Global Live Updates: Latest Headlines on COVID-19

Global Cases To Hit 1 Million in a Few Days

World Health Organization officials are “deeply concerned” about the “rapid escalation and global spread” of the coronavirus outbreak, saying global infections will eclipse 1 million with 50,000 deaths in a few days.

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UAE

Two more deaths from the virus have been reported in the UAE, bringing the country’s total death toll to 10 people.

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France

France reported its highest daily number of deaths since the coronavirus epidemic began, saying 509 more people had died in hospital to bring the toll to 4,032.

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Qatar recorded 54 new cases, bringing the total to 835.

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Italy extends lockdown until April 13

Italy will extend the current lockdown measures it has in place until April 13, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in an address to the nation today.

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Bahrain: All NPRA Services are Now Available Online

“Starting from April 5, the authority will stop receiving visitors and all services can be completed electronically,” announced the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) through its official website and social media accounts.

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Bahrain: Coronavirus Combating Visits Continue

“The random medical samples visits to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) are ongoing,” this was announced by the Ministry of Health through its official website and social media accounts.

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WHO says guidelines could change because “we should always be in a learning mode”

World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned during a media briefing in Geneva today that there is still much to learn about the current coronavirus pandemic — which means guidelines and recommendations for the public could evolve.

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World Health Organization’s Tedros says he is “deeply concerned”

World Health Organization’s Tedros says he is “deeply concerned” about the rapid escalation and global spread of the coronavirus, and that in the past five weeks there has been a “near exponential growth” in the number of new cases and the number of deaths has more than doubled.

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Bahrain: Public Urged to Stop Spreading Rumours

There is no spread of COVID-19 among expatriate workers as it is being circulated,” announced the Ministry of Health through its official website and social media accounts.

The ministry stressed the need and urged all to stop spreading rumors and to extract information from official sources.

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Madrid is using its hotels to treat more than 700 patients

Eleven hotels in the Spanish capital of Madrid are being used to treat 704 coronavirus patients, the regional government said in a statement on Wednesday.

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Jordan recorded four new cases, bringing the total to 278

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US surpasses 200,000 cases

The United States has now surpassed 200,000 cases of coronavirus. The current CNN case count is currently at 202,336 cases in the US with 4,454 deaths.

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Bahrain: 21 New Recoveries Recorded Today

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Turkey

Turkey’s coronavirus death toll rises by 63 to 277, 2,148 new cases confirmed, the health minister said.

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US

New York statewide coronavirus deaths increases to 1,941, up from 1,550, cases increases to 83,712, up from 75,795 from a day earlier, Governor Andrew Cuomo said

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Spain in stabilization phase, state of emergency measures working

Spain is “effectively in a phase of stabilization, according to the data we have learned today,” Salvador Illa, minister of Health, said in a press conference in Madrid on Wednesday.

Illa cited the increase in the total number of cases (which includes deaths and recovered) at 8% as of today, the lowest percentage rise since Spain declared the state of emergency on March 14.

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Bahrain: All Civil, Commercial Cases Now Fully Electronic

Chancellor Abdulla bin Hasan Al-Buainain, President of the Cassation Court and Vice President of the Supreme Judicial Council, announced that all procedures of civil and commercial cases of all types and degrees are now fully electronic which comes as a major shift in the delivery of justice before the courts.

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Nearly 100 sailors aboard a Navy ship have tested positive

There are nearly 100 sailors who have tested positive for Covid-19 on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, a senior defense official tells CNN. The Navy has every expectation that the number will rise, source added.

About 1,000 of more than 4,000 crew members have been tested so far. The official said about 1,000 sailors have been moved ashore in Guam and that is expected to rise to 3,000 in the coming days.

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Wimbledon tennis tournament canceled

The famous Wimbledon tennis tournament has been canceled, organizers announced today.

“It is with great regret that the AELTC has today decided that The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic,” tournament organizers said in a statement.

Organizers said they would offer refunds to those who purchased tickets for this summer’s tournament.

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There are now at least 186,991 cases in the US

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Germany extends social distancing measures until April 19

German chancellor Angela Merkel announced today that the federal government and Germany’s sixteen states have agreed to extend the country’s social distancing measures until April 19 to curb the spread of coronavirus.

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Bahrain: Gulf Air and All Food Company Import 4,000kg of Fresh Produce

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and All Food Company, a Bahraini food supplier, today imported approximately 4,000 kg worth of fresh produce from Europe using Gulf Air’s flagship Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

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Global Cases

Total: 886,112
Deaths: 44,228
Recoveries: 185,274

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Spain

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Spain rose beyond 100,000 as it recorded its biggest one-day death toll from the outbreak on Wednesday, and two planes packed with protective equipment arrived to restock an overloaded public health system.

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Pakistan extends national lockdown for 2 more weeks

Pakistan has extended its nationwide lockdown by two weeks, until April 14, the country’s National Coordination Committee on Covid-19 announced today.

Domestic and international flights will not resume during this time. However, from Thursday until April 11, Pakistan International Airlines will run special flights to get Canadian and British citizens out of the country.

According to the Ministry of Health, 2,071 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 26 people have died from the virus in Pakistan.

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Bahrain: Only 18% of Active Cases Require Medication

A total of 268 active COVID-19 cases were reported of which all are stable except for two cases. Only 18% of cases require medication said Consultant of Infectious and Internal Diseases at Salmaniya Medical Complex, Dr. Jameela Al Salman,​ at a press conference yesterday.

Dr. Al Salman noted that 472 individuals have left quarantine, and 295 individuals have fully recovered from COVID-19 and have been discharged from isolation.

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UK records highest number of deaths in one day with 563 new fatalities

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UAE: Up to DH100,000 Fine; 5 Years Jail Time for Spreading Virus

Anyone deliberately spreading coronavirus or failing to report a suspected or positive COVID-19 case will face hefty fines and jail, the authorities have warned as they step up measures to contain the pandemic.

For intentionally spreading the infection, the penalty is up to five years in prison and/or a fine not less than Dh50,000 and not more than Dh100,000. For not reporting a case, the violator will face three years in jail and/or a fine not exceeding Dh10,000, the legal experts have pointed out.

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Switzerland reports 963 new cases

Switzerland now has 17,139 coronavirus cases, an increase of 963 cases from Tuesday, according to the Swiss Federal Office For Health.

That is a rate of 200 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, the office said. At least 378 people have died, according to the online report.

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Saudi cases up by 157; six deaths reported

Saudi Arabia recorded 157 new coronavirus cases and six new virus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday.

The total number of cases in Saudi Arabia now stands at 1,720, while the death increased to 16, Ministry of Health spokesman Dr. Muhammad Al-Abdel Ali said at a press briefing.

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Regulations which limited movement have caused a drop in nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

The COVID-19 regulations which limited movement have also caused a drop in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations around the globe.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), NO2 is mainly produced by engines, power generation and other industrial processes.

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UAE: Abu Dhabi Boosts COVID-19 Testing Capacity

Abu Dhabi boosted its large-scale testing capacity for coronavirus after a laboratory was built and made operational at Masdar City in just 14 days.

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UK: Edinburgh festival cancelled for the first time in more than 70 years

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, billed as the “biggest celebration of arts and culture on the planet,” has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, Chief Executive Shona McCarthy said in a statement.

It had been scheduled for August. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was “a heart-breaking decision” during her address to the Scottish Parliament today.

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Cardiologists urge patients to keep taking blood pressure medications

Two new viewpoint papers published in the Journal of the American Heart Association today turn a spotlight on how certain blood pressure medications may be associated with more severe Covid-19 infections — but still, it is important that patients continue taking their medications as prescribed, they say.

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Bahrain: MPs Approve BD215 Million Unemployment Fund Withdrawal

The House of Representatives unanimously approved yesterday an urgent draft-law to withdraw BD215million from the unemployment fund to pay for the salaries of Bahrainis in the private sector for three months (April to June).

The move is part of measures accompanying the BD4.3billion stimulus package approved in accordance with the Royal directives to unify national efforts to confront the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic at the local level, and to protect the health and safety of the citizens and residents.

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Bahrain: Two Get Jailed for Breaching Quarantine

A Bahraini lawyer and an expatriate businessman have been sentenced to three months behind bars each for failing to abide by orders for home quarantine, the Public Prosecution announced in a statement.

The pair returned recently to the Kingdom of Bahrain from coronavirus-affected states and were ordered by competent authorities to self-isolate for 14 days, to ensure they did not contract the virus.

However, the lawyer headed to the courtrooms to look after some cases she was handling, while the businessman went to Bahrain International Airport.

According to the statement, the lawyer will be put under house arrest during her jail term, while the businessman will be deported once he fully serves his prison time.

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There are at least 186,014 cases in the US

According to CNN Health’s tally of US cases that are detected and tested through US public health systems, there are at least 186,014 cases of coronavirus in the US.

At least 3,848 people have died in the US from coronavirus.

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Study finds interventions have saved tens of thousands of lives in 11 European countries

A large-scale study has found that early interventions, such as social distancing and severe restrictions on peoples’ movement, have been critical in restraining the spread of coronavirus and have already saved tens of thousands of lives across Europe.

Scientists at Imperial College London studied interventions in 11 European countries, and concluded that they “have together had a substantial impact on transmission.” They estimate “that interventions across all 11 countries will have averted 59,000 deaths up to 31 March.”

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British American Tobacco works on potential vaccine

British American Tobacco (BAT) is in pre-clinical testing for a potential COVID-19 vaccine that utilizes fast-growing tobacco plant technology.

“If testing goes well, BAT is hopeful that, with the right partners and support from government agencies, between 1 and 3 million doses of the vaccine could be manufactured per week, beginning in June.” a statement said.

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Philippines police to escort health workers, following attacks

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Spain records more than 100,000 cases

Spain has confirmed 102,136 cases of the virus and the biggest daily rise in coronavirus-related deaths, according to the latest data released by its health ministry.

The country saw 864 coronavirus-related deaths in the past 24 hours, pushing up the total number of deaths in the country since the outbreak began to 9,053 people.

The total active infections, however, saw a smaller increase than Tuesday — with 3,470 more cases, making a total of 70,436. It added that 22,647 people have recovered from the virus.

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Iran’s death toll passes 3,000

Iran has reported 138 more coronavirus-related deaths on Wednesday, bringing the total death toll to 3,036, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpoor said on state television.

He added that 2,987 new cases of coronavirus have been reported in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 47,593 throughout Iran.

So far, 15,473 patients have recovered and have been released from hospitals across the country while 3,871 hospitalized patients are in critical condition, he said.

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US coronavirus death toll doubles in 3 days

The US coronavirus death toll soared to more than 4,000 last night, doubling within three days, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University.

The number of deaths on Tuesday was 4,076 – more than twice the 2,010 recorded late Saturday – and more than 40 percent of the fatalities were in New York state.

America has now the most confirmed cases in the world, with 189,510, though Italy and Spain have recorded more deaths.

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Bahrain: 2 new cases, total at 249

Recoveries-316
Critical-3
Deaths-4

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Europe’s death toll tops 30,000

The coronavirus pandemic has now killed more than 30,000 people in Europe, just three weeks after the continent was declared the new epicentre of the virus.

Three-quarters of the deaths have been registered in hardest-hit Italy and Spain, which have announced 12,500 deaths and 8,500 deaths respectively.

Meanwhile, the number of cases on the continent has soared from 36,347 on March 13 – the day the epicentre shifted – to 458,601 today.

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Spain sees its highest number of deaths for second day in a row – 864

Spain’s death toll from coronavirus has risen by a record amount for the second day in a row with cases now over 100,000 as the crisis shows no sign of slowing.

The country registered 864 new deaths between Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing the total from 8,189 to 9,053.

The number of new infections rose by 7,719, jumping from 94,417 on Tuesday to 102,136 at the same time Wednesday.

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Kuwait: 28 new cases, total at 237

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Germany: 149 new fatalities

Germany has recorded its biggest daily jump in coronavirus deaths after 149 more people were added to the death toll today.

Meanwhile the total number of infections in Germany rose by 5,453, bringing the total from 61,913 to 67,366.

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France, Spain, Russia and the UK record their highest daily deaths on Tuesday

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The US has one 1 in 5 cases globally

President Donald Trump has warned America to brace for a “very, very painful two weeks” as the White House projected that the coronavirus pandemic could claim 100,000 to 240,000 lives, even if current social distancing guidelines are maintained.

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Hong Kong closes beauty parlors, nightclubs and karaoke rooms

Hong Kong has ordered the closure of all beauty parlors, clubhouses, nightclubs, karaoke rooms and mahjong centers from Wednesday as the city steps up measures to combat a second wave of coronavirus cases.

The decision comes after at least four people were infected following a party at a karaoke bar in the city’s Tsim Sha Tsui district.

According to an official announcement published on Wednesday, these premises will not be allowed to operate until further notice.

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Bahrain: EWA Exempt Only As Per Last Year’s Bills

For all individuals and businesses, the government of the Kingdom of Bahrain will pay electricity and water bills for the months of April, May and June of this year, including fixed administrative fees and municipal fees, which should not exceed the amount of the bills of the same months of the year 2019.

*EWA – Electricity and Water Authority

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Kuwait Ups Measures in Expat Resident Areas

Stringent measures have been enforced due to frequent increase in infection of coronavirus virus where marginal labourer are densely accommodated to contain the spread of infection.

Sources stated that gradually in those areas curfew will be strictly enforced only if it is a necessity can move up to a limited distance. A complete ban may follow if this step does not achieve the desired goal.

Cases of 28 Indian expats have come to light within 3 days, some of whom were living in a building on sharing basis. According to the sources there have been requests to allocate schools in every region close to the cooperative for the purpose of using it as an accommodation for workers so that it will prevent the workers from exiting from these regions, as a part quarantine procedure where on daily basis health measures will be adhered to.

In shopping cooperatives all handling workers since yesterday most of them who are from India and Bangladesh have been replaced by Kuwaiti volunteers, as well as security blockade around their areas during the day have been stepped up, all of which are preliminary indications of the quarantine of such areas is highly anticipated.

Areas such as Mahboula, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Al-Farawaniya, Khaitan and Hawalli, are such areas having large numbers of workers which are under heavy security guard aimed to restrict the movement of workers.

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Free Treatment for 47 Expats in Bahrain

The King HM Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has ordered to provide free treatment for 47 expatriate residents diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus.

The migrant workers who had been quarantined as a precautionary measure because of contact with an existing patient were tested positive.

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Thailand confirms 120 new cases, two more deaths

The new figures brought the total number of infections in the Southeast Asian country to 1,771 and 12 fatalities, Reuters reported.

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Saudi: Re-entry Visa Extension Process for Expats Outside

The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) unveiled the mechanism for the extension of exit and re-entry visas of expatriates or their family members who are outside Saudi Arabia.

The extension process must be done electronically by the employer in the case of expatriate workers or by the head of the family in the case of dependents after visiting the designated link for that in the electronic visa portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(https: //visa.mofa.gov.sa/ExtendReturnedVisa).

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Kuwait announces seven new recoveries

Seven people in Kuwait have recovered from the deadly coronavirus, bringing the total number of recoveries in the country to 80.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kuwait rose to 289 on Wednesday, after 23 new cases were reported.

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Jazz legend Wallace Roney dies

Legendary jazz trumpeter Wallace Roney died at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey, Tuesday due to complications from coronavirus, according to this publicist. He was 59.

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Cuba halts commercial flights, suspends May Day parade

Cuba has recorded 186 cases of the novel coronavirus, with six deaths.

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Lebanon to allow expats to return despite virus lockdown

Lebanese authorities said Tuesday they would allow expatriates to return despite a lockdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic, a move that could affect up to 20,000 people.

An estimated 20,000 people “want to return to Lebanon”, Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti said.

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UAE Sterilization Drive: No Need of Permits

The UAE’s Ministry of the Interior has suspended the requirement for residents to apply for a permit to move at night during the National Sterilisation Programme.

It was earlier announced that people leaving their homes during the daytime between 6 am to 8 pm in the UAE don’t need permits.

With this, all permit requirements have been suspended.

Authorities will continue to check IDs of those found outside during the hours of the sterilisation campaign.

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These 5 countries have the highest death tolls

More than 42,000 people worldwide have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Here are the five countries with the highest death tolls from the outbreak:

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Qatar Reports Second Death, 88 New Cases

Qatar reported its second coronavirus death and 88 new cases of the deadly global pandemic, taking its tally to 781.

The ministry said some of the new cases are linked to travel abroad, while the others have been identified through screening those who were in close contact with previously diagnosed cases and failed to adhere to precautionary measures and social distancing.

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Oman Registers First Coronavirus Death

Oman has recorded the first death from COVID-19 on Tuesday.

A statement issued online by the Ministry of Health said: “The Ministry of Health announces that a 72-year-old Omani citizen died of coronavirus. This is the first death of coronavirus in the Sultanate”.

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Taiwan will be donating 10 million face masks to countries most in need

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South Korea reports 101 new cases

There are now 9,887 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in South Korea, after a rise of 101 new infections was reported today.

South Korea’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced the numbers in a news release, including an updated national death toll of 165.

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China announces 1,367 asymptomatic coronavirus cases under observation

China has officially recorded 1,367 asymptomatic infections of the novel coronavirus, the country’s National Health Commission said on Wednesday.

In total, 130 new asymptomatic cases were diagnosed on Tuesday, while 302 were released from quarantine.

Thirty-six new cases of the virus were recorded on Tuesday — all but one imported. That brings the total number of imported cases to 806, according to the NHC

China has recorded 81,554 cases nationwide, as of Tuesday. It is unclear if that figure includes asymptomatic cases.

A total of 76,238 patients have recovered and been released from hospital, according to the NHC.

Seven new deaths were reported on Tuesday, bringing the country’s death toll to 3,312. Six of the new fatalities were in Hubei, where the pandemic began.

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“World’s busiest airport” sees operations fall by 60%

The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically cut operations at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport by 60%, according to an airport official.

In the past 10 days, operations — categorized by officials as the combination of departures and arrivals — were down from 2,700 on average to 1,100 on Monday.

The airport official said many employees were teleworking, while essential workers are still reporting for work.

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson is known as the “world’s busiest airport” and is often listed among the top airports ranked in passenger traffic and flights. More than 107 million passengers flew through Hartsfield-Jackson in 2018.

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Patients leave hospital and medics return home in China

According to China’s National Health Commission, the total number of people discharged from hospital in the country is now 76,238. Xinhua reported that 186 patients were discharged on Tuesday.

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UAE Repatriates 1,743 Citizens, More Trips Planned

The UAE has brought 1,743 of its citizens and their companions home from abroad in 39 evacuation trips as international travel becomes increasingly difficult under the coronavirus pandemic.

Following the call for citizens to return home on March 17, the UAE has carried out a number of missions to bring them back.

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Hong Kong: 50,000 mandatory quarantine orders

Hong Kong is currently seeing a second wave of infections from imported coronavirus cases after an initial outbreak was mostly brought under control in the city.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Hong Kong has reported 714 cases, up from 407 a week ago on March 25.

To date, 50,000 mandatory quarantine orders have been issued for travellers returning to the city, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced during a regular news briefing on Tuesday.

The city has also conducted 90,000 laboratory tests for the virus — a rate of 12,000 tests per million people.

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Saudi Urges to Delay Pilgrimage Plans

Saudi Arabia is asking Muslims around the world to be patient and delay their plans for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages amid uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the Kingdom’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah said.

The Kingdom’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten, said that Saudi Arabia was ready to receive and serve pilgrims at any time, but that the priority is currently placed for everyone’s safety.

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USA: 830 fatalities, total count at 188,578

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World faces “greatest test” since World War II, says UN secretary-general

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Cases top 850,000 globally

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