- Coronavirus: Global cases top 2.06 million.
- USA: Trump’s big show of opening the US economy will leave life and death decisions to others.
- Japan: Abe’s administration faces flak over hesitance to compensate virus-hit businesses.
- UK: Ministers to back a three-week extension to the lockdown.
- UK: Pregnant nurse dies of Covid19, adding concern among health workers.
- WHO addresses Trump’s decision to cut US funding, says internal probe will happen in “due course.”
Trump’s big show of opening the economy
CNN says President Trump’s make America open again campaign will deliver exactly what he wants Thursday — a victory lap over the coronavirus pandemic that leaves the life and death decisions to others.
Even with epicentres of the virus still suffering hundreds of daily deaths, Trump says it’s time to show that America is the “comeback kid” ready to unleash a miracle economic rebirth.
The current numbers stand at 2.06 million people infected and at least 137,000 deaths worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. In the US there are at least 638,000 cases including more than 30,000 deaths.
Read the full story on CNN
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Abe administration faces flak over hesitance to compensate virus-hit businesses
Japan Times says the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unveiled last week an economic package of Covid-19 measures, but the central government has, so far, been unwilling to support direct compensation for firms that agree to shut down at its request under his state of emergency declaration.
Last Tuesday, Abe said it was “impossible” for the government to directly compensate losses among individuals and entrepreneurs, giving the example of government being unable to make up for the lost sales at high-class bars and nightclubs.
Read the full story on Japan Times
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Ministers to back three-week coronavirus lockdown extension
BBC News says Ministers are later expected to announce a three-week extension on the coronavirus lockdown.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will lead emergency Cobra committee and cabinet meetings about the continuation of social distancing measures.
Labour has said it will support an extension, but also called for details on how and when the lockdown will end.
Read the full story on BBC News
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Pregnant nurse’s death adds to concern among health workers
The Guardian says pregnant healthcare workers across the UK have spoken of their fear at being pushed into working on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis, as it emerged that a nurse who was close to full-term has died of Covid-19.
Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong had an emergency caesarean to deliver and save her baby daughter, who survived and is being cared for.
The 28-year-old tested positive for the virus on 5 April. She had the caesarean soon after going into hospital on 7 April but died on Sunday.
Read the full story on The Guardian
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‘Virus exploiting cracks between us’: WHO responds to Trump cutting funding, promises internal probe
RT News says World Health Organisation Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says its pandemic response will be reviewed in “due course” after President Trump stopped US funding.
“In due course, [the] WHO’s performance in tackling this pandemic will be reviewed by [the] WHO’s member states and independent bodies that are in place to ensure transparency and accountability.”
On Wednesday, Dr Tedros said the organisation regrets the “decision of the president of the United States to order a halt in funding.”
Read the full story on RT News
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