Monday 27 April
BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING
Monday 27 April 2020 News Briefing – Today’s headlines are dominated by the global Coronavirus Pandemic. As of 6:30 am (GMT), these are the global active numbers.
The top story this Monday Morning: Boris Johnson returns to work. His return comes as pressure mounts to increase testing in the UK and ease the lockdown
Global COVID-19 UPDATE
Coronavirus Cases: 3,003,889
Deaths: 207,103
Recovered: 882,677
- Coronavirus: Global cases top 3 million.
- Boris Johnson returns to work.
- ICU bed shortages in most prefectures in Japan during peak.
- UK: Key areas to look at in easing lockdown.
- French police seize 14,000 face masks that were heading to the black market.
- Saudi Arabia and China sign $265m deal to fight the virus.
Coronavirus: Live updates
CNN says Covid-19 has now infected more than 2.9 million people and killed at least 206,000 worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.
In the US, more than 54,000 people have died in the United States, representing more than a quarter of all deaths worldwide. Meanwhile, some restrictions are being eased in Europe – with Switzerland allowing some businesses to reopen today, and Italy planning to loosen measures on May 4.
Read the full story on CNN
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Coronavirus: Boris Johnson returns to work
BBC News says Boris Johnson returns to work, the PM is set to make a statement on his first day back at work after his virus recovery. The PM’s return comes as pressure mounts to increase testing in the UK and ease the lockdown.
Meanwhile, Junior health minister Edward Argar told the BBC he understood frustration with lockdown restrictions in the UK but “we’re not in a place where the science says we can ease them.”
Read the full story on BBC News
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Japan scenario projects ICU beds shortage in most prefectures during pandemic’s peak
Japan Times says most of Japan’s 47 prefectures are likely to run short of intensive care beds for coronavirus patients under a peak scenario drawn up by the government, a Kyodo News study has found.
In 21 prefectures, the number of severe Covid-19 patients would be more than double the ICU beds available, the study found, underscoring how vulnerable the nation’s medical system is amid the pandemic.
Read the full story on Japan Times
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The key areas to look at in easing the UK coronavirus lockdown
The Guardian says as Boris Johnson returns to work, he faces calls from Labour to be clearer about how Britain might start lifting the coronavirus lockdown, now entering its fifth week.
On Sunday, Dominic Raab warned the outbreak remained at a “delicate and dangerous” stage and said it was irresponsible to speculate about steps to change the rules underpinning the government’s “stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives” strategy.
Read the full story on The Guardian
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French police seize 14,000 face masks bound for the black market
France24 says French police have seized 14,000 face masks intended for the black market in a record haul since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
It is the largest seizure since the French government banned the resale of protective masks to prioritise their distribution to health workers in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read the full story on France24
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Saudi Arabia and China sign $265m deal to fight coronavirus
Arab News says China will supply Saudi Arabia with 9 million coronavirus test kits, 500 specialist technicians and six laboratories in a $265 million deal signed on Sunday.
The agreement between the Kingdom’s National Unified Procurement Company (NUPCO) and China’s Beijing Genome Institute will enable the Kingdom to conduct up to 60,000 tests a day, some of them in a unique inflatable mobile laboratory.
Read the full story on Arab News
- North Korea’s Kim Jong-un is ‘alive and well’ says, top adviser.
- Iran plans to reopen mosques in coronavirus-free areas.
North Korea’s Kim Jong-un is ‘alive and well’ says Seoul
France24 reports Kim Jong-un is “alive and well” according to a top security adviser to the South’s President Moon Jae-in said, downplaying rumours over Kim’s health following his absence from a key anniversary.
“Our government position is firm,” said Moons’s special adviser on national security in an interview with CNN on Sunday, “Kim Jong-un is alive and well.”
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Iran plans to reopen mosques in coronavirus-free areas
Aljazeera says Iran plans to reopen mosques in parts of the country that have been consistently free of the coronavirus outbreak as restrictions on Iranians gradually ease.
Iran is one of the Middle Eastern countries hit hardest by the pandemic. It will be divided up into white, yellow and red regions based on the number of infections and deaths.
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