简体中文
The world is now in a battle against COVID-19, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 200 countries and regions.
The following are the updates on the contagious disease.
- - - -
WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that Americans wear cloth face covering to protect against COVID-19.
"The CDC is advising the use of non-medical cloth face covering as a voluntary health measure," Trump told a White House briefing. "It is voluntary. They suggested for a period of time."
However, Trump said he would not wear mask.
- - - -
SOFIA -- The Bulgarian National Assembly on Friday evening approved the extension of the nationwide state of emergency until May 13 in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
The state of emergency was initially implemented on March 13, and since then a number of anti-epidemic measures have been taken, such as closing bars, restaurants, schools and universities, and suspending mass events.
- - - -
HELSINKI -- The Finnish government on Friday ordered all restaurants in the country to close from Saturday, in its latest effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.
According to the order by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, restaurants must remain closed from Saturday until the end of May. Takeaway sales will be allowed -- in a way that avoids contagion.
- - - -
WASHINGTON -- A new study published on Friday suggests that COVID-19 will likely overwhelm the existing critical care capacity in the United States.
Policies are urgently needed to expand intensive care unit (ICU) capacity and encourage self-isolation, according to the study, published on the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
- - - -
ISTANBUL -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday declared a partial curfew for the citizens under the age of 20 to curb the fast spread of COVID-19.
At a televised address to the nation, Erdogan announced a series of new measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak as the death toll from the virus climbed to 425, and the confirmed cases totaled 20,921 on Friday.
- - - -
GENEVA -- A total of 50,325 people had died of COVID-19 around the world as of 10:00 CET (0800 GMT) Friday, according to the situation dashboard by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The number of confirmed cases has surged to 972,640 globally as of Friday morning.
- - - -
LONDON -- The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Britain reached 38,168 as of Friday morning, an increase of 4,450 in 24 hours, according to the lastest figure from the Department of Health and Social Care.
As of Thursday afternoon, of those hospitalised in Britain who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, 3,605 have died, marking a record daily rise of 684.
- - - -
TOKYO -- Japan's Health Ministry on Friday said that local governments will be advised to accommodate coronavirus patients with mild symptoms in hotels, as urban areas in particular are facing a shortage of healthcare facilities amid a spike in COVID-19 cases.
The request has been made owing to an escalation in cases in Tokyo as well as other urban areas, with the Tokyo metropolitan government along with healthcare specialists saying the number of hospital beds available for coronavirus patients will soon reach capacity.
