Health

BEIRUT, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Lebanon has imposed a “total” shutdown after experiencing a resurgence in reported coronavirus cases.

The curfew will start on the evening of May 13 and stay in place until the morning of May 18.

The number of cases has risen to its highest point in more than a month after the lockdown was rolled back.

People “should stay home and avoid going out except for urgent cases”, Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad said.

HARARE, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A team of 12 Chinese doctors have arrived in Zimbabwe to help in the fight against coronavirus.

The southern Africa nation has confirmed 36 cases in total and four deaths.

The doctors, from China’s Hunan Province, arrived in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, on Monday with test kits and protective gear, the state-run Herald newspaper reports.

The 12 doctors have “front-line experience in the prevention and control of Covid-19”, Chinese state-owned China Global Television Network reports.

LUSAKA/DAR ES SALAAM, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zambia temporarily shut its border with Tanzania to enhance measures against the spread of the new coronavirus, delaying its main copper exports via Dar es Salaam, a minister said.

President Edgar Lungu on Sunday directed the closure after the border town of Nakonde recorded 76 cases of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, the highest number registered by Africa’s No.2 copper producer in a single day.

ABUJA, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The authorities in Nigeria’s oil-rich southern Rivers state have demolished two hotels over an alleged breach of lockdown rules intended to contain the spread of coronavirus.

State Governor Nyesom Wike, who supervised the tearing down of Edemete Hotel and Prodest Home on Sunday, said the operators had flouted an order that hotels should be closed.

LOME, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Togo reported an outbreak of African swine fever in a farm northwest of the capital Lome, where 44 pigs have died of the disease since April 18.

“Analyses at the Lome central veterinary laboratory have confirmed the presence of the African swine fever virus in this breeding farm,” said the agriculture ministry in a statement.

It added that the government took a series of prevention and disinfection measures to curb the spread of the disease, including the slaughter of all pigs in the farm area.

MOSCOW, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus and was receiving treatment at the hospital, Russian news agencies reported.

“Yes, I am sick. I am receiving treatment,” Peskov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

Peskov said he had last met Putin in person over a month ago, the TASS news agency reported. The Kremlin says Putin’s health is rigorously protected and that he gets the best medical treatment Russia has to offer.

PARIS, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The coronavirus pandemic has now claimed more than 290,000 lives worldwide, according to official sources at 2200 GMT on Tuesday.

In total, 290,477 deaths have been registered, with Europe accounting for 159,205 of them.

The United States is the worst-affected country with 82,105 deaths, followed by Britain (32,692), Italy (30,911), France (26,991) and Spain (26,920).

PARIS, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of schools reopened throughout France on Tuesday as the government eases its coronavirus lockdown rules despite some fears of a second waves of infections.

According to official figures there were 348 new COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, bringing the national total to 26,991.

Primary and nursery schools reopened however, with teachers wearing face masks and the children’s chairs separated to avoid spreading the disease.

BRASILIA, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil registered its highest COVID-19 death toll for a single day, with 881 new deaths confirmed over the past 24 hours, the health ministry said.

Brazil, the Latin American country hit hardest in the pandemic, appears to be quickly becoming a new global flashpoint.

The total death toll from the new coronavirus has now hit 12,400 in the country, with 177,589 confirmed cases — up 9,258 from the day before.

That makes Brazil the sixth most-affected country, after the United States, Britain, Italy, France and Spain.

BANGKOK, May 13 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Thailand on Tuesday reported zero new COVID-19 cases and fatalities for the first time since March 9, with  total cases remaining at 3,017 with 56 fatalities as was reported for Monday.

Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Thaweesilp Wissanuyothin said to date, a total of 2,844 patients have recovered and discharged from hospitals while 117 remain at wards.