BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING
Monday 30th March 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 coronavirus has infected more than 723,077 people worldwide and killed over 33,983. The US cases surpass China and Italy: The US now has the most confirmed cases worldwide — more than 142,637 with over 2,485 deaths, according to a WTX News count.
Global COVID-19 UPDATE
Coronavirus Cases: 723,077
Deaths: 33,983
Recovered: 151,793
Total COVID-19 Cases in the USA – 142,637 – Total deaths 2,485 – First case reported on Jan 10th 2020 – Current active cases 135,593
Total COVID-19 Cases in Italy – 97,689 – Total Deaths 10.779 – First case reported on Jan 20th 2020 – Current active cases 73,880
Total COVID-19 Cases in China- 81,470 – Total Deaths 3,304 – First case reported on Jan 100th 2020 – Current active cases 2,466
Total COVID-19 Cases in Spain – 80,110 – Total Deaths 6,803 – First case reported on Jan 30th 2020 – Current active cases 58,598
Total COVID-19 Cases in the UK – 19,522 – Total Deaths 1228 – First case reported on Jan 30th 2020 – Current active cases 18,159
Total COVID-19 Cases in Iran – 38,309 – Total Deaths 2640 – The first was case reported on Feb 18th 2020 – Current active cases 23,278
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20,000 ex-NHS staff return to work
WTX News says some 20,000 ex-NHS staff return to work to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, prime minister Boris Johnson has said.
In a video the PM posted on Twitter, he thanked the doctors, nurses and other medics who have returned to the NHS as well as the 750,000 members of the public who have volunteered to help during the pandemic.
“One thing I think the coronavirus crisis has already proved is that there really is such a thing as society,” he said.
Read the full story on WTX News
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Coronavirus cases top 722,000 globally
CNN reports confirmed coronavirus cases have now topped 722,000 globally and killed over 33,000 according to a tally by John Hopkins University.
The United States has the most confirmed cases with over 139,700 and over 2,400 deaths. As the virus continues to pick up speed across the US, President Trump has ordered his social-distancing policy to remain in place until the end of April. He said that modelling shows the peak of the death rate will hit in two weeks.
The startling new figures worldwide come as Moscow imposes a citywide quarantine starting March 30 until further notice for all residents.
Read the full story on CNN
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Pressure to provide equipment grows after two UK doctors die
The Guardian says following the deaths of two British doctors, there has been intensified pressure on ministers to provide protective equipment.
The doctors died on the frontline of the coronavirus battle, and other medics working on the frontline fear they are at risk of catching and spreading Covid-19.
The UK’s death toll from the virus rose to 1,228 over the weekend, two surgeons were confirmed to have died in what the NHS medical director described as “a stark reminder to the whole country that we all must take this crisis seriously.”
Read the full story on The Guardian
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Japan to expand entry ban to include the US, China and most of Europe
Japan Times says Japan is set to place an entry ban on foreign nationals who have recently been to the US, China, South Korea and most of Europe. Officials are hoping the ban will contain the spread of the coronavirus, government sources said Monday.
The new measures would apply to foreign nationals who have been to any of the listed regions with 14 days of arriving in Japan.
All returnees and foreign nationals who have travelled outside the banned areas will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days and look out for symptoms of Covid-19, according to sources.
Read the full story on Japan Times
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Indian PM Modi seeks ‘forgiveness’ over lockdown
BBC News says India’s prime minister has asked his country for forgiveness after imposing a lockdown that he said had hurt millions of poor people.
He had been criticised for the lack of planning ahead of the coronavirus shutdown, which was introduced with less than four hours’ notice. It left many of India’s 1.3 billion citizens jobless and hungry.
Tens of thousands of migrant labourers have been forced to walk hundreds of kilometres to their native villages.
Modi apologised for the impact on his strict measures. But said there was “no other way” to stop the spreading of the deadly virus.
Read the full story on BBC News
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UAE tells people to stay home or face fines in coronavirus clampdown
Arab News reports the UAE authorities said people who leave their homes during the day without good reason face a fine of $544 – even outside curfew hours, according to state media.
Residents are only permitted to travel out to buy food or medical supplies, for emergencies and work.
The extended curfew comes as the national disinfection program continues. People are not allowed to leave their homes without a permit between 8.pm and 6.am local time.
Read the full story on Arab News
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Police site crashes as Kiwis turn into shutdown snitches
France24 says New Zealanders have become so keen to report their neighbours for breaking coronavirus lockdown rules that the website dedicated to addressing the issue crashed soon after going live.
New Zealand is in the midst of a four-week lockdown with residents under orders to stay at home or remain at least two metres apart if they go outside.
Police commissioner Mike Bush said that the police website opened on Sunday afternoon and received such heavy traffic that it temporarily crashed.
Read the full story on France24
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