Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | Dubai carrier Emirates reversed on Sunday its decision to suspend all passenger flights, shortly after it said it would halt operations from March 25 amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. The airline said it “received requests from governments and customers to support the repatriation …
Read More »Uganda, Rwanda take action as infections jump across Africa
Kigali, Rwanda | AFP | Rwanda went into shutdown on Sunday, imposing some of the strictest coronavirus measures in Africa where infections are rising fast and hospitals ill-equipped to cope. The central African nation banned all “unnecessary movements”, mirroring steps by governments from the Indian Ocean nation of Mauritius to …
Read More »Dybala, Maldini test positive for coronavirus
Rome, Italy | AFP | Argentina striker Paulo Dybala said Saturday that he has become the third Juventus player to test positive for coronavirus while former AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini revealed that he and his son have also been infected. “Hi everyone. I just wanted to let you know …
Read More »On a roll: The psychology behind toilet paper panic
ANALYSIS | It’s a scene that’s become familiar around the world: From the US to France to Australia, rows of empty supermarket shelves where toilet paper used to be, the result of coronavirus-induced panic buying. What exactly is it about the rolls of tissue that has caused mayhem across cultures, …
Read More »Coronavirus disease: What you need to know
Geneva, Switzerland | THE INDEPENDENT & AFP | Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that …
Read More »Tunisia herbalists cash in on coronavirus fear
Tunis, Tunisia | AFP | There is no known cure for the new coronavirus, but in the medicinal herbs souq in Tunis, anxious Tunisians are consulting with herbalists and stocking up on traditional remedies. “I am afraid for my father, who is old and sick, so I have come here …
Read More »Virus vaccine research not for sale, Germany says
Berlin, Germany | AFP | Germany’s foreign minister said Monday the rights to coronavirus vaccine research were not for sale, following reports Donald Trump wanted the US to buy exclusive access to a potential vaccine developed by a German biotech firm. The comments, made in an interview to media …
Read More »Bank of Japan unveils emergency measures over virus
Tokyo, Japan | AFP | The Bank of Japan on Monday unveiled a series of emergency monetary policy measures to shore up the world’s third-largest economy, as the coronavirus pandemic threatens a global recession. In a meeting brought forward by two days, the BoJ said it would double its annual …
Read More »Rwanda confirms first coronavirus case
Kigali, Rwanda | AFP | Rwanda on Saturday confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus — an Indian citizen who arrived last week from Mumbai, the health ministry said. “He is currently under treatment in stable condition, isolated from other patients. The tracing of all contacts has been conducted …
Read More »Some Rome churches reopen after angry Pope Francis steps in
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Some of Rome’s Catholic churches reopened Friday after Pope Francis voiced displeasure with the Italian authorities’ push to shut them because of the coronavirus pandemic. The rare standoff between the 83-year-old pontiff and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte’s government came as Italy’s death toll …
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