Coronavirus updates, April 26: Latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic from Pakistan and around the world
Nationwide death toll jumps above 270, confirmed cases cross 13,000; over 2.8 million infected globally
Updated Sunday Apr 26 2020
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 13,318 on Sunday after new infections were confirmed in the country.
The province-wise break up of the total number of cases as of 8:47pm, April 25, is as follows:
Total confirmed cases: 13,318
• Sindh: 4,615
• Punjab: 5,446
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 1,864
• Balochistan: 781
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 235
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 318
• AJK: 59
Deaths: 277
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 98
• Sindh: 81
• Balochistan: 11
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 3
• Punjab: 81
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 3
Officials have recorded more than 2.8 million cases and 201,000 deaths since the virus emerged in China in December.
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
END OF LIVE UPDATES FOR APRIL 26
Live updates for April 27 to continue here.
11:59pm — London, UK — British PM Boris Johnson back at 10 Downing
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to 10 Downing Street on Sunday, Sky News reported, after spending a week in hospital with COVID-19 and two weeks recovering at his country residence.
A Downing Street spokeswoman declined to comment on Johnson’s whereabouts.
The government had previously announced he would be back at work on Monday. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who has been deputising for him in his absence, said Johnson was “raring to go”.
No more COVID-19 patients in Wuhan's hospitals: Xinhua
11:14pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Where virus is spreading and other stats from capital city
10:55pm — Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan — Deputy commissioner reports on 'SOPs being observed' during taraweeh
The deputy commissioner of Skardu city in Gilgit-Baltistan has shared images of government mandated health SOPs being followed in mosques during taraweeh prayers.
After six weeks stuck at home, Spain's children allowed to play, run, go for a walk outside
After six weeks stuck at home, Spain's children were being allowed out today to run, play or go for a walk as the government eased one of the world's toughest coronavirus lockdowns.
Spain is one of the hardest hit countries, with a death toll running more than 23,000 to put it behind only the United States and Italy despite stringent restrictions imposed from March 14, including keeping all children indoors.
Today, with their scooters, tricycles or in prams, the children accompanied by their parents came out onto largely deserted streets.
Simple steps you can take to keep you and your loved ones safe
08:47pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab tally soars to 5,446
According to data by the Punjab health department, a total of 120 patients tested positive over the last 24 hours, taking the total number of infected to 5,446.
Lahore remains the hotspot for the virus in the province, with 1,217 regular citizens affected and 59 prisoners.
A total of 1,183 patients have recovered so far whereas 22 are said to be critically ill.
08:30pm — Karachi, Pakistan — CM Shah reports highest daily tally of 383 in Sindh
07:58pm — Quetta, Pakistan — Balochistan reports more local transmissions as tally hits 781
Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani has reported more cases of local tranmission in the province.
The province now has 633 cases of the virus. With pilgrims from Iran included, the total tally stands at 781.
7:00pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — Death toll from coronavirus climbs to 277 in Pakistan
The death toll from the novel coronavirus climbed to 277 in Pakistan after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported five more deaths.
KP has reported 98 deaths from the virus so far.
7:00pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — Confirmed cases rise to 13,191
Confirmed cases in Pakistan jumped to 13,191 on Sunday after more cases were reported Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to KP health department, 71 new cases were detected in the province, taking the provincial tally to 1,864.
6:55pm — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Kingdom's positive cases rise to 17,522, death toll rises to 139
6:50pm — Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan — Confirmed cases rise to 13,120
Confirmed cases in Pakistan jumped to 13,120 on Sunday after more cases were reported Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to the Gilgit-Baltistan's health department, 10 new cases were detected in GB, taking its tally to 318.
6:45pm - Tehran, Iran — Iran plans to reopen mosques in areas free of coronavirus: President
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, President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday.
Iran, one of the Middle Eastern countries hardest hit by the pandemic, will be divided up into white, yellow and red regions based on the number of infections and deaths, Rouhani said, according to the presidency’s website.
Activities in each region will be restricted accordingly, so an area that has been consistently free of infections or deaths will be labelled white and mosques could be reopened with Friday prayers resuming, Rouhani said.
He said the label given to any region in the Islamic Republic could change and he did not say when the colour-coding programme would come into force.
Iranians have returned to shops, bazaars and parks over the past week as the country eases coronavirus restrictions with the daily increase in the death toll below 100 since April 14.
6:40pm — Muzaffarabad, AJK — Confirmed cases rise to 13,110
Confirmed cases in Pakistan rose to 13,110 on Sunday after more cases were reported Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the region's health department government, four new cases were detected in AJK, taking the tally to 59.
6:30pm - Muzaffarabad, AJK — AJK decides to impose stricter restrictions at entry points of region
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Government decided to increase restrictions at the entry points of the region.
The decision was taken by AJK PM Raja Farooq Haider in a meeting chaired to review the coronavirus situation in the country. The conference also decided that those coming to the region will not be allowed to exit till Eid.
AJK PM Haider also instructed officials to make sure that SOPs are followed during the lockdown. He added that the region’s testing capacity was also being increased.
6:20pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — DC Islamabad says 15 teams formed to keep check on prices in federal capital
Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad Hamza Shafqat has announced that 15 teams have been formed to keep a check on the prices in the federal capital.
Shafqat, tweeted, that in the last 24 hours 700,000 fines have been issued, 15 people have been arrested, six shops have been sealed completely. He added that 30 shops have been given a warning, while 13 samples have been sent to the laboratories for testing.
The bureaucrat asked the people to register their complaints through the PM’s portal.
5:55pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — NDMA providing hospitals with medical equipment directly
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza has said that the NDMA is providing the hospitals with the medical equipment directly.
Dr Mirza, in a press conference, stated that the supply section on the NDMA’s website has been uploaded with all the details.
The SAPM on health also shared that the federal government has shared address of people it suspects of having coronavirus. He added that the provincial government will get those people tested.
5:25pm - Amsterdam, Netherlands — Dutch cases rise by 655 to 37,845, with 66 new deaths: authorities
The Netherlands’ number of confirmed coronavirus cases has risen by 655 to 37,845, health authorities said on Sunday, with 66 new deaths.
The country’s death toll stands at 4,475, the Netherlands’ Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said in its daily update.
The RIVM cautioned it only reports confirmed cases, and actual numbers are higher.
5:05pm - Beijing, China — China seizes over 89 million shoddy face masks
China has confiscated over 89 million poor quality face masks, a government official said on Sunday, as Beijing faces a slew of complaints about faulty protective gear exported worldwide.
Demand for protective equipment has soared as nations across the globe battle the deadly coronavirus, which has infected around 2.9 million people.
But a number of countries have complained about faulty masks and other products exported by China, mostly for use by medical workers and vulnerable groups.
China's market regulators had inspected nearly 16 million businesses and seized over 89 million masks and 418,000 pieces of protective gear as of Friday, said Gan Lin, deputy director of the State Administration of Market Regulation, at a press conference.
Regulators had also seized ineffective disinfectants worth over 7.6 million yuan ($1.1 million), she said.
It is unclear how much of the confiscated goods were destined for markets abroad.
5:00pm - Peshawar, Pakistan — KP govt names Dr Javed for country's highest civil award
Adviser to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Information Ajmal Wazir has said that the provincial government has named Dr Mohammad Javed for the country’s highest civil award.
Dr Javed, a senior doctor working at Peshawar’s Hayatabad Medical Complex passed away on Saturday due to health complications arising out of the coronavirus.
Wazir, while addressing a press conference, shared that the government will also announce a special package for the doctor’s family. He added that the nation also salutes the doctor for his services to the nation.
The adviser once again asked the people to stay at home and urged them no to play with the lives of doctors such as professor Javed.
4:55pm - Rome Italy — PM Conte vows to reopen schools in September
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Sunday that schools will only reopen in September but many businesses will resume as early as next week as the country emerges from a near-total coronavirus shutdown.
Conte told La Repubblica daily that he will spell out the detail of how Italy will ease its way out of the world's longest lockdown by the start of next week.
He has reportedly been presented with a cautious plan that involves a gradual lifting of restrictions over the course of the next month.
Italy's official death toll of 26,384 is Europe's highest and only second globally to the United States.
But the number of cases has been ebbing and Italy believes its contagion rate — reported nationally at between 0.2 and 0.7 — is low enough below the key threshold of 1.0 to safely restart some activities.
Conte said his government will "allow a large (number) of companies, from manufacturing to construction, to restart on May 4".
"We cannot continue beyond this lockdown — we risk damaging the country's socio-economic fabric too much".
He said the return to school was filled with peril because many teachers were older and at greater risk of catching the virus.
"Schools are at the centre of our attention and will reopen in September," the premier said.
Conte explained that resuming tuition before then involved "a very high risk of contagion".
4:50pm - NCOC allows use of jetties for fishermen
4:45pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Labour leader demands govt to issue unemployment benefits to labourers
Labour leader Karmat Ali has stated that every citizen should be provided with an unemployment benefit.
Ali, while addressing a press conference, claimed that the Sindh government was not following on the decision to release salaries of the labourers. He added that many factories have fired their employees without giving them their salaries for March.
Ali alleged that salaries of many employees have been decreased in many institutions and industries. He also asked the Sindh government to share the data regarding the action taken against the companies for not following government orders.
4:10pm - Lahore, Pakistan — PPP leader blames federal govt's confused policies for spread of coronavirus
Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentary Leader in the Punjab Assembly Hassan Murtaza has claimed that the coronavirus is spreading in the country due to the confused policies of the federal government.
Hassan hoped that coronavirus would not spread in the country and all their fears are proven wrong. He also urged the nation to stay in their homes.
4:00pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Six doctors and nurses recover from coronavirus
Three doctors and three nurses at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology recovered from the coronavirus after they were tested negative, said hospital management.
The hospital management added that the doctors and nurses have been sent home after the results came in as negative.
3:50pm - Tehran, Iran — Iran says coronavirus death toll rises by 60 to 5,710
The death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak in Iran rose by 60 in the past 24 hours to 5,710, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said on Sunday.
The total number of diagnosed cases of the new coronavirus in Iran has reached 90,481, he said in a statement on state TV.
3:45pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh govt to expand field hospital at Expo centre by 300 beds
The Sindh government has decided to expand the field hospital set up at Karachi’s Expo Centre by 300 beds to accommodate the rising number of patients in the port city.
The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah to review the situation of isolation and quarantine centres set up in the province.
According to spokesperson of the CM, a field hospital will also be set up at the Dalmia Ground in Karachi. He added that the PAF Museum's Convention Centre will also be turned into a field hospital.
The CM, during the meeting, said that the province does not have enough beds to accommodate the patients coming in the province.
Reminder: Keep a 1 meter (3 feet) distance from others when outside your home and in public places
3:25pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — ECC to be presented with small businesses package tomorrow: Hammad Azhar
Federal Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar has said that his ministry will table the “small businesses package” tomorrow before the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to provide relief amid the pandemic lockdown.
“Millions of small businesses and industries shall benefit from this package once it is approved by ECC and Cabinet,” he said.
He added the ministry was also working on a collateral-free financing for SME's for phase two of the relief package. “That phase would also include targeted/prioritised relief measures for sectors most hit by COVIDd-19,” he added.
3:15pm — Quetta, Pakistan — Another doctor tests positive for virus in Quetta
Another doctor has tested positive for coronavirus in Quetta, Young Doctors Association (YDA) president said Sunday.
“The doctor is isolating at home after his test came back positive,” he said.
He added that till now 30 doctors had been infected with the virus in the province.
Another plane carrying relief items for Pakistan leaves China
3:00pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Another doctor tests positive at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital
Another doctor has tested positive for coronavirus at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, senior director medical services Dr Salma Kauser said on Sunday.
“The infected doctor had been performing duties in the emergency ward,” Dr Kauser said.
She added that according to the SOPs, the emergency ward has been closed for 24 hours and disinfectant spray being done.
"Till now three doctors at the hospital have contracted the virus," she added.
2:55pm — Sialkot, Pakistan — Will not let coronavirus spread through mosques: SAPM Awan
Special Assistant to the PM on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan has said the government will not let mosques become the spreader of the virus in the country.
“In the current situation the roles of imam and orator are very crucial,” Awan said while addressing the media in Sialkot.
“The mosques are following the 20-point SOPs,” she said, adding, the government needs cooperation from everyone.
Awan added the state was doing its job. “Citizens need to realise the importance of the situation. The public needs to take precautions and self-isolate.”
2:50pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh CM presiding over meeting to establish new isolation centres
2:40pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Death toll from coronavirus climbs to 272 in Pakistan
The death toll from the novel coronavirus climbed to 272 in Pakistan after Sindh reported three more deaths.
Sindh has reported 81 deaths from the virus so far.
2:30pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Confirmed cases jump past 13,000
Confirmed cases in Pakistan jumped past 13,000 on Sunday after more cases were reported in Sindh.
According to the Sindh government spokesperson, 283 new cases were detected in the province, taking the provincial tally to 4,615.
“In the last 24 hours, 70 people have recovered from coronavirus in Sindh,” he added.
2:20pm — Madrid, Spain — Spain records lowest number of deaths in over a month
Spain said on Sunday the number of daily coronavirus-related fatalities fell to its lowest level in more than a month, with 288 deaths in the previous 24 hours.
Fatalities from the virus now stand at 23,190, the health ministry said.
2:15pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Industrialist Mehtab Chawala passes away
Industrialist Mehtab Chawla passed away after contracting coronavirus, FPCCI leader Mian Zahid said on Sunday.
Zahid said the industrialist had contracted the virus a few days ago.
“He had been under treatment at a private hospital,” Zahid added.
2:00pm — Moscow, Russia —Confirmed cases tally passes 80,000
Russia reported 6,361 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Sunday, pushing its national tally to 80,949.
Sixty-six people succumbed to the virus in the past day, bringing the death toll to 747, Russia's official crisis response centre said.
Students in China return to school with new “equipment” to combat coronavirus
Global coronavirus cases exceed 2.89 million, death toll crosses 201,000
Some 2.89 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 201,833 have died, according to a Reuters tally.
Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.
KP CM’s assistant Kamran Bangash gives health update after contracting virus
1:30pm — Shanghai, China — All coronavirus patients in Wuhan discharged
The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the global coronavirus pandemic began, now has no remaining cases in its hospitals, a health official told reporters on Sunday.
"The latest news is that by April 26, the number of new coronavirus patients in Wuhan was at zero, thanks to the joint efforts of Wuhan and medical staff from around the country," National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng said at a briefing.
1:20pm — New Delhi, India —PM Modi urges citizens follow lockdown as cases rise
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to citizens to strictly comply with a nationwide lockdown and maintain social distancing norms, as cases of coronavirus mounted steadily despite over a month-long curfew.
In a radio address, Modi said the country was in the midst of a "war" and urged hundreds of millions of citizens to sustain the "people driven" fight and not be misled into believing the spread of the virus has been brought fully under control.
"I will urge you that we should not be trapped into over-confidence and nurse the belief that in our city, in our village, in our streets, in our office, coronavirus has not reached and that is why it will not reach" Modi said.
1:10pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — NCOC meeting underway to review implementation of Ramadan guidelines
A meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre under the chairmanship of Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar is reviewing the implementation of Ramadan guidelines, SME package, health situation and data integration.
Umar said the provinces may be asked to give feedback on compliance by people on Ramadan guidelines tomorrow.
Interior Minister Ijaz Shah who is also in attendance said population in urban areas needs to be continuously educated to follow the guidelines and not operate business as usual during Ramadan.
He added that the political leadership, particularly at the district and union council level, had the most important role in educating masses about public safety and well-being.
1:00pm — Melbourne, Australia — PIA flight carrying 250 stranded Pakistanis leaves Melbourne
A special flight of PIA carrying 250 stranded Pakistanis left Melbourne today, reported Radio Pakistan.
The return was coordinated by the Pakistan High Commission in Canberra along with its consulates in Sydney and Melbourne.
12:50pm — Colombo, Sri Lanka — Lockdown extended as virus cases spike
Sri Lanka has reversed plans to end its virus lockdown on Monday, extending it for another week after a spike in coronavirus infections
According to AFP, within hours of announcing that the nationwide restrictions imposed on March 20 would be lifted, the government revoked the order and extended them until May 4.
Health officials said there had been a jump in cases, including in a densely populated area in the capital Colombo where 81 people tested positive.
12:40pm — Berlin, Germany — Germany reports increase of 1,737 in coronavirus cases
Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 1,737 to 154,175, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Sunday.
Germany's death toll rose by 140 to 5,640, the RKI said.
12:30pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab govt to pay extra salary to medical staff from April
The government of Punjab has announced it will be paying an increased salary to the medical staff from April.
“We salute the doctors, nurses and medical staff for their service,” Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said.
“These doctors and nurses are working day and night for the country. In this critical time in history, their services will always be remembered,” he added.
12:15pm — Sydney, Australia — Australia launches COVID-19 tracking app
The Australian government has launched a coronavirus tracing app as officials fear the rise of another wave of the virus.
The app, which is based on Singapore’s TraceTogether software, uses Bluetooth signals to log when people have been close to one another.
The app’s stored contact data will enable health officials to trace people potentially exposed to infections.
12:00pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Pakistan increases number of flights to bring back stranded Pakistanis
Special Assistant to PM on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari has said the country has increased the number of flights from Saudi Arabia to bring back stranded Pakistanis.
“Flights to bring our people back have been increased as per PM Imran Khan’s instructions to facilitate maximum number of people, flights to KSA are also added,” he said.
11:45am — Singapore, Singapore — Confirmed cases rise to 13,624
Singapore registered 931 new coronavirus infections, its health ministry said on Sunday, taking the city-state's total number of COVID-19 cases to 13,624.
The vast majority of the new cases are migrant workers living in dormitories, the health ministry said in the statement.
The tiny country of 5.7 million people now has one of the highest infection rates in Asia, according to official figures.
11:30am — Islamabad, Pakistan — 1,450 US citizens, LPRs to leave Islamabad this week: Zulfi Bukhari
11:20am — London, UK — Nine more flights to bring back stranded Britons in Pakistan
The British government has announced nine more chartered flights from Pakistan to bring back stranded British nationals.
A statement issued by the UK government said these flights will include the first UK chartered flight from Karachi, which will depart on April 30 in addition to further departures from Islamabad and Lahore.
The UK Foreign Office added that almost 5,000 British travellers in Pakistan are to be brought home to the country.
11:10am — Winnipeg, Canada — Plans to restart economy do not hinge on virus 'immunity' levels: Trudeau
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the country's approach to reopening its economy from the coronavirus shutdown would be "cautious" and not depend on the development of widespread immunity in the population.
"I don't think there are any of the plans that hinge on certain people or individuals being immune or having immunity to COVID-19," he said at a daily news briefing.
For now, he added, the emphasis would be on continuing to urge social distancing measures and providing more personal protective equipment.
11:00am — Islamabad, Pakistan — President Alvi expresses satisfaction over implementation of 20-point SOPs by mosques
President Arif Alvi has expressed satisfaction over the implementation of the 20-point SOPs by the mosque administrations during Ramadan.
In a letter to imams of various mosques in the federal capital, the president said the clerics should try to convince those above 50 to avoid congregational prayers and stay at home and offer prayers.
10:40am — Bangkok, Thailand — 15 new cases reported
Thailand on Sunday reported 15 new coronavirus cases and no new deaths, bringing the total number of cases since its outbreak in January to 2,922 cases and 51 deaths.
Since the outbreak in Thailand, 2,594 patients have recovered and gone home.
Health Canada cautions on use of malaria drugs to treat COVID-19
Health Canada has cautioned against the use of malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to prevent or treat COVID-19.
The Canadian health department said the two drugs may cause serious side effects, including serious heart rhythm problems.
It advised the use of the two drugs only if prescribed by a doctor.
10:10am — Hafizabad, Pakistan — 15 more patients recover from virus: DC
At least 15 more people have recovered from the coronavirus in Punjab’s Hafizabad district, the deputy commissioner said on Sunday.
“Twenty-one people have recovered in the district so far,” the DC said, adding, all those who have recovered have been sent home.
Pakistan extends suspension of int'l flight operations till May 15
9:40am — Shanghai, China — Smog-prone Hubei saw pollution fall 15% from Oct-March: official
China's smog-prone northern province of Hubei met its air quality targets by a big margin over the winter after concerted efforts to tackle emissions, a local official said on Sunday.
Average PM2.5 concentrations over the October-March period dropped 15% from a year earlier to 61 micrograms per cubic metre, while sulphur dioxide also fell by a third, said He Litao, vice-head of the provincial environmental bureau.
Most experts have attributed the significant decline in air pollution throughout China in the first quarter to the coronavirus outbreak and tough containment measures, which saw cities and entire provinces, locked down and sharply reduced traffic and industrial activity throughout the country.
9:30am — Islamabad, Pakistan — Death toll from coronavirus rises to 269
The death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 269 in Pakistan after four more deaths were reported in the country.
According to the national dashboard, three deaths were reported in Punjab while Balochistan reported one more death.
9:15am — Islamabad, Pakistan — Nationwide tally of confirmed cases rises to 12,723
Confirmed cases in the country rose to 12,723 on Sunday after new cases were reported in Punjab, Islamabad and Balochistan.
According to the national dashboard, Punjab reported 52 new cases, 12 new cases were recorded in Islamabad, while one case was detected in Balochistan.
As of now, the provincial tally of confirmed cases in Punjab stands 5,378, at 722 in Balochistan and 235 in Islamabad.
9:00am — US, Washington — US congressman demands PM Modi lift draconian restrictions placed in Kashmir
US Congressman Andre Carson has said the draconian restrictions placed in Kashmir must be lifted at once so that the people of the region can protect themselves against coronavirus.
8:45am — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — G20 launches initiative for health tools needed to combat virus
The G20 and emerging economies on Sunday launched an international initiative to accelerate access to health tools needed to fight the new coronavirus.
The finance minister of Saudi Arabia, the current G20 chair, said the group is still working to bridge an estimated $8 billion funding gap to combat the pandemic.
"The G20 will continue reinforcing global cooperation on all fronts, and most importantly, on closing the immediate health financing gap," the minister, Mohammed al-Jadaan, said in a statement launching the "Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator" initiative.
8:30am — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Kingdom partially lifts curfew, keeps 24-hour curfew in Mecca
Saudi Arabia's King Salman issued an order to partially lift the curfew in all regions of the Kingdom, to become from 9am to 5pm, starting Sunday through Wednesday May 13, while keeping a 24-hour curfew in Mecca and in previously isolated neighbourhoods, state news agency (SPA) said early on Sunday.
The order also allowed the opening of some economic and commercial activities, which includes wholesale and retail shops in addition to malls, in the period from 6 to 20 Ramadan, which is from Wednesday April 29 to Wednesday May 13.
8:20am — London, UK — British PM Johnson will be back at work on Monday, says office
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be back at work on Monday, a Downing Street spokeswoman confirmed on Saturday, after having recovered from a case of coronavirus that sent him to intensive care for three nights in early April.
Johnson, 55, will take back control of a government under pressure from the economic fallout of shutdowns aimed at curbing the spread of the highly infectious virus, as well as a rising death toll.
As of Saturday, Britain has recorded more than 20,000 deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
11:27pm/April 25 — Quetta, Pakistan — 90% implementation on 20-point agreement observed: Maulana Anwarul Haq
Quetta deputy commissioner Aurangzeb Badini and the ulema held a press conference to review adherence to the 20-point agreement on congregational prayers reached between the government and religious leaders of the country.
According to Maulana Anwarul Haq, the agreement is being implemented to a 90% extent.
The deputy commissioner, distributed panaflexes on the 20-point agreement. He also warned that high-ranking police officials will routinely visit mosques and anyone found lurking outside will be arrested.
World COVID-19 death toll exceeds 200,000
The total number of people to d