be able to detect COVID-19 in a similar way and potentially "revolutionise our response" to the disease.

The team is aiming to train the dogs over a six-week period to help provide the "rapid, non-invasive diagnosis" tool.

Canines can also detect subtle changes in skin temperature, potentially making them useful in determining if a person has a fever.

If successful, the four-legged detection devices could be deployed at airports to identify people carrying the virus, according to Steve Lindsay from Durham University.

The number of coronavirus cases around the world has now soared to 1,246,840, according to the latest figures Wednesday compiled by AFP from official sources.

The number of actual infections is believed to be higher since many countries are only testing severe cases or patients requiring hospitalisation. &nbsp;

Can dogs detect COVID-19? A British charity believes so, and has begun training canines to sniff out the coronavirus following previous screening success with various illnesses.

Can dogs detect COVID-19? A British charity believes so, and has begun training canines to sniff out the coronavirus following previous screening success with various illnesses. Medical Detection Dogs, set up in 2008 to harness dogs' sharp sense of smell to detect human diseases, started working on the project late last month. In its training room in Milton Keynes, in central England, the dogs are being intensively trained to sniff out samples of the virus, and indicate when they have found it to receive a treat. The approach is based on a belief that each disease triggers a distinct odour, which canines are uniquely well-placed to smell. The charity has previously worked with its dogs to detect cancers, Parkinson's disease and bacterial infections using samples taken from patients. "We believe dogs can detect COVID-19 and will be able to screen hundreds of people very, very rapidly so we know who needs to be tested and isolated," Claire Guest, founder and chief executive of Medical Detection Dogs, told AFP. "We have evidence that dogs can detect bacterias and other diseases, so we believe that taking this project forward will make a huge difference to the ability to control COVID-19 spread." Guest is working with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Durham University in northeast England -- the same team that recently collaborated to show dogs can be trained to detect malaria. James Logan, head of the LSHTM's disease control department, said that project demonstrated dogs can smell odours from humans with "extremely high accuracy". He added there was "a very high chance" that they would be able to detect COVID-19 in a similar way and potentially "revolutionise our response" to the disease. The team is aiming to train the dogs over a six-week period to help provide the "rapid, non-invasive diagnosis" tool. Canines can also detect subtle changes in skin temperature, potentially making them useful in determining if a person has a fever. If successful, the four-legged detection devices could be deployed at airports to identify people carrying the virus, according to Steve Lindsay from Durham University. The number of coronavirus cases around the world has now soared to 1,246,840, according to the latest figures Wednesday compiled by AFP from official sources. The number of actual infections is believed to be higher since many countries are only testing severe cases or patients requiring hospitalisation.

Can dogs detect COVID-19? Canines in training to sniff out virus

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said the coronavirus pandemic is a "human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis".

The UN chief said in a video message that there was discrimination in the delivery of public services to tackle COVID-19 and there are structural inequalities that impede access to them, adding the pandemic has also seen "disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targetting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response."

The secretary-general said he would release a report on Thursday on how human rights must guide the response to the virus and recovery from the pandemic. Neither he nor the report names any countries or parties responsible for human rights violations.

"With rising ethno-nationalism, populism, authoritarianism and a push back against human rights in some countries, the crisis can provide a pretext to adopt repressive measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic," he said.

In February, Guterres issued a call to action to countries, businesses and people to help renew and revive human rights across the globe, laying out a seven-point plan amid concerns about climate change, conflict and repression. He had then said governments also need to take action to mitigate the worst impacts of COVID-19 on jobs, livelihoods, access to basic services and family life.

"Heavy-handed security responses undermine the health response and can exacerbate existing threats to peace and security or create new ones. The best response is proportionate to the immediate threat and protects human rights," he added.

The message is clear, he said. "People and their rights must be front and centre."

 
&nbsp;

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said the coronavirus pandemic is a "human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis". The UN chief said in a video message that there was discrimination in the delivery of public services to tackle COVID-19 and there are structural inequalities that impede access to them, adding the pandemic has also seen "disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targetting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said the coronavirus pandemic is a "human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis". The UN chief said in a video message that there was discrimination in the delivery of public services to tackle COVID-19 and there are structural inequalities that impede access to them, adding the pandemic has also seen "disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targetting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response." The secretary-general said he would release a report on Thursday on how human rights must guide the response to the virus and recovery from the pandemic. Neither he nor the report names any countries or parties responsible for human rights violations. "With rising ethno-nationalism, populism, authoritarianism and a push back against human rights in some countries, the crisis can provide a pretext to adopt repressive measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic," he said. In February, Guterres issued a call to action to countries, businesses and people to help renew and revive human rights across the globe, laying out a seven-point plan amid concerns about climate change, conflict and repression. He had then said governments also need to take action to mitigate the worst impacts of COVID-19 on jobs, livelihoods, access to basic services and family life. "Heavy-handed security responses undermine the health response and can exacerbate existing threats to peace and security or create new ones. The best response is proportionate to the immediate threat and protects human rights," he added. The message is clear, he said. "People and their rights must be front and centre."

Coronavirus pandemic is fast becoming a 'human rights crisis': UN chief

A federal appeals court has allowed Arkansas to ban most surgical abortions during the coronavirus pandemic.

The state issued the order halting surgical abortions after initially encouraging the clinic to stop performing the procedure for out-of-state patients.

A three-judge panel of the court on Wednesday dissolved a judge's temporary restraining order that allowed surgical abortions to continue after the Arkansas Department of Health told the state's only surgical abortion clinic to stop performing the procedure unless it was needed to protect the life or health of the mother.

Other states have used similar orders to restrict abortions during the pandemic.&nbsp;

The state would ease its limits on elective surgeries starting Monday, though it was not immediately clear whether the move would allow surgical abortions to resume at the clinic.

Arkansas has reported at least 2,392 coronavirus cases and 42 deaths. The number of infections is likely higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.

The state's order did not prohibition medication abortions that are still administered by Little Rock Family Planning and another clinic operated by Planned Parenthood.

The state currently bans abortion 20 weeks into a woman's pregnancy, and the filing said the clinic on Thursday will have to turn away at least two patients about to pass that threshold.

&nbsp;

A federal appeals court has allowed Arkansas to ban most surgical abortions during the coronavirus pandemic. The state issued the order halting surgical abortions after initially encouraging the clinic to stop performing the procedure for out-of-state patients.

A federal appeals court has allowed Arkansas to ban most surgical abortions during the coronavirus pandemic. The state issued the order halting surgical abortions after initially encouraging the clinic to stop performing the procedure for out-of-state patients. A three-judge panel of the court on Wednesday dissolved a judge's temporary restraining order that allowed surgical abortions to continue after the Arkansas Department of Health told the state's only surgical abortion clinic to stop performing the procedure unless it was needed to protect the life or health of the mother. Other states have used similar orders to restrict abortions during the pandemic. The state would ease its limits on elective surgeries starting Monday, though it was not immediately clear whether the move would allow surgical abortions to resume at the clinic. Arkansas has reported at least 2,392 coronavirus cases and 42 deaths. The number of infections is likely higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick. The state's order did not prohibition medication abortions that are still administered by Little Rock Family Planning and another clinic operated by Planned Parenthood. The state currently bans abortion 20 weeks into a woman's pregnancy, and the filing said the clinic on Thursday will have to turn away at least two patients about to pass that threshold.

US state to ban surgical abortions due to coronavirus

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