Coronavirus updates, May 27: Latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic from Pakistan and around the world
Nationwide confirmed cases cross 60,000, death toll climbs to 1,240; global death toll tops 350,000
Updated Wednesday May 27 2020
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 60,154 on Wednesday after new infections were confirmed in the country.
The province-wise break up of the total number of cases as of 10pm, May 27, is as follows:
Total confirmed cases: 60,154
• Sindh: 24,206
• Punjab: 21,118
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 8,483
• Balochistan: 3,616
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 1,879
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 638
• AJK: 214
Deaths: 1,240
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 425
• Sindh: 380
• Punjab: 362
• Balochistan: 42
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 9
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 18
• AJK: 4
Officials have recorded more than 5.5 million cases and over 350,000 deaths since the virus emerged in China in December, according to a Reuters tally.
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 28
Live updates for May 27 to continue here.
11:43pm — Paris, France — French contact-tracing app approved by lawmakers, to launch this weekend
The French government’s contact-tracing app project has been approved by the lower house of parliament, paving the way for a weekend launch of a tool developed independently of the more widely used Apple/Google platform.
Countries are rushing to develop smartphone apps as a way to help keep the novel coronavirus epidemic in check while reopening the economy.
The plan for the so-called “StopCovid” app in France had led to a standoff with Apple. Apple had refused French officials’ request to change the settings to let their app access Bluetooth in the background, so it is always switched on.
In defending the app in parliament, the minister in charge hailed it as the embodiment of French know-how, developed by national champions such as Orange and Dassault Systemes.
“This is a French project, with the excellence but also the panache and some would say the stubbornness which characterises our country,” tech minister Cedric O told lawmakers.
France, along with Britain, has decided to keep contact data in a central database, arguing this would make it easier for authorities to track suspected coronavirus cases.
But Apple and Google want data to be stored on the phones themselves, out of government reach, saying this would better protect the privacy of users.
“Is it really a coincidence that 22 countries have used the Apple and Google interface, but not France or Britain, which are the only two countries in Europe with their own nuclear deterrent?” said Cedric O.
France’s decision to reject the Apple and Google platform was not a “dogmatic” one, he said.
“A big company, as efficient as it is, should not dictate the public health choices of a sovereign state.”
The bill, approved by a 338-215 margin, now moves to the upper house Senate, whose vote is not binding.
France’s coronavirus death toll rose by less than 100 for the seventh day running on Wednesday while the number of confirmed cases climbed only modestly, indicating the worst of the pandemic could be over for the country for now.
11:15pm — Sao Paulo, Brazil — Most Brazilians want tougher lockdowns even as economic cost mounts
Most Brazilians support stricter social distancing measures to control the coronavirus, according to a poll published today, even as the full economic toll began to emerge with data showing the loss of over a million jobs since the outbreak hit.
Brazil shed more than 860,000 jobs in April and over 240,000 in March, according to figures released by the Economy Ministry, the first official data to reveal the impact of the virus on the labor market.
The survey by pollster Datafolha showed 60% of Brazilians are in favor of shelter-in-place policies being made more restrictive, as the country wrestles with the world’s second-largest outbreak. As of Tuesday, Brazil had registered 24,512 deaths due to COVID-19.
Four Premier League players and staff test positive
Four players and staff members from three clubs of the English Premier League have tested positive for COVID-19 after more than 1,000 individuals were tested.
According to a statement from the Premier League, 1,008 tests were performed, said CNN.
It is not known which clubs or who the individuals are. The four people will now self-isolate for a week.
10:00pm — Quetta, Pakistan — Balochistan reports 80 new cases
The Balochistan health department has reported a rise in the number of cases by 80, taking the total to 3,616 in the province.
09:20pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — KP information adviser says Peshawar's markets visited to check implementation of SOPs
Information adviser Ajmal Khan Wazir says he visited various market areas in Peshawar today to check whether proper implementation of safety protocols was being observed.
He also gave a warning to hoarders, saying that under the new ordinance to safeguard against hoarding, strict punishments have been outlined and no relaxation in this regard will be provided.
08:45pm — London, UK — UK records more than 400 new coronavirus deaths within the last day
The United Kingdom witnessed 412 coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 37,460, CNN reported, citing the Department of Health and Social Care.
"According to the latest government data, an additional 2,013 people tested positive for the virus since Tuesday and the total number of confirmed cases in the UK now stands at 267,240," said CNN.
It said that while information on the total number of people who got tested is unavailable, "the government has confirmed that a total of 3,798,490 tests have been carried out, with 117,013 tests carried out on Tuesday".
08:35pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Murtaza Wahab dispels notion people forcibly moved into quarantine facilities
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08:12pm — Moscow, Russia — Country to ease lockdown from June 1
07:35pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — UK keeping remittance centres open to help people support loved ones in Pakistan
British High Commissioner Christian Turner has said that despite social distancing in the country, the United Kingdom is keeping remittance centres open so people can continue to send money to their loved ones in Pakistan.
"We are happy that these social distancing measures are bringing us together even closer," he wrote in Urdu.
7:00pm - Berlin, Germany — German states taking increasing responsibility for coronavirus steps: Merkel
Germany’s federal government is monitoring the coronavirus closely but practical responsibility lies increasingly with the 16 states, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday, adding care must be taken to avoid the virus spreading fast again.
“We are still at start of the pandemic,” she told reporters, adding: “We can see ... how fast it can happen that infections spread so we have to be very careful.”
6:55pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — Death toll from virus rises to 1,240
The death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 1,240 on Wednesday after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported new deaths.
Nine new deaths were reported in the province in the last 24 hours to take the provincial tally to 425.
6:55pm — Peshawar, Pakistan — Nationwide positive cases jump past 60,000
Confirmed cases in the county jumped to 60,074 on Wednesday after new cases were detected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to KP health department, 224 new cases were reported in the province in the last 24 hours to take the provincial tally to 8,483.
6:45pm - Rome, Italy — EU Recovery Plan 'great signal from Brussels', says Italy's PM
The European Commission’s proposal for a 1.85 trillion euro recovery plan to help kick-start the EU’s economy after the coronavirus emergency is a very good signal from Brussels, Italy’s Prime Minister said on Wednesday.
“Great signal from Brussels, it goes exactly in the direction that was indicated by Italy,” Giuseppe Conte said on Twitter.
Conte added that European countries should now accelerate the negotiations in order to quickly free up the available resources.
6:30pm - Zurich, Switzerland — Swiss to allow events of up to 300 people from June 6
ZURICH (Reuters) - The Swiss government said public and private events of up to 300 people and spontaneous gatherings of up to 30 people would be allowed again from June 6, further easing restrictions as the COVID-19 pandemic shows signs of ebbing.
The government will decide on June 24 whether to also lift a ban on events with up to 1,000 people. Big events with more than 1,000 participants will not be possible until the end of August, the government said in a statement on Wednesday.
6:00pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Number of coronavirus patients decreasing in Lahore govt run hospitals
A Punjab government official announced that coronavirus patients in Lahore’s government-run hospitals have started to decrease.
“Patients are preferring home isolation. Only those patients are coming to the hospital whose condition is deteriorating,” said Dr Asad Aslam corona in charge of Mayo hospital and the field hospital set up at Expo centre.
The Doctor shared that there has also been a slight increase in patients who have been put on a ventilator. He added that the number of beds and ventilators will increase in the coming days.
5:45pm - Berlin, Germany — Germany can't confirm Merkel will attend G7 in person: spokeswoman
German Chancellor Angela Merkel cannot confirm her physical presence at an envisaged summit of the Group of Seven (G7) in the United States yet, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday, adding that this would depend on how the coronavirus pandemic develops.
President Donald Trump believes there would be “no greater example of reopening” than holding a summit of Group of Seven leaders in the United States near the end of June, the White House said on Tuesday.
5:30pm - Lahore, Pakistan — Punjab government mulls opening markets for four days/week
Punjab government has called a meeting of the cabinet committee on coronavirus to deliberate once again on the reopening of markets for four days a week.
Provincial minister Aslam Iqbal added that the SOPs will be implemented strictly across the province now that Eid has ended.
“Those markets that will not follow the SOPs will be closed,” warned the minister. He added that the timings for the four days will be from 9am to 5pm, adding that the medical stores will remain open 24 hours a day.
5:15pm - Moscow, Russia — Putin gets invitation from UK's Johnson on coronavirus vaccine summit: Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to take part in a summit on the coronavirus vaccine, but no decision has been made yet on participation, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.
On June 4, the British government will hold the Global Vaccine Summit 2020 to mobilize resources needed to ensure universal availability of the vaccine against the novel coronavirus.
5:00pm — Lahore, Pakistan — Another 176 Pakistanis stranded in India return via Wagah border
Another 178 Pakistan citizens who were stranded in India after the outbreak of COVID-19 arrived in Lahore on Wednesday via Wagah border, reported Radio Pakistan.
They will be kept in quarantine centers in Lahore prior to their departure for native towns.
These Pakistanis were stranded in different Indian states including Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and Delhi due to the extended lockdown and closure of Attari-Wagah border following the outbreak of coronavirus.
More than four hundred stranded Pakistanis have already been repatriated from India via Attari-Wagah border since March 20.
4:45pm - Washington, USA — US mortgage applications rise for sixth straight week
US applications for home mortgages jumped last week, in a sixth straight weekly increase, suggesting the housing market could lead the economy’s recovery from the novel coronavirus crisis even as high unemployment is expected to linger.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) said on Wednesday its seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 8.6% from a week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the index rose 7.4% from the prior week and was 9% higher compared to the same week a year ago. It was the sixth consecutive weekly gain and a 54% surge since early April.
“The home purchase market continued its path to recovery as various states reopen, leading to more buyers resuming their home search,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting. “The purchase loan amount has increased steadily in recent weeks and is now at its highest level since mid-March.”
4:30pm - Tokyo, Japan — Japan outlines fresh stimulus package for virus-hit economy
Japan announced fresh stimulus plans worth nearly $300 billion on Wednesday to pep up the economy after the coronavirus pandemic tipped the country into recession.
Consumer spending has slowed to a crawl despite Japan´s relatively low infection numbers and death toll from the disease outbreak, prompting the first economic downturn since 2015.
In response Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet agreed to a second exceptional budget of 31.91 trillion yen ($296 billion), including subsidies for smaller businesses and cash handouts for medical workers.
The cash — to be raised by issuing bonds — will also be used to help finance rescue programmes and loans for struggling businesses worth 117 trillion yen.
Combined with an initial stimulus package enacted last month, Japan´s total measures amount to 230 trillion yen when loan schemes are taken into account.
"With this world's biggest package equivalent to 40 percent of our GDP, we´ll protect the Japanese economy through this once-in-a-century crisis," Abe said on Wednesday.
4:15pm - Nairobi, Kenya — Kenya rolls out testing in Nairobi slums, but some fear stigma
Kenya is rolling out voluntary public testing for the novel coronavirus in its biggest slum, where some residents say being declared virus-free boosts their chances of getting a job.
“Nowadays when you look for work, they first ask to see your results first,” Shadrack Jumba, a resident of Kibera, located in Nairobi’s southwest, told Reuters as health workers took samples from people on Tuesday.
“They ask you to go back and get tested. If your results come back negative, you are fine, but with no test results, it’s a bit difficult to get employed.”
Kibera is one of Africa’s biggest urban slums, home to an estimated half million people, who mostly live in tin-roofed shacks tightly packed together, conditions health authorities say make it hard to slow the spread of infection.
The effort to roll out mass testing there shows how African countries, so far spared the worst of the coronavirus crisis, are trying to head off an epidemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of people on other continents.
Many Kibera residents are casual labourers, cleaners, market sellers and motorbike taxi drivers, who have lost work due to the COVID-19-linked restrictions in Kenya. Some are reluctant to be tested, fearing neighbours will shun them.
“People are fearful of ...the stigma of being found positive and you are labelled by the rest of the community,” said Ahmed Kalebi, consultant pathologist and chief executive officer of Lancet Group of Laboratories, a pathology laboratory active in 11 other African countries.
Kenya has so far recorded 1,348 cases of COVID-19 and 52 deaths, far fewer than in comparably-sized countries in Europe, Asia or the Americas. In recent days, there has been an increase in cases in Kibera, and the Kenyan government has weighed plans to lock down the area, Kenyan daily The Standard reported.
Kalebi said Kenya’s low case load so far “suggests to me we have actually kind of dodged a bullet.” But health authorities have said they expect the number of cases to peak in September.
3:35pm - Brussels, Belgium — Border closures, pre-travel tests of little use against COVID-19 spread: EU agency
Border closures do little to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the European Union’s public health agency said, as EU states weigh lifting some travel restrictions imposed at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in Europe.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said measures such as testing travellers before departure or temperature screening on arrival are also largely ineffective, though it confirmed that travelling facilitates the spread of the virus.
The ECDC said in a report released late on Tuesday that border closures had very negative effects on the economy and were effective only in delaying an epidemic at its beginning and in isolated regions.
“Available evidence does not support recommending border closures, which will cause significant secondary effects and societal and economic disruption in the EU,” which normally operates open borders among member states, the agency said.
3:15pm - NDMA receives third batch of donations from Singapore
3:00pm - Paris, France — France bans hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19
The French government on Wednesday cancelled a decree allowing hospital doctors to administer hydroxychloroquine as a treatment to patients suffering severe forms of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus.
The announcement comes two days after the World Health Organisation said it was pausing a large trial of the malaria drug due to safety concerns.
British medical journal The Lancet has reported that patients getting hydroxychloroquine had increased death rates and irregular heartbeats, adding to a series of other disappointing results for the drug as a way to treat COVID-19.
2:45pm - Peshawar, Pakistan — Shops in KP to close at 5pm: Ajmal Wazir
Adviser to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ajmal Wazir announced that shops — except for medical and essential item shops — in the province will close at 5pm from today onwards.
“The government measures are being done to protect the people from coronavirus,” said Wazir while talking to the Media in Peshawar. He added that barber shops will only remain open from Friday till Sunday.
2:30pm - Mumbai, India — Preparations continue for T20 World Cup this year: ICC
The International Cricket Council has told Reuters it is continuing its preparations for the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in Australia in October-November and denied reports on Wednesday that a decision had been taken to postpone the event.
Media reports in India said ICC members had come to an understanding that this year's event would be pushed back to 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The ICC board is due to meet on Thursday to discuss a number of issues related to the virus outbreak and members will also address the World Cup, which is due to be held in Australia from October 18 to November 15.
"The ICC has not taken a decision to postpone the T20 World Cup and preparations are ongoing for the event in Australia this year as per plan," a spokesperson for the governing body told Reuters.
2:10pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Death toll from virus rises to 1,231
The death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 1,231 on Wednesday after Sindh reported new deaths.
Six new deaths were reported in the province in the last 24 hours to take the provincial tally to 380.
2:10pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh reports 699 new cases
Confirmed cases in the county jumped to 59,850 on Wednesday after new cases were detected in Sindh.
According to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, 699 new cases were reported in the province in the last 24 hours to take the provincial tally to 24,206.
He added there were 14,556 patients under treatment in the province at the moment.
Pakistan Navy continues relief operations in country
1:40pm - Seoul, South Korea — South Korea sees biggest jump in virus cases in seven weeks
South Korea reported its biggest jump in coronavirus infections in seven weeks on Wednesday, driven by a fresh cluster at an e-commerce warehouse on Seoul's outskirts, as millions more pupils went back to school.
The country has been held up as a global model in how to curb the virus and has rushed to contain new infections as life returns to normal.
But officials announced 40 new cases on Wednesday — taking its total to 11,265 — with most new infections from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area.
It was the largest increase since 53 infections were announced on April 8.
An outbreak at a warehouse of e-commerce firm Coupang in Bucheon, west of Seoul, has seen 36 cases so far, the KCDC added.
"It is suspected that the basic regulations were not enforced at the warehouse," said vice health minister Kim Gang-lip.
"If quarantine rules are not implemented at workplaces, it could lead to a dreadful result of a mass infection."
But officials said the possibility of parcel recipients being infected was low.
Social distancing rules have been relaxed in South Korea and facilities such as museums and churches have reopened while some professional sports — including baseball and soccer — started new seasons earlier this month, albeit behind closed doors.
1:20pm - Dubai, UAE — New Iran parliament convenes under strict coronavirus curbs
Iran’s new parliament convened on Wednesday after the February 21 elections under strict health protocols and social distancing rules to ward off the coronavirus in one of the hardest-hit Middle Eastern countries.
Many lawmakers wore masks and their temperatures were taken before entering the parliament building in southern Tehran, Iranian media reported.
Iran’s hardline watchdog body, the Guardian Council, which must approve parliamentary candidates, disqualified thousands of moderates and leading conservatives and permitted voters a choice mostly between hardline and low-key conservative candidates loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to contest the elections.
Like hardliners, conservatives back the ruling theocracy, but unlike them support more engagement with the outside world.
Iran’s 290-seat parliament has no major influence on foreign affairs or Iran’s nuclear policy, which are determined by Khamenei. But it might bolster hardliners in the 2021 election for president and toughen Tehran’s foreign policy.
Next week, lawmakers will choose a parliament speaker for a one-year term.
Iran’s health ministry said on Tuesday that the death toll in Iran had reached 7,508 with 139,511 confirmed cases. State TV said all 268 lawmakers who attended the opening ceremony had tested negative for the coronavirus.
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12:50pm — Moscow, Russia — Russia reports 161 new coronavirus deaths
Russia said on Wednesday 161 people with the coronavirus had died in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 3,968.
Officials reported 8,338 new cases on Wednesday, pushing Russia's overall case tally to 370,680.
12:35pm — Karachi, Pakistan — 882 children under age 10 have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sindh: Murtaza Wahab
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12:00pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh CM presides over health dept meeting to review hospitals situation
World coronavirus death toll tops 350,000: AFP tally
11:40am — Lahore, Pakistan — Not the time for political point-scoring: CM Punjab
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has said that this was not the time to political point-scoring and that everyone should work together to combat the virus.
“The opposition is trying to break the national unity at a time when the country is trying to combat the virus,” he said.
The chief minister added that initially, the opposition had zero strategies on how to deal with the pandemic.
“The government has taken effective steps to combat the virus,” he said. “The prime minister took immediate steps after consultation with others.”
New Zealand expects plan for safe travel with Australia in June
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said a draft blueprint on safely starting travel between New Zealand and Australia will be presented to both governments in early June.
Ardern said she spoke to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday and there was enthusiasm for travel to resume on both sides.
"We are working to move on this as quickly as we can. We are both very keen on it ... across both sides of the ditch," Ardern said at a news conference.
"It won't be too long before we are ready," she said.
Latest count of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide
10:45am — Bangkok, Thailand — Thailand reports 9 new coronavirus cases, no new deaths
Thailand on Wednesday reported nine new coronavirus infections, bringing its total to 3,054 confirmed cases. There were no new deaths reported.
The cases were Thai nationals in quarantine who recently returned from overseas, including two from the United States, one from Qatar and six from Saudi Arabia, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for the government's coronavirus task force.
Australia records youngest coronavirus victim with death of 30-year-old
Australia recorded its youngest victim of COVID-19 after a 30-year-old man with underlying health conditions died in Queensland state, having shown symptoms of the disease for weeks but without getting tested, officials said on Wednesday.
“He was showing symptoms prior to his death but also had other illnesses. He tested positive in the post mortem. His partner is now sick with symptoms. She is now being isolated,” state Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk said.
10:15am — Beijing, China — China reports one new mainland COVID-19 cases
China reported 1 new confirmed coronavirus case in the mainland as of end-May 26, up from 7 a day earlier, the National Health Commission reported.
The total number of cases to date in the mainland stands at 82,993. The death toll remains unchanged at 4,634.
10:00am — Islamabad, Pakistan — Nationwide death toll climbs to 1,225
Death toll from the novel coronavirus jumped to 1,225 on Wednesday after new deaths were reported across the country.
According to the national dashboard, 10 new deaths were reported in Punjab in the last 24 hours, while one each was reported from Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad.
10:00am — Islamabad, Pakistan — Confirmed cases jump past 59,000
Confirmed cases in the country climbed to 59,151 after new cases were detected in Islamabad and Punjab.
According to the national dashboard, 434 new cases were recorded in Punjab while 151 new cases were reported in the federal capital.
Sindh leads the ally of confirmed cases in the country with 23,507 infections, followed by Punjab which has reported 21,118 cases. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 8,259, Balochistan 3,536, 1879 in Islamabad, 638 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 214 cases have been reported in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
9:45am — Lahore, Pakistan — Another 176 Pakistanis stranded in India to return today
One hundred and seventy-six Pakistanis stranded in India due to the lockdown will return home via Attari-Wagah border today, reported Radio Pakistan.
These Pakistanis were stranded in different Indian states including Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and Delhi due to the extended lockdown and closure of Attari-Wagah border following the outbreak of coronavirus.
More than four hundred stranded Pakistanis have already been repatriated from India via Attari-Wagah border since March 20.
US records less than 700 new deaths for third day in a row
9:15am — Sao Paulo, Brazil – Coronavirus death toll reaches 24,512
Brazil deaths by COVID-19 reached 24,512 on Tuesday, with 1,039 new deaths over the last 24 hours, the health ministry said.
The number of infections in Brazil rose to 391,222, with 16,324 new cases.
WHO expects hydroxychloroquine safety findings by mid-June
The World Health Organisation has promised a swift review of data on hydroxychloroquine, probably by mid-June, after safety concerns prompted the group to suspend the malaria drug’s use in a large trial on COVID-19 patients.
“A final decision on the harm, benefit or lack of benefit of hydroxychloroquine will be made once the evidence has been reviewed,” the body said. “It is expected by mid-June.”
Those already in a 17-country study, called Solidarity, of thousands of
Novartis and rival Sanofi have pledged donations of tens of millions of doses of the drug, also used in rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, for COVID-19.
Novartis said The Lancet study, while covering 100,000 people, was “observational” and could not demonstrate a causal link between hydroxychloroquine and side effects.
“We need randomised, controlled clinical trials to clearly understand efficacy and safety,” a Novartis spokesman said.
8:40am — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabian airlines to resume some domestic flights from May 31
Saudi Arabian airlines are preparing to resume some domestic flights from Sunday as the Kingdom eases coronavirus containment measures, the state news agency said on Wednesday.
Sixty flights will resume each day in the first phase. Bans on domestic travel, holding prayers in mosques, and workplace attendance in both the government and private sector will be lifted, starting on May 31, the news agency reported early on Tuesday.
8:30am — Berlin, Germany — Confirmed cases rise by 362 to 179,364
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 362 to 179,364, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Wednesday.
The reported death toll rose by 47 to 8,349, according to the tally.
10:30pm/May 26 — Islamabad, Pakistan — 176 Pakistanis stranded in India to return home tomorrow
The Foreign Office in a statement on Tuesday said that another batch of 176 Pakistanis stranded in India due to COVID-19 lockdown will return home via Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday.
“These Pakistanis were stranded in different Indian States including Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and Delhi due to the extended lockdown and closure of the border,” the statement read.
The FO further stated that the High Commission in New Delhi facilitated and coordinated logistics for transfer of these Pakistanis from more than 20 different Indian cities.
"More than 400 stranded Pakistanis have been repatriated from India via Attari-Wagah border since March 20," it added.
07:25pm/May 26 — Islamabad, Pakistan — ‘Surge in coronavirus cases likely to accentuate’
Due to unsatisfactory following of the guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) by the people, the surge in COVID-19 cases is likely to accentuate in the country.
The National Command and Operation Centre was informed today about the worsening situation of the pandemic in Pakistan.
The meeting also noted with concern that the SOPs were not followed strictly during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
6:00pm/May 26 — Mumbai, India — India has low coronavirus death rate but worries about migrants on the move
India on Tuesday recorded a total of 145,380 coronavirus infections and a death toll of 4,167, comparatively low figures for the world’s second-most populous country.
But separate states witnessing millions of migrant labourers returning from the big cities were recording rising infections, officials said, fearing that the pandemic could spread through villages where medical care is basic at best.
Health ministry officials said that India’s death rate stood at 0.3 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to what they said was a world average of 4.4.
“We have surprisingly found a low fatality rate in India, which is very good,” said Balram Bhargava, director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research, in New Delhi.