Coronavirus updates, May 29: Latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic from Pakistan and around the world
Nationwide confirmed cases cross 65,000, death toll climbs to 1,334; global death toll tops 359,000
Updated Friday May 29 2020
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 65,218 on Friday after new infections were confirmed in the country.
The province-wise break up of the total number of cases as of 11:01pm, May 29, is as follows:
Total confirmed cases: 65,218
• Sindh: 26,113
• Punjab: 22,964
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 9,063
• Balochistan: 4,087
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 2,100
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 660
• AJK: 227
Deaths: 1,365
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 445
• Punjab: 410
• Sindh: 427
• Balochistan: 46
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 9
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 23
• AJK: 5
More than 5.8 million people have been reported infected with the novel coronavirus globally and over 359,000 have died, according to a Reuters tally
Read on for the latest updates from Pakistan and around the world.
Disclaimer: There may be some discrepancy in the number of confirmed cases reported at the country level due to differences in figures quoted by federal and provincial authorities.
Geo News is constantly gathering fresh information from concerned authorities and striving to keep our readers up to date with the most accurate information available.
Orange: General updates coming in from Pakistan
Red: Reports on new cases in Pakistan
Maroon: Reports on new deaths in Pakistan
Green: Reports on recovered patients in Pakistan
LIVE UPDATES
11:59pm — Zurich, Switzerland — WHO, 37 countries launch alliance to share tools to battle COVID-19
Thirty-seven countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) appealed on Friday for common ownership of vaccines, medicines and diagnostic tools to tackle the global coronavirus pandemic, taking aim at patent laws they fear could become a barrier to sharing crucial supplies, Reuters reported.
“Vaccines, tests, diagnostics, treatments and other key tools in the coronavirus response must be made universally available as global public goods,” said Costa Rica President Carlos Alvarado.
The effort, originally proposed in March, aims to provide a one-stop shop for scientific knowledge, data and intellectual property amid a pandemic that has infected more than 5.8 million people and killed more than 360,000.
The WHO issued a “Solidarity Call to Action”, asking other stakeholders to join the voluntary push.
“WHO recognises the important role that patents play in fuelling innovation but this is a time when people must take priority,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told an online news briefing.
Read complete story here.
11:45pm — Paris, France — Coronavirus new deaths and cases slow down
France’s coronavirus deaths rose by less than 100 for the ninth day running and new confirmed cases slowed again as the country gears up for easing lockdown, Reuters reported.
Earlier in the day, statistics agency INSEE said fewer people died in France in early May than in the same period the two previous years following high excess death rates during the March-April peak of the epidemic.
The French health ministry said the number of fatalities rose by 52, or 0.2%, to 28,714, the fourth highest in the world.
New confirmed cases were up 0.4% - after a spike of 2.3% on Thursday due to better data tracking - at 149,668.
The ministry said the number of people in hospital fell by more than 500, or 3%, to 14,695, and the number of people in intensive care fell by 68, or 4.8%, to 1,361.
11:01pm — Quetta, Pakistan — Balochistan's tally goes past 4,000 as it reports 159 cases
The Balochistan health department has reported 159 more cases. The rise means the province's tally has breached 4,000 and now stands at 4,087.
In today's assessment report, the department said that it is revising its death policies. Under the new policy, deaths have been divided into "confirmed" and "probable" categories.
"Total deaths are 76 including confirmed (46) and probable (30)," said the report.
10:51pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Murtaza Wahab expresses joy at Ghulam Ahmed Bilour's recovery
ANP's Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, an octogenarian, has defeated the coronavirus.
Murtaza Wahab, the Sindh government spokesperson, has expressed happiness at the news saying: "More power to all covid patients. Hoping and praying that everyone recovers Insha'Allah"
10:25pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Domestic flights to see an increase due to 'smart lockdown': CAA
The Civil Aviation Authority has notified that the government has decided to increase domestic flight operations from 20-22% to 40-45% of the number in pre-COVID-19 days.
It said the decision was taken "due to growing business and public demand for air travel".
The authority said the move was also made factoring in the "smart lockdown" observed by the federal and provincial governments.
The "enhanced" operations shall begin June 1 and will cover Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.
09:57pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh reports 31 deaths, 804 new cases
The Sindh health department has reported 31 more deaths in the last 24 hours. The spike has seen the grim total breach 400 and hit 427.
A total 804 new cases were also reporting, bumping the tally of infected to 26,113.
On a positive note, 1,560 recoveries were reported, bringing the total to 12,750.
09:48pm — Zurich, Switzerland — WHO, 37 countries launch alliance to share tools to battle COVID-19
Thirty-seven countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) have appealed for common ownership of vaccines, medicines and diagnostic tools to tackle the global coronavirus pandemic, taking aim at patent laws they fear could become a barrier to sharing crucial supplies.
While the push by mostly developing nations, called the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool, won praise from groups including Doctors Without Borders, a drug industry alliance questioned if the effort to pool intellectual property would really broaden access to medicines.
Developing and some small nations fear rich countries pumping resources into finding vaccines — more than 100 are in development — will muscle their way to the front of the queue, once a candidate succeeds.
The effort, originally proposed in March, aims to provide a one-stop shop for scientific knowledge, data and intellectual property amid a pandemic that has infected more than 5.8 million people and killed more than 360,000.
The WHO issued a “Solidarity Call to Action”, asking other stakeholders to join the voluntary push.
“WHO recognises the important role that patents play in fuelling innovation but this is a time when people must take priority,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told an online news briefing.
09:37pm — Karachi, Pakistan — 'I've tested negative for COVID-19': Seemin Jamali sets record straight
Amid media reports circulating about Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Executive Director Seemin Jamali being ill, the doctor has clarified that she has tested negative for COVID-19.
"My corona test has come back negative. Thank God, I do not have coronavirus," said Jamali.
09:16pm — Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan — Region reports 2 more cases
The Gilgit-Baltistan health department has reported two more cases in the region, which has taken the total number of infections to 660.
Seven more recoveries were also reported, taking the total to 477.
08:44pm — Paris, France — Louvre museum preparing to re-open on July 6
The Louvre museum in Paris plans to re-open its doors on July 6, following new steps announced on Thursday by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe to ease the country’s coronavirus lockdown.
In a statement, France’s most visited museum said a booking system and new signposting would offer visitors the maximum possible safety while they are in the building. They will be asked to wear a mask and keep social distancing.
“Even if it was possible to discover the Louvre’s treasures virtually during lockdown, nothing can replace the emotion of standing in front of a work of art; that is the raison d’etre of museums,” Louvre director Jean-Luc Martinez said.
Between March 12 and May 22, the Louvre’s website received 10.5 million visitors, compared to 14.1 million in all of 2019.
The number of virtual visitors per day to the site soared to about 330,000, with a peak of nearly 400,000, compared to about 40,000 visitors per day before the coronavirus crisis.
The Louvre also said the Tuileries garden in front of the museum would open on Sunday, but collective games and gatherings of more than 10 people would be banned.
Both had been closed on March 13.
08:21pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Outbound international flights resume tomorrow: CAA
8:00pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh drafts SOPs required to resume public transport
Information Minister Sindh Nasir Hussain Shah said standard operation procedures (SOPs) required to resume public transport were ready.
A final decision will be taken in a meeting of the task force in the light of the doctor's suggestions, he added.
7:55pm — New York, US — Fed's Mester says it's hard to imagine quick V-shaped recovery
Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Loretta Mester said US economic activity could pick up in the third quarter as businesses begin to reopen, but she cautioned the recovery is likely to be slow as consumers and businesses take precautions to limit coronavirus infections.
“The recovery could be slow,” Mester said Friday during an interview with Bloomberg TV. “When we have so many people out of work it’s hard to imagine that we see a quick V-shaped recovery.”
Mester said activity could begin to emerge in the third quarter as the economy begins to reopen, but she said output and employment are not likely to return to levels seen at the start of the year.
Fed officials moved quickly to stabilize markets and support the economy as the coronavirus spread, leading businesses to shut down across the country. The US central bank cut rates to zero, launched a slew of emergency lending facilities and kicked off open-ended asset purchases to improve market functioning.
7:47pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Capital reports one more death
The deputy commissioner of Islamabad has reported one more death in the city, taking the total to 23.
The capital now has 2,100 cases.
Two more recoveries were also reported, taking the total to 163.
7:45pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Bed occupancy increasing in the capital
7:40pm — Abu Dhabi, UAE — COVID-19 prevention curfew to shorten by two hours
he United Arab Emirates will shorten from Saturday by two hours a nightly curfew meant to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the country’s state news agency said, Reuters reported.
The curfew, officially called “the national sanitisation program”, will run from 10pm to 6am as of Saturday. It currently starts at 8pm and ends at 6am
7:35pm — Almaty, Kazakhstan — Country to ease lockdown next week
Kazakhstan will take down police checkpoints between its regions next week and reopen kindergartens and gyms as it moves to ease its coronavirus lockdown, the government said, Reuters reported.
The Central Asian republic, which has reported 9,932 cases of the new coronavirus and 37 deaths, plans also to restart railway transport in big cities and regional centres from June 1, as well as long-distance bus routes.
Sports and cultural facilities will also reopen, but spectators will not yet be allowed, the prime minister’s website said.
Authorities plan to open cinemas from June 15 and are considering resuming flights to and from South Korea, China, and Azerbaijan, and then subsequently to and from the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Turkey and Thailand.
7:30pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — KP reports 13 new deaths
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 13 new deaths and 225 new cases bumping the provincial infected toll to 9,063 and death toll to 445.
7:25pm — Rawalpindi, Pakistan — Additional 10 passenger trains to operate from June 1: Sheikh Rashid
Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that from June 1, around 10 additional passenger trains will begin operations.
The federal minister was speaking to Geo News, where he said that a total of 40 out of 142 passenger trains will become operational from the start of the next month.
The minister said that the trains will follow the already-decided Standard Operating Procedures for the course of their journey.
Read complete story here.
7:20pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Commecs student association president Asif Arif passes away from coronavirus
The president of Commecs college's old student association, Mohammad Asif Arif, has passed away from coronavirus in Karachi.
Arif was also the trustee of the Commecs Educational Trust (CET).
"It is with a heavy heart and grief announcing the news of passing away of our beloved President Commecs Old Student Association COSA and trustee of Commecs Mr Asif Arif due to corona virus," said a post to announce his demise on a Facebook page for the college.
Read complete story here.
6:50pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Health ministry issues new rules for burial of bodies infected with coronavirus
The ministry of health has issued a new document to ensure precautionary measures are followed while handling the bodies of suspected or confirmed cases of coronavirus.
The federal government's document aims to "provide management guidelines to the families, healthcare providers, managers of health facilities and mortuaries, religious and public health authorities, and to all those who attend to the dead bodies of individuals suspected or confirmed for COVID-19".
Read complete story here.
6:45pm — Madrid, Spain — First suspected imported coronavirus cases since March reported
Two people who travelled from the US to the Spanish region of Valencia have tested positive for coronavirus, potentially becoming Spain’s first imported cases of the virus since travel restrictions were imposed in mid-March, Reuters reported.
Imported cases practically vanished after it closed its borders and locked down its population on March 14, but authorities will be closely monitoring for any resurgence when the tourism-dependent country reopens in July.
Regional Health Councillor Ana Barcelo said the travellers had likely not complied with a mandatory two-week quarantine after arriving in Spain.
“They have not travelled directly to Valencia, but stopped at midpoint airports and we don’t know exactly the route they took, or if they finally travelled to Valencia by car or by plane”, she told a news conference on Thursday.
6:40pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh schools to not open on June 1
Schools in Sindh will not reopen on June 1, according to a notification from the provincial education department.
"The steering committee decided to extend the closure of schools until June 1 [...] due to coronavirus," it said.
6:32pm — US Asians, harassed over coronavirus, push back on streets, social media
A spike in harassment of Asian-Americans since the coronavirus pandemic began has led community activists in the United States to fight back - forming street patrols, rallying on social media, and supporting each other online, Reuters reported.
Asians of varying national backgrounds have suffered a surge of attacks this year, which activists linked to the pandemic’s emergence in China. Some said they feared harassment could worsen in a U.S. election year, with US-China tensions ratcheting up over trade, Hong Kong and the coronavirus.
“When China is made the enemy, people who look like Chinese are the enemy. The economy is tanking, people are dying. They’re angry and fearful and want to take it out on Asian Americans even more,” said Russell Jeung, professor of Asian-American studies at San Francisco State University.
Since March 19, over 1,800 cases of harassment related to the coronavirus pandemic have been reported to Stop AAPI Hate, a website Jeung created with two advocacy groups.
Nine out of 10 victims were targeted because of their race, with 37% of incidents taking place in public areas, the organization said. Verbal harassment and shunning occurred in over 90% of the cases. Victims were physically assaulted, or coughed or spat on, in some 15% of cases.
Read complete story here.
Four doctors succumb to coronavirus in Pakistan
As many as four doctors succumbed to coronavirus in the last 24 hours as the country's infections shoot past 64,000 on Friday, Geo News reported.
Dr Sana Fatima, who worked at a private hospital in Lahore, Gunjrawala's psychologist Naeem Akhtar, Dr Khanzada who hailed from Afghanistan lost his life in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Incharge BMC trauma centre Dr Zubair Zubair Ahmed succumbed to coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the Young Doctors Association said that several doctors are in self-quarantine at their homes and pose a threat of infecting their families.
The YDA in the light of these fears demanded that a separate ward be set up for doctors in hospitals to save their families from the infection.
6:03pm — Denmark and Norway create travel bubble, excluding Sweden: media
Norway and Denmark will resume free travel between the two countries, three Norwegian media outlets said, creating a travel bubble that excludes Scandinavian neighbour Sweden, where the number of COVID-19 infections is higher, Reuters reported.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg are due to hold news conferences about travel restrictions.
5:55pm — Moscow, Russia — City revises up its coronavirus death toll for April after criticism
The city of Moscow has issued a revised version of its coronavirus death toll for April after criticism of its initial figures, more than doubling the original tally by using what it said was an alternative counting method, Reuters reported.
The city initially reported 636 coronavirus-related deaths for April, a figure many times lower than other comparable cities with similar outbreaks. The disparity raised questions among critics, media and the relatives of some of the deceased.
In its revised version, Moscow’s Health Department said in a statement that the toll was 1,561 when it included 756 people diagnosed with the coronavirus who died of other causes and 169 people suspected of having the virus despite testing negative.
Such a counting method would take into account “even controversial, questionable cases,” it said late on Thursday. Under the revised count, the city’s death rate from the virus was between 1.4% and 2.8%.
That would still make the Russian capital’s coronavirus death rate much lower than death rates reported in cities such as New York and London, it said.
Pakistan’s largest religious education board hints at resuming teaching activities
While all the educational institutions have been closed till July 15 to contain the coronavirus pandemic, the Wafaq-ul-Madaris Al-Arabia Pakistan, the country’s largest religious education board, has hinted at resuming on-campus curriculum activities from June 12, The News reported on Friday.
The meeting, held on Thursday, also discussed starting the admission process for the new academic year from June 2.
The board, which belongs to the Deobandi school of thought, in its meeting also decided that an official announcement for the reopening of the seminaries would be made after a meeting of the Ittehad-e-Tanzeemate-Madaris Pakistan (ITMP).
However, the date of the ITMP’s meeting was not mentioned in the press statement issued by the board.
Read complete story here.
5:35pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Pakistan drug firm to import potential COVID-19 treatment from Bangladesh
A pharmaceutical company in Pakistan plans to import the antiviral drug remdesivir, which has shown promise in treating coronavirus patients, from neighbouring Bangladesh, it said in a stock exchange filing.
The announcement by Searle Company Limited came a day after 56 virus deaths recorded by the south Asian nation, its highest toll in a single day.
The firm said it had entered into an exclusive licensing and marketing agreement with Bangladesh's Beximco Pharmaceuticals , the first company in the world to introduce the generic variant of the drug.
"Searle Pharma is planning to import remdesivir in finished form (ready to use) to meet the country's urgent requirements," the company told the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
Read complete story here.
5:25pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — NCC meeting convened on May 31
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar on Friday said that a special meeting of National Coordination Committee (NCC) will be held on May 31 (Monday) in order to finalise the strategy for tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown restrictions imposed in the country.
Announcing to lift certain curbs, the NCC, in its last meeting on May 7, had decided to extend the lockdown till May 31. However, markets and shopping malls were opened on the orders of the Supreme Court.
Chairing a meeting at National Command and Control Centre (NCOC), the federal minister stressed the need for devising a mechanism of providing the latest information about the availability of beds and ventilators in the hospitals to facilitate the COVID-19 patients.
Read complete story here.
5:15pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Pakistan saw a record 2,636 coronavirus cases, 57 deaths in last 24 hours: Dr Mirza
The prime minister's aide on health, Dr Zafar Mirza, on Friday said that a record 2,636 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours — the highest number recorded in a day, so far.
"During the last 24 hours we saw 2,636 cases [...] it is a big number and so far is the maximum we have seen in a 24 hour period," Dr Mirza said.
He said that onn a global scale, we have seen almost 6 million cases, of which more than 362,000 are deaths and of the total confirmed cases, around 43% — which is about 2.5 million — have recovered too.
"Pakistan has a similar trend. Of the 64,000 confirmed cases, approximately 35% have completely recovered," he said.
Read complete story here.
5:00pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh minister says decision related to resumption of transoprt will be taken tomorrow
Sindh Minister for Transport Owais Shah stated that the decision related to transport would be taken tomorrow on the advice of the doctors in the coronavirus task force.
“We want to open transport with social distancing and sanitization,” said the minister. He added that doctors have advised to close down everything due to the increasing cases.
The minister shared that they were developing SOPs for public transport and online ticketing. He added that if the doctors allow then the decision will be implemented with precaution and social distancing.
4:45pm - Hamburg, Germany — Germans cook more in coronavirus crisis, turn away from junk food
Many Germans cooked more meals themselves during the coronavirus crisis and also used more fresh ingredients rather than processed foods, the food and agriculture ministry said on Friday.
The ministry said that in a survey, some 30% of those questioned said they prepared more meals themselves than before the crisis, while 28% said they ate more meals together with other members of their household than before the crisis.
Only 7% said they used processed foods more than before the crisis, it said.
Germans used more fresh food during the stay-at-home period, Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner said.
“Corona is changing the daily nutrition of Germans,” Kloeckner said. “Regional foods have gained in importance.”
4:35pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Business to remain open from 9am to 7pm: LCCI president
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh stated that businesses will be allowed to be open from 9am to 7pm after holding successful negotiations with the Dc and DIG Lahore.
“All kind of stores and shops can be opened,” said the Sheikh. He added that the police and the authorities will not cause any problems.
“All shopping malls will open on Saturday and Sunday,” said Sheikh
4:20pm - Lisbon, Portugal — Portugal's tourism collapses in April due to coronavirus
The number of overnight stays by tourists in Portugal dropped 98.3% to nearly 71,000 last month from the previous year, showing the sector’s collapse as lockdowns to contain the spread of the coronavirus grounded flights and kept visitors away.
The National Statistics Institute (INE) said in its flash estimate overnight stays by Britons, the main source of tourism for Portugal, fell 99.3% in April compared to the same period in 2019.
4:00pm - Lahore, Pakistan — PML-N MPA tests positive for virus: Yasmin Rashid
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Shaukat Manzoor Cheema has tested positive for the virus, said Punjab health minister Yasmin Rashid.
“MPA Shaukat Manzoor Cheema was on a ventilator,” said Dr Rashid, adding that he has been removed from it after his health improved. She added that Cheema is also a heart patient.
3:30pm - Beijing, China — China plans to extend curbs on international flights until June 30: US embassy
Chinese civil aviation authorities plan to extend until June 30 their curbs on international flights to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the US embassy in Beijing said in a travel advisory on Friday.
China has drastically cut such flights since March to allay concerns over infections brought by arriving passengers. A so-called “Five One” policy allows mainland carriers to fly just one flight a week on one route to any country and foreign airlines to operate just one flight a week to China.
Washington has accused Beijing of making it impossible for US airlines to resume service to China and ordered four Chinese airlines to file flight schedules with the US government. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines wanted to resume flights to China in June, the US Transportation Department has noted.
US airlines are not flying to China at all because they suspended services before the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) imposed restrictions on air travel.
Chinese airlines have over the past few days submitted flight schedules to the US Department of Transportation, Reuters searches on a US government website showed.
3:15pm - Jakarta, Indonesia — Indonesia reports 678 new coronavirus cases, 24 deaths
Indonesia reported on Friday 678 new coronavirus infections, taking the total number of cases in the Southeast Asian country to 25,216, said health ministry official Achmad Yurianto.
Yurianto reported 24 new deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the total to 1,520, while 6,492 people have recovered.
Relatives of deceased coronavirus patient vandalise Peshawar's Lady Reading Hospital
The relatives of a coronavirus patient, who passed away earlier on Friday, vandalised Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital.
According to the LRH administration, the 50-year-old woman was brought to the hospital last night in a critical state.
The LRH officials said that the patient’s relatives broke down the door of the coronavirus complex of the hospital.
The hospital said that its staff is busy treating patients day and night.
Meanwhile the son of the deceased woman, Shahzad Advocate, said that his mother did not have the symptoms of the coronavirus.
Shahzad said that his mother was a cardiac patient and the doctor instead of treating the patient, asked for a coronavirus test.
The son said that the patient was then shifted to a coronavirus ward instead of a cardiac one.
Shahzad said that the family brawled with the doctors after his mother’s condition got worse.
Read more here.
3:00pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — CAA allows special American flight to land in Islamabad
Civil Aviation Authority on the request of the foreign ministry allowed a special flight carrying 147 American citizens to land in Islamabad.
According to the notification the flight will take back eight American diplomats to their country. The approval was granted by the CAA’s director transportation.
2:30pm - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Malaysia reports 103 new coronavirus cases, no new deaths
Malaysia reported 103 cases of new coronavirus infections on Friday, mostly involving foreigners, the health ministry said, raising the country’s cumulative total to 7,732 cases.
The health ministry reported no new deaths, leaving the total number of fatalities at 115.
2:00pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab Mass Transit Authority GM Finance Asif Sohail loses life to coronavirus
The provincial health department announced General Manager Finance of Punjab Mass Transit Authority Asif Sohail has lost his life to the coronavirus.
The health department shared that the 68-year-old was diagnosed with the coronavirus six days ago. It added that he was admitted to the Pakistan Liver and Kidney Institute after being diagnosed with the coronavirus.
1:45pm - Dublin, Ireland — Irish PM says good chance social distancing rule can be relaxed
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar raised the prospect on Friday of halving social distancing rules from two metres to one if the rate of coronavirus infections comes down further in a potential boost to still shuttered restaurants and pubs.
Facing one of the longest shutdowns in Europe, Ireland’s hospitality sector has called for the guidelines to be eased in line with a number of other European countries, saying it could be the difference between some operators reopening or not.
“Before we can relax that rule and maybe reduce it to 1 (metre), which I know a lot of people would like, we just need to see the virus come down a bit more. We’re not at that point yet but I think there’s a good chance we get there, just not quite yet,” Varadkar told Ireland’s FM104 radio station.
1:30pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Railways to start 10 more passenger trains: Sheikh Rashid
Railways Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed told Geo News that his ministry will give the go-ahead to resume services of 10 more passenger trains from June 1.
“Out of 142 passenger trains, 40 will be started,” Rashid said, adding that the trains will operate under the agreed SOPs.
“Along with internet booking services, booking offices will also remain open,” said the minister. He added that he was thankful to Prime Minister Imran Khan for allowing the resumption of 40 trains.
1:20pm - Berlin, Germany — We're still a long way off concluding EU recovery fund talks: Germany
There is still a long way to go until talks on a European coronavirus recovery fund are concluded, Germany’s foreign minister said on Friday, adding that Berlin aims to act as an “honest broker” during its EU presidency this year.
“We want to emerge from the crisis stronger, and we can only do so by acting together and in solidarity,” Heiko Maas told reporters.
“We’re a long way off being able to successfully conclude the negotiations,” he added.
12:50pm - Moscow, Russia — Russia reports record one-day rise in coronavirus deaths
Russia on Friday reported 232 deaths from the new coronavirus in the last 24 hours, a record one-day amount that pushed the nationwide death toll to 4,374.
Officials said 8,572 new infections had been confirmed, bringing the national tally to 387,623, the third highest reported total in the world after the United States and Brazil.
12:30pm - Quetta, Pakistan — Nationwide death toll rises to 1,334
Death toll from the coronavirus rose to 1,334 after new deaths were reported by Balochistan.
According to the provincial health department, Balochistan's death toll from the coronavirus rose to 60 with the 17 new deaths recorded in the last 24 hours.
12:20pm - Bangkok, Thailand — Thailand to further ease restrictions, shorten curfew hours
Thailand will next week shorten curfew hours and ease restrictions on more businesses, the government said on Friday, in response to its low numbers of locally transmitted cases of the coronavirus.
Starting from June 1, cinemas and theatres can reopen, but with no more than 200 people at a time and with strict social distancing measures, said Somsak Roongsita, secretary-general of the National Security Council.
A curfew will be shortened by one hour to last from 11 pm to 3 am and shopping malls, which reopened earlier this month, will also be allowed to extend their operating hours, he added.
“The reopening will help stimulate the economy and ease some financial burdens,” Somsak said.
Zoos, beauty clinics, spas, and traditional Thai massages will be allowed to operate, with social distancing in place, as will soccer fields and volleyball and basketball courts, but only for training purposes and with limits on spectators.
Fitness clubs can also reopen but with limited users at each time.
12:00pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Railways reports first coronvirus death of employee due to coronavirus
A spokesperson of the Pakistan Railways has announced that one of their employees has lost his life due to the coronavirus.
According to the spokesperson, the deceased employee was working as the head clerk at the office of the federal general inspector of railways. He added that the employee was admitted to Lahore’s Mayo Hospital 10 days ago after testing positive for the virus.
The spokesperson stated that the office of the federal general inspector of railways at the Railways headquarters have been sealed after the employee tested positive. He added that instructions have been given to disinfect the headquarters completely.
11:40am - Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab Assembly session to be held at local hotel: Sources
Sources in the Punjab Assembly secretariat have told Geo News that a session may be called in a local hotel.
According to sources, the assembly hall is too small to make it possible for the lawmakers to follow the SOPs during the session. They added that arrangements for holding the session in a local hotel have started.
11:20pm - Tokyo, Japan — Tokyo to further relax coronavirus curbs on Monday, governor says
Curbs in Japan’s capital of Tokyo to contain the coronavirus are to be eased further from Monday, Governor Yuriko Koike said, citing the recommendation of an advisory panel.
Cram schools, gyms, and theatres are among the facilities that will be allowed to reopen in a phased relaxation process, Koike told a news conference on Friday.
The city can “move to the next step of the phased easing of curbs, as long as Tokyo takes the necessary precautions to contain the spread of the virus”, she quoted the panel as having said.
Japan lifted its state of emergency for Tokyo this week, following a drop in daily infections. The country has recorded about 17,000 infections and some 900 deaths from the virus.
11:00am - Peshawar, Pakistan — Lockodown being observed in KP from today till Sunday
Advisor to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ajmal Wazir has stated that a lockdown will be imposed from today till Sunday in the province.
“Businesses are allowed to operate from Monday till Thursday,” said Wazir, adding that the only essential shops will be allowed to be open after 5 and everything else will be closed.
“Only barbershops and salons will be allowed to open three days a week from Friday till Sunday,” said the advisor.
10:40pm - Sydney, Australia — Australia's 'war cabinet' shifts focus to jobs: PM
Australia’s “war cabinet” will meet every month to focus on bringing unemployment down after successfully slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday.
Morrison in March convened regular meetings of state and territory leaders — known as the “war cabinet” — to draw up a strategy to tackle the coronavirus.
The cabinet agreed to limit outdoor gatherings, close pubs and limit cafes and restaurants to takeaway services, pushing up unemployment to nearly 10%.
Last month, it agreed on a plan to remove all social distancing restrictions by July and Morrison said it would now shift its focus to jobs.
“The national cabinet will drive the reform process between state and federal cooperation to drive jobs,” Morrison told reporters.
10:15am — Islamabad, Pakistan — Nationwide death toll crosses 1,300
Death toll from the novel coronavirus jumped to 1,317 on Froday after new deaths were reported across the country.
According to the national dashboard, 29 new deaths were reported in Punjab in the last 24 hours, while three were reported from Islamabad, and two from Balochistan.
10:15am — Islamabad, Pakistan — Confirmed cases jump past 64,000
Confirmed cases in the country climbed to 64,028 after new cases were detected in Islamabad and Punjab.
According to the national dashboard, 927 new cases were recorded in Punjab, while 312 new cases were reported Balochistan, 85 new cases in the federal capital, and four new cases were recorded in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Sindh leads the tally of confirmed cases in the country with 25,309 infections, followed by Punjab which has reported 22,964 cases. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa there are 8,842, Balochistan has 3,928 cases, 2,100 cases in Islamabad, 658 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 227 cases have been reported in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
9:30am - Bogota, Colombia — Colombia extends national quarantine until July
Colombia on Thursday extended a nationwide quarantine to contain the spread of the coronavirus until July 1, while allowing more freedom of movement in some parts of the country.
Thousands of businesses have begun to reopen in the Andean country, with new safety protocols and reduced staff, as a lockdown in place since late March was due to lift at the end of May.
Under the government-mandated extension, that business restart will continue. Hairdressers and barbers are among the businesses allowed to reopen, along with museums and libraries, at the discretion of local mayors.
However, other broad restrictions will remain in place. Public transit between municipalities and domestic flights will remain barred and in many areas people are required to stay indoors.
9:00am - Shanghai, China — Twitter flags China spokesman's tweet on COVID-19
Twitter has flagged a tweet written in March by a Chinese government spokesman that suggested the US military brought the novel coronavirus to China, as the social media platform ramps up fact-checking of posts.
Twitter posted a blue exclamation mark under a tweet by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, with a comment urging readers to check the facts about COVID-19.
“When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation!” Zhao wrote on March 12.
Clicking on the link directed readers to a page with the headline, “WHO says evidence suggests COVID-19 originated in animals and was not produced in a lab”.
8:30am - Berlin, Germany — Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 741 to 180,458
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 741 to 180,458, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Friday.
The reported death toll rose by 39 to 8,450, the tally showed.
11:59pm (May 28) — Ankara, Turkey — Erdogan says many facilities to reopen on June 1
Turkey will lift restrictions on intercity travel and allow restaurants, cafes, parks and sports facilities to reopen from June 1 as it eases restrictions imposed to curb the coronavirus outbreak, President Tayyip Erdogan said, Reuters reported.
Museums and beaches will also open from June 1, Erdogan said after a cabinet meeting. He said restrictions would remain in place on the movements of those aged over 65 and under 18.
The virus has killed nearly 4,500 people in Turkey, with more than 160,000 infections.
“Under the new normal order, let us not neglect masks, distancing and hygiene,” Erdogan said in a televised address.
11:50pm (May 28) — Argentina does not plan to lift travel ban before September 1, says industry group
Argentina plans to maintain its flight ban until September 1 to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus, worldwide airline industry group IATA, which has been lobbying to lift restrictions faster, said.
Argentina’s travel ban is one of the toughest in the world. Peter Cerda, IATA’s Vice President for the Americas, said they are in constant communication with the Argentine government but that its position has not changed.
11:45pm (May 28) — Dubai, UAE — Dubai hits the ski slope as coronavirus restrictions lift
Adnan Mayasi’s first move after Dubai lifted coronavirus restrictions on leisure activities was to hit the emirate’s indoor ski slope - with the added protection of surgical mask and plastic gloves, Reuters reported.
“The fear might be there,” said Mayasi, but added that the safety procedures made him feel “very comfortable.”
Skiers said the face masks got wet as breath condensed in the cold air, but that it was great to be doing sport again.
Dubai implemented a month-long 24-hour curfew in April and has gradually eased restrictions since then, including allowing malls and restaurants to open at limited capacities.
11:40pm (May 28) — London, UK — England launches coronavirus test and trace system
In a bid to halt the coronavirus's spread in one of the worst affected countries in the world, England on Thursday launched the latest weapon deployed in the battle, a "test and trace" system.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it was people's "civic duty" to comply with the new rules which will seek to track down people at risk from the disease.
"It's incredibly important for anybody who gets symptoms... immediately to isolate at home and to get a test and not to leave the house," he told BBC radio.
Under the system, a team of 25,000 tracers — supported by 20,000 testers and up to 7,000 clinicians — will text, email or call people who test positive for the virus and ask who they have been in close contact with.
Anybody thought to be at risk of infection will have to self-isolate, even if they have no symptoms.
For those who test positive, a clinician will immediately ask them whom they have been in "close contact" with — who will also be asked to self-isolate.
11:35pm (May 28) — Doctors in Indian occupied Kashmir face harassment, detention amid pandemic
Doctors dispensing their professional duties in Indian occupied Kashmir have decried harassment and manhandling by the regional police despite the ongoing coronavirus crisis, according a Brut India report.
Senior doctor and cardiologist Syed Maqbool spoke to the publication and said that he was harassed, beaten and kept in police custody without any reason.
“If this is the situation, this is the status of doctors, who are fighting COVID [sic] this time, what will be happening to our juniors? What will be happening to our paramedical staff?” he said.
The doctor said that he was detained on his way to Government Medical College, one of Srinagar’s biggest hospitals.
Dr Maqbool said that despite telling the policeman that he was going on duty, he was not allowed to take the route.
The doctor said when he stepped out of the car to talk to the SHO, he was "hit in the belly" by the policeman with a baton.
11:15pm (May 28) — London, UK — PM Johnson says groups of six people can meet outside from Monday
Groups of up to 6 people will be able to meet outside in England from Monday if they maintain social distancing, Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson said as he confirmed that tests had been met to ease the coronavirus lockdown further, Reuters reported.
“These changes mean that friends and family can start to meet their loved ones, perhaps seeing both parents at once or grandparents at once,” Johnson told reporters, adding that schools would re-open to more pupils and outdoor retailers and car showrooms would also be able to open from Monday.
11:06pm (May 28) — Kuwait Airways to lay off 1,500 foreign employees
State-owned Kuwait Airways said it will lay off 1,500 expatriate employees due to "significant difficulties" caused by the coronavirus pandemic, AFP reported.
The loss-making national carrier, which has a total of some 6,925 employees, has struggled amid the regional and worldwide downturn in air travel.
"In dealing with the coronavirus crisis and its negative impact on commercial operations. Kuwait Airways announces the termination of around 1,500 non-Kuwaiti employees," the airline said on Twitter.
10:21pm (May 28) — Gilgit, Pakistan — Trend and situation of cases in GB
10:12pm (May 28) — Amazon to offer permanent roles to 70% of 175,000 new US hires
Amazon.com plans to offer permanent jobs to about 70% of the US workforce it has hired temporarily to meet consumer demand during the coronavirus pandemic, the company told Reuters.
The world’s largest online retailer will begin telling 125,000 warehouse employees in June that they can keep their roles longer-term. The remaining 50,000 workers it has brought on will stay on seasonal contracts that last up to 11 months, a company spokeswoman said.
The decision is a sign that Amazon’s sales have increased sufficiently to justify an expanded workforce for order fulfillment, even as government lockdowns ease and rivals open their retail stores for pickup.
Amazon started the hiring spree in March with a blog post appealing to workers laid off by restaurants and other shuttered businesses, promising employment “until things return to normal and their past employer is able to bring them back.”
Seattle-based Amazon did not disclose how much it was spending to make the positions permanent and whether that cost would be in addition to the $4 billion it has forecast for virus-related expenses.
The permanent roles come with benefits that seasonal workers lack, such as employer-offered health insurance and retirement plans.
