Coronavirus updates, May 4: Latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic from Pakistan and around the world
Nationwide death toll crosses 480, confirmed cases surge past 21,452; more than 245,000 dead globally
Updated Monday May 04 2020
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 21,452 on Monday after new infections were confirmed in the country.
The province-wise break up of the total number of cases as of 11:34pm, May 4, is as follows:
Total confirmed cases: 21,452
• Sindh: 8,103
• Punjab: 7,646
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 3,288
• Balochistan: 1,321
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 415
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 372
• AJK: 71
Deaths: 486
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 185
• Sindh: 137
• Balochistan: 21
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 3
• Punjab: 136
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 4
Officials have recorded more than 3.5 million cases and more than 245,000 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 MAY 4
Live updates for May 5 will begin here.
12:00am — Ankara, Turkey — Erdogan begins to ease coronavirus restrictions
Turkey will start easing coronavirus containment measures, President Tayyip Erdogan said, lifting inter-city travel restrictions in seven provinces and easing a curfew imposed on senior and youth citizens.
Ankara started implementing containment measures after its first coronavirus case was reported in early March. It has imposed travel restrictions in 31 major cities and also shut schools, restaurants, bars and shops.
However, Erdogan said on Monday that Turkey will start easing measures gradually in May, June and July after the spread of the virus slowed over the past two weeks.
The number of coronavirus fatalities in Turkey has risen by 65 to 3,461 in the past 24 hours, Health Ministry data showed on Monday, with the number of cases rising by 1,614 to 127,659.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Erdogan said that senior and youth citizens will be allowed outside for four hours for one day a week from next weekend and that travel restrictions would be lifted for seven cities, excluding Istanbul, Izmir and capital city Ankara.
The restrictions will be lifted for Erzurum, Aydin, Hatay, Malatya, Mersin, Antalya and Mugla but remain in place for 24 other provinces, Erdogan said.
Shopping malls, barber shops and some stores will be allowed to open on May 11 provided they abide by so-called normalisation rules, adding that universities would return to their academic calendar on June 15.
11:55pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh forms committee to probe Dr Furqan's death
The Sindh Health Department formed a committee to probe the death of Dr Furqan-ul-Haq, a retired practitioner of the Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases (KIHD), who had died of COVID-19.
Secretary Health Department will head the committee formed, that has been ordered to submit a report in 24 hours.
Earlier, his wife had said that “He was in self-isolation at our residence in Gulshan-e-Iqbal where his condition deteriorated last night. So he asked me to take him to any specialised hospital, but due to the unavailability of beds, he was turned away by three hospitals."
11:45pm — Quetta, Balochistan — Municipal Corporation conducts disinfectant spray campaign
11:40pm — Mogadishu, Somalia — Plane carrying coronavirus aid crashes in southern Somalia
A plane carrying aid supplies for use in the fight against the coronavirus crashed in Somalia’s southern Bay region, killing seven people on board, a security official and the state-run news agency said.
State-run Somalia News Agency said the plane belonged to African Express Airways and was ferrying supplies for use in the fight against the novel coronavirus. It said there were six crew members on board.
“An African (Express) Airways plane from Mogadishu flew to Baidoa and then continued its flight to Bardale town where it crashed,” the news agency said on its website.
“The plane crashed near Bardale airport. It was carrying medicine to prevent COVID-19. It is not clear why it crashed.”
11:34pm — Lahore, Punjab — Province reports new cases, several deaths
11:25pm — Quetta, Balochistan — Province extends lockdown till May 19
The Balochistan government extended the provincial lockdown till May 19 as the COVID-19 cases are on the rise, a statement said.
Earlier, the provincial spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani warned that the government would be forced to extend the lockdown if the people fail to follow SOPs to stem the virus.
11:22pm — Rome, Italy — PM calls for more female coronavirus advisors
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Monday urged for more women to be included on committees advising his government in the management of the coronavirus crisis, AFP reported.
He made the call after female senators called for a stronger role for women in the various groups, which are overwhelmingly staffed by men.
Conte said he would ask the chairman of the committee charged with Italy's post-quarantine recovery plan, Vittorio Colao, to "include in the committee of experts that he heads women whose professional qualities I'm sure will be a decisive help for the country".
The prime minister also said he planned to ask the civil protection agency to include "an adequate number of women" within its technical-scientific committee for coronavirus.
11:15pm — Berlin , Germany — League hopes for restart go-ahead despite ten cases of coronavirus
Germany's football league insisted the mass testing of players and backroom staff was "providing protection" after 10 cases of coronavirus across the top two divisions raised questions about whether it will get the green light to resume matches this month, Reuters reported.
On Monday, the German Football League (DFL) reported that out of 1,724 tests, 10 had returned a positive result, three of which are already known to involve Bundesliga side Cologne.
"The tests carried out over the past few days have fulfilled their purpose of providing additional safety and thus protecting players as best as possible from infection during team training or matches," the DFL said in a statement.
The positive results, around 0.5% of the total, all came from the first batch of tests as the German league prepares to resume from the weekend of May 16 in empty stadiums and with strict hygiene measures.
The league's plans to become the first major European football competition to restart since the season was halted in mid-March hinge on the regular testing of players.
The DFL did not specify which clubs the positive tests came from, but the individuals concerned have immediately been quarantined and the local health authorities informed.
11:10pm — Apple and Google say their upcoming contract-tracing tool to be restricted to one public health app per country
11:05pm — Seoul, south Korea — Wearing masks, students to go back to school
South Korea on Monday said it will reopen schools in stages starting from May 13, as the daily number of domestic cases of the new coronavirus has fallen close to zero over recent days, Reuters reported.
But health authorities urged vigilance once some 5.5 million elementary, middle and high school students gather in classrooms and they are conducting mock drills and preparing guidelines in the event of any upsurge in infection.
“We’re now preparing for the opening of schools while managing the daily risks of the disease,” Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said told a televised briefing.
“If a student turns out to be infected with the virus, health authorities will take the necessary action and the school will switch to online classes.”
High school seniors preparing for a highly competitive annual college entrance exam, which has been postponed by two weeks to Dec. 3, are allowed to attend classes from May 13.
Younger students will resume school in stages between May 20 and June 1, Yoo said.
11:00pm — Hanoi, Vietnam — Kids back at school after 3-month virus break
WATCH: Image of facemask projected onto famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro
10:51pm — Dhaka, Bangladesh — Lockdown Extended till May 16
Bangladesh authorities said they will gradually open up more factories, as well as farms and logistics operations, as they try to diminish the economic impact of a coronavirus lockdown which they extended to May 16, Reuters reported.
Shopping malls were given permission to reopen with shorter than usual hours. The move followed a decision last week to reopen more than 2,000 garment factories that supply global brands, after a month-long shutdown. Much of the rest of the economy remains offline.
The official tally of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus rose by 688 to surpass 10,000, the health ministry said. Some experts are concerned that the real number of cases could be higher in a country of more than 160 million people where many have only limited access to healthcare.
The death toll rose to 182 from 177.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has told government officials that schools and colleges may have to remain closed until September if the situation does not improve.
10:46pm — Helsinki, Finland — Restaurants to reopen from June 1 as COVID-19 curbs ease
Finland will lift some coronavirus restrictions, allowing restaurants to reopen and public services including libraries and sports facilities to start operating again from June 1, the government said, Reuters reported.
A ban on public meetings will be relaxed from a maximum of 10 people to 50 people from June 1 but emergency powers will be kept in place, it said.
Essential travel to countries in the Schengen area will be allowed from May 14, interior minister Maria Ohisalo said.
10:41pm — Gilgit city , Pakistan — TDK cycle race 2020 cancelled
The Pakistan Cycling Federation canceled the Tour de Khunjerab International Cycle Race 2020 amid coronavirus.
“It is to announce with great regrets that due to Covid-19 pandemic PCF with the consultation of Govt of Gilgit Baltistan has officially called off the TDK 2020 which was scheduled w.e.f June 18 to 21, 2020,” a statement read.
“Here it is worth to mention that besides national teams various international teams of Asian countries were also invited under UCI umbrella,” it added.
10:35pm — Amman, Syria — Assad warns of 'catastrophe' if coronavirus cases spike
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned that the country could face a “real catastrophe” if coronavirus cases spike and overwhelm health services, Reuters reported.
The current low level of infections did not mean Syria had escaped the “circle of danger”, Assad said in an address to the government committee that oversees measures to curb the pandemic.
“These figures could suddenly spike in a few days or few weeks and we would see in front of us real catastrophe that exceeds our health and logistical abilities,” he said.
Syrian has now reported 44 confirmed cases and three deaths. UN bodies and humanitarian workers have warned that the country is at high risk in the event of a major outbreak due to a fragile health sector and a lack of resources.
10:30pm — Paris, France — Country may ease coronavirus curbs on worship earlier than planned
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said France might allow religious services to resume before the end of May if a gradual easing of lockdown rules from May 11 did not result in the rate of coronavirus infections increasing, Reuters reported.
In a week’s time, secular France plans to join countries such as Italy, Spain and Germany in relaxing unprecedented curbs on public life as it seeks to reboot its economy and ease the frustration of citizens cooped up in their homes.
“Many faiths have made proposals to reconcile how their meetings are held with social distancing rules,” the prime minister told the Senate. “I know the May 29 - June 1 period is for several faiths an important date on the religious calendar.”
The Christian holy day of Pentecost, celebrated 50 days after Easter Sunday, falls on June 1. A week earlier, and before the government has said it might allow religious festivities, Muslims mark Eid, the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
10:22pm — Geneva, Switzerland — WHO chief urges unity in long fight against virus
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) urged the world to unite to defeat the new coronavirus, Reuters reported.
“This virus will be with us for a long time and we must come together to develop and share the tools to defeat it,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual briefing in Geneva.
“We will prevail through national unity and global solidarity,” he added, praising pledges of $8 billion from world leaders for the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The Geneva-based body will launch this week its updated strategic preparedness and response plan, which will provide an update of its funding needs in order to support the international and national plans to fight the virus, Tedros said.
10:15pm — Quetta, Pakistan — 600 tests conducted in last 24 hours
Balochistan tested 600 people in the last 24 hours, a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Balochistan was informed.
The meeting also expressed concerns over the increase in local transmission of the COVID-19 and decided to continue the lockdown with ensuring restrictions.
10:06pm — Gilgit City, Pakistan — Provincial infected toll rises to 372
10:05pm — Karachi, Pakistan — SBP to not issue fresh notes for Eid
The State Bank of Pakistan has decided to not issue fresh notes for Eid ul Fitr in its bid to stem the spread of coronavirus.
SBP, in a statement, said: "All chief managers are advised to disseminate these instructions to all concerned officials for information and meticulous compliance," the statement read.
9:55pm — Tehran, Iran — Coronavirus death toll rises by 74 as mosques due to reopen
The coronavirus death toll in Iran, one of the hardest hit countries in the Middle East, rose by 74 in the past 24 hours to 6,277, the Health Ministry said, as mosques were due to reopen in many cities, Reuters reported.
The total number of diagnosed cases rose to 98,647, ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said in a statement on state TV.
Iran was due to open mosques in 132 cities on Monday, President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday, part of a broader plan to ease restrictions.
In the areas where mosques reopen, worshippers must maintain social distancing, wear masks and gloves and not stay for more than half an hour, the ISNA news agency reported on Monday.
9:50pm — WHO chief addresses the EU Commission pledging conference on COVID-19
9:45pm — Brasilia, Brazil — Total coronavirus cases rise above 100,000
There have been 4,588 new cases of the novel coronavirus in Brazil and 275 deaths over the last 24 hours, the health ministry said, bringing total confirmed cases in the country to over 100,000, Reuters reported.
The nation has now registered 101,147 confirmed cases of the virus and 7,025 deaths. The number of cases increased roughly 5% on Sunday from the previous day, while deaths rose by roughly 4%, the ministry said.
9:40pm — Rome, Italy — Daily coronavirus death toll edges up, but fewer new cases
Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy climbed by 195, against 174 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, but the daily tally of new infections declined to 1,221 from 1,389 on Sunday, Reuters reported.
Italy’s daily death toll in recent weeks has always fallen on Sundays and risen the following day, while the underlying trend has been steadily declining since a peak above 900 daily fatalities around the end of March.
The total death toll since the outbreak came to light on Feb. 21 now stands at 29,079 the agency said, the second highest in the world after that of the United States.
The number of confirmed cases amounts to 211,938, the third highest global tally behind those of the United States and Spain.
9:34pm — Santiago, Chile — 20,000 cases reported as death, hospitalisation rates plateau
Chile’s health ministry said that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases had exceeded 20,000, Reuters reported.
The world’s top copper producer has 20,643 confirmed cases, 980 more than the previous day, and 10 new deaths, taking the total number of fatalities to 270, said Paula Daza, the health ministry subsecretary.
Chile, one of South America’s most developed countries, has won praise for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak, conducting more than 200,000 tests, shutting down schools and businesses soon after the first case was confirmed at the start of March and operating rolling quarantines.
9:28pm — Prague, Czech Republic — Government to lift ban on international bus, train travel from May 11
The Czech government agreedto lift a ban on internatinal bus and train travel from May 11, a member of the government said, Reuters reported.
The measure was put in place on March 14 in a bid to control the spread of the novel coronavirus.
9:22pm — Sana'a, Yemen — Two more infections reported
Yemen has reported two new coronavirus infections in Hadhramout, the national emergency coronavirus committee said, raising the number of diagnosed infections in the war-town country to 12 with two deaths, Reuters reported.
The province of Hadhramout was where Yemen recorded its first case of COVID-19 on April 10. The United Nations says it fears the coronavirus could be spreading undetected among an acutely malnourished population with inadequate testing capabilities.
9:16pm — Lagos, Nigeria — Lagos and Abuja reopened as lockdowns phased out
Nigeria began easing restrictions in its capital Abuja and in largest city Lagos, heralding the reopening of Africa’s biggest economy after more than four weeks of lockdowns imposed to contain the new coronavirus, Reuters reported.
The government has said a 24-hour, stay-at-home order in place since March 30 in Abuja and the states of Lagos and Ogun - with exceptions only for food shopping and health-related trips - will be lifted gradually over a six-week period.
These densely populated regions will now come into line with the rest of the country in which slightly looser restrictions introduced last week by President Muhammadu Buhari include an overnight curfew, mandatory face masks in public and a ban on non-essential interstate travel.
On Monday, the usually frenetic streets of the coastal megacity Lagos, largely empty during the lockdown, were busy again with cars, buses and motorised tricycle taxis.
Despite rules banning groups of more than 20 people and stipulating that individuals remain two metres (6.6 feet) apart, large groups of people often gathered by the road waiting for public transport. Social distancing rules were largely ignored.
9:10pm — Paris, France — After retesting samples, hospital discovers COVID-19 case from December
A French hospital which has retested old samples from pneumonia patients discovered that it treated a man who had COVID-19 as early as Dec. 27, nearly a month before the French government confirmed its first cases, Reuters reported.
Yves Cohen, head of resuscitation at the Avicenne and Jean Verdier hospitals in the northern suburbs of Paris, told BFM TV that scientists had retested samples from 24 patients treated in December and January who tested negative for the flu.
“Of the 24, we had one who was positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 27,” he told the news channel on Sunday.
The samples had all initially been collected to detect flu using PCR tests, the same genetic screening process that can also be used to detect the presence of the novel coronavirus in patients infected at the time the sample is collected.
Each sample was retested several times to ensure there were no errors, he added. Neither Cohen nor his team were immediately available for comment on Monday.
Read complete story here.9:04pm — Rome, Italy — Coronavirus death toll far higher than reported: stats office
Italy’s coronavirus death toll is much higher than reported, statistics bureau ISTAT said in an analysis pointing to thousands of fatalities that have never been officially attributed to COVID-19, Reuters reported.
In its first report of the epidemic’s impact on Italy’s mortality rate, covering 86% of the population, ISTAT said that from Feb. 21, when the first COVID-19 deaths occurred, until March 31, nationwide deaths were up 39% compared with the average of the previous five years.
Of the 25,354 “excess deaths”, the coronavirus was registered by the Civil Protection Agency as the official cause for 13,710, leaving around 11,600 deaths unaccounted for. These occurred overwhelmingly in the northern part of Italy most heavily hit by the virus.
The statistics bureau said it was reasonable to assume these people either died of COVID-19 without being tested or that the extra stress on the health system due to the epidemic meant they died of other causes they were not treated for.
Read complete story here.
8:56pm — UNPK helps supporting local efforts to stem spread of coronavirus
8:44pm — Pakistan's recoveries surpass 5,600
After new recoveries from the coronavirus were reported, Pakistan's tally reached 5,635, meanwhile the total number of infections stands at 20,987.
Pakistani PhD student dedicates heartfelt poem to medics who died fighting coronavirus
A Pakistani doctorate student at the University of Oxford has made waves by writing a heartfelt poem titled "Angels," dedicated to the frontline medical workers who have lost their lives fighting the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported.
Mashael Kamran, who is currently enrolled in a PhD degree in sustainable future energy and transport needs, said she wrote the poem because she believed that the frontline medical workers were the real heroes who had emerged from this crisis.
Speaking to Geo.tv and The News, Kamran said: "Writing this poem was my way of coping with the circumstances and shedding a little light on what’s going around during this horrifying times.
"Our doctors and nurses across the globe are constantly risking their lives every day to save hundreds of people, putting patients first always. Some have to make the toughest decisions of their lives and some suffer a painful death but they still perform their duty with the same resolve and courage."
Read complete story here.
8:13pm — New Delhi, India — Police clash with crowds as country eases lockdown
Indian police fired tear gas at a crowd of protesting migrant workers in Gujarat and launched baton charges against hundreds of people queuing at liquor stores in New Delhi, even as the first steps were being taken to relax a coronavirus lockdown, Reuters reported.
“We have detained 80 people so far and are in the process of identifying more,” Surat’s police chief A.M. Muniya told reporters.
ANI shared a video showing police firing tear gas into a large group of men standing inside a lane lined with shuttered shops. Local television showed images of police entering buildings and homes in the area and detaining people.
Surat, an industrial centre and a hub for diamond processing, has suffered multiple incidents of labour unrest since the lockdown began.
8:02pm — Madrid, Spain — Spain to contribute 125 million euros to coronavirus response fund
Spain will pledge 125 million euros ($136.58 million) to developing a global response to the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday.
Speaking at a virtual fundraising event hosted by the European Union, Sanchez said Spain would contribute 50 million euros to the Global Vaccine Alliance and 75 million euros to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.
7:55pm — Brussels, Belgium — EU hosts virus telethon, seeking first 7.5bn euros
Europe hosts a teleconference for world leaders and philanthropists Monday, seeking 7.5 billion euros to boost the drive to discover, produce and distribute a vaccine against the new coronavirus, AFP reported.
Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission and the host of the online donor conference, said a vaccine was the best chance of beating it.
But, while major European powers are set to lead the pledges, there will be no official US representation, weakening the event and raising the prospect of an uncoordinated competition to develop and produce a vaccine.
European institutions, along with the leaders of France, Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain will pledge funds at the event, due to start at 1300 GMT.
From Asia, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will pledge for Japan, while giant China — where the outbreak originated late last year — will only be represented by its ambassador to the EU.
In total around 40 countries, along with UN and philanthropic bodies — including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation — and research institutes are expected to make donations.
WATCH: Image of facemask projected onto famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro
7:45pm — UK among European states not yet on COVID-19 downward slope: EU
The head of the European Union agency for disease control said on Monday Britain was one of five European countries yet to begin a downward trend in its coronavirus outbreak, contradicting the British government’s line, Reuters reported.
Andrea Ammon, director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), told EU lawmakers Bulgaria was still recording an increase in cases, while for Britain, Poland, Romania and Sweden the agency had seen “no substantial changes in the last 14 days”.
For all other European countries, there was a drop in cases, she said. “As of Saturday, it appears that the initial wave of transmission (in Europe) has passed its peak,” Ammon told lawmakers in a videoconference.
7:38pm — Quetta, Balochistan — Provincial infected toll rises to 1,321 after new cases surface
7:35pm — London, UK — China has questions to answer over coronavirus outbreak says Britain
Britain said that China has questions to answer over the information it shared about the novel coronavirus outbreak, but refused to comment on reports that a U.S.-led intelligence consortium had a accused Beijing of a cover-up.
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “Every day I get intelligence bulletins from our agencies around the world. I don’t comment on individual bulletins, what I have and haven’t seen. That would be wrong.”
Asked if China had questions to answer over how quickly it made the world aware of the extent of the crisis, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “I think it does.”
“China needs to be open and transparent about what it leant, it’s short comings but also it’s successes,” Wallace said, adding that the time for a post mortem was after the outbreak.
7:30pm — More than 1.5 Billion children out of school around the world due to COVID-19
7:26pm — Brussels, Belgium — UN calls for COVID vaccine, treatment available for all
United Nations leaders called for a global effort to develop and distribute to all at affordable prices vaccines, treatments and testing kits against COVID-19, Reuters reported.
“These new tools will help us to fully control the pandemic and must be treated as global public goods available and affordable for all,” the U.N. secretary general Antonio Guterres said at the start of a global pledging conference which aims to raise at least 8 billion dollars for the fight against the coronavirus.
The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at the same event: “The ultimate measure of success will not be how fast we can develop tools. It will be how equally we can distribute them. None of us can accept a world in which some people are protected while others remain exposed.”
6:57pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Coronavirus requires a global solution: President Alvi
President Arif Alvi said the challenges put forward by the pandemic are a stark reminder that no country can face this challenge alone.
Addressing an online summit of the heads of state and government of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member states, he said: "A global challenge, curies s a global response, which is firmly rooted in solidarity, international cooperation, and respect for multilateralism.
6:40pm — Washington, USA — As COVID-19 cases surge in Mexico, Trump says US building wall 'rapidly'
US President Donald Trump tweeted that the state of California was lucky that he was the president of the US as it did not want to house people coming in from Mexico, in light of the growing coronavirus problem in the country.
He announced that the wall was being "rapidly built".
6:38pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — NADRA announces its offices will remain open on Saturdays
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on Monday announced that it will keep its offices throughout the country open on Saturdays.
The authrority's spokesperson said that the decision had been taken to facilitate the public during the coronavirus crisis. The offices across the country will remain open on Saturdays at normal working hours.
6:25pm — Dubai, UAE — Dubai Expo 2020 postponed for a year
The annual global trade fair, Dubai Expo 2020 has been postponed for a year in light of the coronavirus situation.
The event willl now be held from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, the Paris-based organiser said Monday.
The six-month, multibillion-dollar global innovation fair, set to be the largest event ever staged in the Arab world, was expected to attract some 24 million visitors starting October 20 this year
6:10pm — Kolkata, India — Thirsty Indians line outside liquor shops as lockdown eases
Indians thirsty for liquor shops to consume alcohol as the country eased lockdown restrictions on Monday.
Scores of Indians had alcohol for the first time in 40 days as the coronavirus pandemic caused liquor shops across the country to shut.
"We have been in solitude for over a month," Asit Banerjee, 55, told AFP as he queued in Kolkata, where -- as in Delhi and elsewhere -- police used "lathi" batons to control the crowds.
"Alcohol will energise us to maintain social distancing during the pandemic," he said.
5:50pm — Peshawar, Pakistan – KP reports 159 new cases, 5 more deaths
Confirmed cases in the country jumped to 20,884 after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported new cases.
According to a KP health department, 159 new cases were detected in the province, taking the provincial tally to 3,288.
The department added till now 856 patients have recovered from the virus in the province.
The province also reported five more deaths, taking the provincial tally to 185.
5:40pm - UK crosses it coronavirus peak: PM Boris
5:30pm - Amsterdam, Netherlands — Dutch confirmed cases rise by 199 to 40,770: health authorities
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Netherlands rose by 199 on Monday to 40,770, with 26 new deaths, health authorities said.
Total deaths in the country rose to 5,082, the Netherlands Institute for Health (RIVM) said in its daily update. The RIVM cautioned that it only reports confirmed cases and deaths, and actual numbers are higher.
5:20pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — PM Imran discusses debt relief with Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed Ali
PM Imran Khan has told his Ethiopian counterpart that the developing countries would need a combination of additional measures to meet urgent financial requirements, sustain growth, strengthen fragile health systems.
In a telephone conversation with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, PM Imran underscored that developing countries faced the twin challenge of containing the disease and staving off hunger due to loss of livelihoods.
PM Imran also conveyed Pakistan’s solidarity with Ethiopia and commended their effective measures to control the spread of coronavirus.
5:05pm - UNICEF installs portable hand washing stations across Sindh, Balochistan
Decoding natural origins of COVID-19
5:00pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — Sindh govt not allowing Tiger Force to become operational in province: Senator Javed
PTI's Senator Faisal Javed has said that the Sindh government is not allowing the Tiger Force to operate in the province.
Javed, in a conversation with Geo Pakistan, stated that the federal government and the Tiger Force is ready but the provincial government is not ready.
“Tiger Force ill go into those areas where the PPP leaders do not go,” said senator Javed.
4:55pm -Frankfurt, Germany — German study suggests infections are 10 times the number of confirmed cases
More than 10 times as many people in Germany have likely been infected with the coronavirus than the number of confirmed cases, researchers from the University of Bonn have concluded from a field trial in one of the worst hit towns.
The preliminary study results, which have yet to be peer reviewed for publication in a scientific journal, serve as a reminder of the dangers of infection by unidentified carriers of the virus, some of whom show no symptoms, the researchers said.
The readings come as Germany took further steps on Monday to ease restrictions, with museums, hairdressers, churches and more car factories reopening under strict conditions.
About 1.8 million people living in Germany must have been infected, more than 10 times the number of about 160,000 confirmed cases so far, the team led by medical researchers Hendrik Streeck and Gunther Hartmann concluded.
“The results can help to further improve the models to calculate how the virus spreads. So far the underlying data has been relatively weak,” Hartmann said in a statement.
The team analysed blood and nasal swabs from a random sample of 919 people living in a town in the municipality of Heinsberg on the Dutch border, which had among the highest death tolls in Germany.
To arrive at their estimate, the researchers put the town’s number of known deaths from COVID-19 relative to the larger estimate of local people with a prior infection - as indicated by antibody blood test readings - and applied the rate of 0.37% to country-wide deaths.
They also found that about one in five of those infected showed no symptoms.
4:50pm - Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh govt saying the things that world is saying: Nasir Shah
Sindhi Information Minister has stated that the provincial government was saying those things that the whole world was talking about.
“We want to save the lives of our people,” said Shah and asked if the lockdown was only Sindh. He added that minister Asad Umar had stated that decided to extend the lockdown till May 9.
“All this is being done to discredit the Sindh Government,” said the minister.
4:45pm - Islamabad, Pakistan — 40 more stranded Pakistanis return home
Another group of 40 stranded Pakistanis were repatriated to Pakistan via a Sri Lankan Airlines flight, announced the Pakistani mission in Colombo.
According to a press release, Second Secretary Ayesha Abubakar Fahad was with the departing Pakistanis at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo.
The Pakistan High Commission in coordination with Sri Lankan authorities had already repatriated 50 Stranded Pakistanis on April 28.
4:40pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Yasmin Rashid reviews coronavirus situation in Punjab
Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid chaired a meeting of the Primary and Secondary Health Care Department to review the stats of the coronavirus patients admitted in hospitals of the province.
The minister also reviewed the other problems being faced by the department.
4:15pm — Dhaka, Bangladesh — Coronavirus cases jump past 10,000
The number of coronavirus cases in Bangladesh surpassed 10,000 on Monday, the country's health ministry said, with infections increasing in pace over the past several days.
Bangladesh reported 688 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, taking its tally since it reported its first case two months ago to 10,143.
The death toll rose to 182.
4:00pm — Ahmedabad, India — Police clash with migrant workers as India eases coronavirus curbs
Indian police fired tear gas on Monday to scatter migrant workers during clashes in the western state of Gujarat, officials said, as authorities relaxed one of the world’s strictest lockdowns to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
About 1,000 stranded workers seeking help to return to homes in states across India gathered on the outskirts of the industrial and diamond-processing city of Surat, but threw stones at police who ordered them to break up, an official said.
“The police fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters,” a police official in Kadodara, near the site of the clash told Reuters.
3:45pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Tiger Force to help those in need: PM Imran
Prime Minister Khan has said the reason behind the formation of the Corona Tiger Force was to help those in need.
“I decided on the force because Pakistan is facing a huge challenge right now. The reason behind this force is to help those who are in need,” PM Imran said on Monday.
The administration alone cannot handle the situation hence we needed a volunteer force, he added.
The premier added that most of the issues being faced by the country was because of the lockdown. “This lockdown has affected the daily wagers and labours the most.”
3:40pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Govt to gradually ease lockdown in coming days: PM Imran
Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the government has decided to gradually ease the lockdown in the coming days keeping in view the economic situation and problems of common man, reported Radio Pakistan.
The prime minister while addressing the members of the National and Provincial Assemblies said SOPs based on safety measures have been prepared for all the sectors and that it was the responsibility of the elected representatives to make sure they were followed.
He added the government was striving to provide every possible relief to the masses amidst the challenge posed by the coronavirus.
3:30pm — Moscow, Russia — Russia’s coronavirus cases rise again by over 10,000
The number of coronavirus cases in Russia has risen by 10,581 over the past 24 hours, the country's coronavirus crisis response centre said on Monday.
This brings Russia's nationwide tally to 145,268, the centre said.
It also reported 76 new deaths from COVID-19, bringing the total death toll in Russia to 1,356.
3:25pm — Peshawar, Pakistan – Nine more doctors test positive at Lady Reading Hospital
Nine more doctors at Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital (LHR) and five in Bannu have tested positive for the virus, President Professional Doctors Association said.
“All the doctors were on regular duty,” Dr Fazal Mannan said.
He added the gynaecology ward of LHR has been closed while other units are being disinfected.
“So far 58 doctors have been infected with the virus in the province while one doctor has died,” he added.
3:15pm — Lahore, Pakistan – Punjab reports 122 new cases, 2 more deaths
Confirmed cases in the country jumped to 20,725 after Punjab reported new cases.
According to a spokesperson of the primary and secondary healthcare department, 122 new cases were detected in the province, taking the provincial tally to 7,646.
The spokesperson added till now 2,680 patients have recovered from the virus in the province while 25 were in a critical condition.
The province also reported two more deaths, taking the provincial tally to 126.
3:00pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — KP district judge tests positive for virus
A district and sessions court's judge in Tank has tested positive for the virus, a spokesperson of the Peshawar High Court said.
"Session Judge Jahanzaib Shinwari is self-isolating at home," the spokesperson said, adding they have directed the remaining staff to undergo tests as well.
Bangkok's street food hub of Chinatown comes alive as lockdown eases
2:45pm — Tokyo, Japan — State of emergency extended until May 31
Japan's prime minister on Monday extended a state of emergency over the coronavirus until the end of May, as the government warned it was too soon to lift restrictions.
"I will extend the period of the state of emergency I declared on April 7 until May 31. The area covered is all prefectures in the nation," Shinzo Abe said after a meeting to discuss the measures.
"The number of new cases has declined, but unfortunately the decrease has not reached the targeted level," he said. "As the healthcare sector remains under pressure, we need continued cooperation from people."
2:35pm — Karachi, Pakistan —Death toll from coronavirus jumps to 369
The nationwide death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 369 after Sindh reported new deaths on Monday.
According to the Sindh government spokesperson, seven more deaths have been reported in the country, taking the provincial death toll to 137.
2:30pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh reports 417 new cases, nationwide tally jumps to 20,603
Confirmed cases in the country jumped to 20,603 after new cases were detected in Sindh.
According to Sindh government spokesperson, 417 cases were reported today, taking the provincial tally to 7,882.
“In the last 24 hours, 74 people have recovered from coronavirus in Sindh,” Wahab added.
2:15pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Corona Tiger Force to become operational nationwide from today
The Corona Tiger Force will start to dispense its duties nationwide from today, a meeting of the PTI MNAs under Prime Minister Imran Khan decided on Monday.
The meeting decided that the Tiger Force will work with district administration to carry out its work.
SAPM for Youth Affairs Usman Dar said the meeting also discussed the situation in the country arising out of the coronavirus pandemic and the government’s steps to curb it.
“PM Imran has given the responsibility of supervising the Tiger Force to MNAs,” Dar said.
2:00pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Chinese company donates 200 ration bags to Pakistan
A Chinese company has donated 200 ration bags as aid relief to Pakistan, Islamabad Mayor Ansar Aziz said on Monday.
“These ration bags will be donated to the needy in Islamabad,” Aziz said.
He also thanked the Chinese company for their donation.
1:40pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Pakistan steps up production of PPEs
Empty airports turns into drive-through cinemas in Lithuanian
1:25pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — PM Imran to address Corona Tiger Force today
1:15pm — Lahore, Pakistan – Punjab CM directs authorities to take action against inadequate facilities at quarantine centre hotels
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has directed authorities to take action against the provision of inadequate facilities being provided at hotels serving as quarantine centres.
“In this difficult time we will not let anyone suffer,” Buzdar said, adding that relevant authorities need to check the situation in the hotels immediately.
“Strict action will be taken if complaints by those being quarantined at the hotels are found to be correct,” he said.
1:00pm — Islamabad, Pakistan – PM Imran chairs PTI MNAs virtual session
Prime Minister Imran Khan is chairing a session of PTI MNAsvia video link in Islamabad.
According to sources, the meeting is reviewing the coronavirus situation in the country and the steps taken by the government to stem the spread.
Sources added, the MNAs briefed the prime minister about the steps being taken in their districts to combat the virus.
The prime minister will brief the MNAs about the Ehsaas Emergency Cash programme in the meeting, sources added.
12:45pm — Rawalpindi, Pakistan — 104 passengers on Abu Dhabi flight test positive
The Rawalpindi district administration on Monday said that 104 passengers who flew in from Abu Dhabi have tested positive for the virus.
“Out of 209 passengers, 104 tested positive for the virus,” the district administration said.
The administration added that the flight carrying the passengers arrived in Islamabad on April 28.
12:30pm — London, UK — China has questions to answer over virus outbreak: UK
China has questions to answer over the information it shared about the novel coronavirus outbreak, Britain's defence minister said on Monday.
Asked if China had questions to answer over how quickly it made the world aware of the extent of the crisis, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: "I think it does."
"The time for the post mortem on this is after we've all got it under control and have come through it and our economies are back to normal," Wallace said.
Coronavirus resurgence in Agra carries warning signs for India
As India grapples with around 42,000 coronavirus infections, second only to China in Asia, Agra’s tangle with the virus offers lessons for big cities in India and elsewhere.
The city of 1.6 million people, famous for its 17th-century marble-domed Taj Mahal now has around 600 coronavirus cases and 14 deaths, according to local authorities.
As of the end of April, there were 39 infection hotspots and tests had been conducted on 6,848 samples, with some people tested multiple times.
Read the full story here.
South Koreans throng to the beaches as restrictions ease
12:00pm — Wellington, New Zealand — NZ, Australia consider coronavirus "travel bubble"
New Zealand and Australia are discussing the potential creation of a "travel bubble" between the two countries.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will take part in a meeting of Australia's emergency coronavirus cabinet on Tuesday, the Australian government said, stoking speculation that two-way travel could be permitted.
Australia and New Zealand have both reduced the spread of coronavirus to levels significantly below those reported in the United States, Britain and Europe. Both governments attribute their success to social distancing restrictions and widespread testing.
11:00am — Karachi, Pakistan — Sri Lankan Airline flight carrying Pakistanis arrives in Karachi
A special flight of Sri Lankan Airlines arrived in Karachi on Monday carrying 51 repatriated Pakistanis from Colombo.
According to airport sources, all the passengers underwent screening at the airport after arrival and have been shifted to a quarantine centre for 48 hours.
Burj Khalifa to light up with coronavirus donations
Dubai will light up the facade of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa to represent each donation made to relieve coronavirus-hit communities across the United Arab Emirates
Read the full story here.
10:45am — Washington, US — US COVID-19 death toll rises to 67,000
A total of 25,502 new coronavirus cases and 1,313 deaths were reported in the United States on Sunday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
At least 1,158,041 cases and 67,682 fatalities have now been recorded in the US.
What is contact tracing and how can it fight COVID-19?
Contact tracing has been used for decades to control the spread of infectious diseases. The basic idea is simple: track down infected people, then find everyone who has been near them and encourage those people to stay home until it is clear they are not sick.
When restrictions are lifted and normal activities resume, extensive contact tracing will be needed to prevent new outbreaks.
Read how contact tracing can help fight coronavirus.
10:30am — Karachi, Pakistan — NADRA offices reopen in Sindh
NADRA offices across Sindh including Karachi reopened on Monday.
The offices will remain open from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Thursday, while the offices will close at 1pm on Fridays.
Those coming to the NADRA offices have been instructed to observe precautionary safety measures while the staff has been directed to wear face mask sand gloves during work.
10:15am — Islamabad, Pakistan — PM Imran calls for closer int’l cooperation to contain virus
Prime Minister Imran Khan has underscored that the coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented calamity that necessitates closer international cooperation, reported Radio Pakistan.
The prime minister in a telephonic conversation Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said Pakistan along with other developing countries were confronted with the twin challenge of saving lives and containing the infection, while simultaneously stabilising the economy.
PM Imran also thanked Canada for its support to include Pakistan in the G20’s debt relief initiative.
10:00am — Bangkok, Thailand — 18 new coronavirus cases reported, no new deaths
Thailand's new coronavirus cases rose to 18 on Monday, after falling to single-digits for the past week, but the country reported no new deaths.
Monday's report brought the total number of cases to 2,987 since the new virus was detected in Thailand in January, with a total of 54 deaths.
9:45am — Islamabad, Pakistan — Islamabad reports 22 new cases
Islamabad on Monday reported 22 new cases of coronavirus to take the nationwide tally of confirmed cases to 20,186.
This takes the confirmed cases in the federal capital to 415.
9:30am — Karachi, Pakistan — Retired doctor dies ‘after being denied treatment’
A retired doctor, who had tested positive for COVID-19 a few days ago, died on Sunday morning after he was allegedly denied treatment at various public and private hospitals in Karachi.
Dr Furqan-ul-Haq’s wife told The News, “He was dying due to shortness of breath after testing positive for the novel coronavirus, but no hospital admitted him.
“He was taken to the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation [SIUT], and a private hospital in Azizabad where he used to work, but all of them said they had no beds available,” she said.
Read the full story here.
Global coronavirus cases surpass 3.5 million
Global coronavirus cases surpassed 3.5 million on Monday, with deaths nearing a quarter of a million, although the rate of fatalities and new cases has slowed from peaks reached last month, a Reuters tally shows.
North America and European countries accounted for most of the new cases reported in recent days, but numbers were rising from smaller bases in Latin America, Africa and Russia.
Deaths related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the new virus, stood at 245,992.
For our May 3 coverage of coronavirus click here.