Health

TEHRAN, May 5 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s President, Hassan Rouhani, said Monday, that, a recent U.S. move, to cut funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO), hampers global fight against COVID-19.

“At a time when the virus has turned into a threat against global security and public health … the impair of WHO’s role, amounts to weakening joint global fight against the virus,” Rouhani said, addressing a virtual meeting of the leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Contact Group.

NIAMEY, May 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The novel coronavirus caused the death of Niger’s minister of employment and labour, Mohamed Ben Omar, public television announced.

The minister’s Social Democratic Party (PSD) reported Ben Omar, 55, had died on Sunday at the main hospital in the capital Niamey but did not list the cause.

“Alas, it is this terrible disease which took the life of minister Mohamed Ben Omar,” public television Tele Sahel reported.

ABIDJAN, May 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ivory Coast’s (Cote d'Ivoire) Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who is the governing party’s candidate in October’s presidential election, was evacuated to France for medical checks.

A brief statement from the presidency provided no additional details about Gon Coulibaly’s health status.

Gon Coulibaly, 61, self-isolated in late March because of possible exposure to the coronavirus but did not test positive.

PUTRAJAYA, May 5 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday night called on the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to help smaller nations in the war against COVID-19.

Malaysia, he said, believes that NAM must play a more significant role to champion access and acquisition for smaller nations in obtaining medical supplies, medications and vaccine once they are developed.

BAKU, May 5 (NNN-AZERTAC) — The heads of member countries of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) came together via a video conference today to address the ongoing global COVID-19 crisis.

The summit, initiated by current NAM chairman Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, took off here today as the leaders joined the meet under the body’s Contact Group format for the meet themed “United against COVID-19”.

Ilham Aliyev made the opening speech at the Summit followed by an address from the President of the United Nations General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.

5 May 2020; AFP: The World Health Organization said Monday that Washington had provided no evidence to support "speculative" claims by the US president that the new coronavirus originated in a Chinese lab.

"We have not received any data or specific evidence from the United States government relating to the purported origin of the virus -- so from our perspective, this remains speculative," WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan told a virtual briefing.

Washington, May 4 (AP/PTI) President Donald Trump says he believes a vaccine for COVID-19 will be available by the end of the year.

Trump also says the U.S. government is putting its full power and might behind remdesivir, a drug that has shown early promise as a treatment for the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

Trump commented Sunday night during a televised town hall sponsored by Fox News Channel.

Agartala, May 3 (PTI) Twelve more Border Security Force jawans tested positive for COVID-19 in Tripura on Sunday, a day after two BSF jawans were found to have been infected with the deadly virus.

With the 12 new cases, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state rose to 16, of which 14 are active as two persons have recovered from coronavirus.

New Delhi, May 4 (PTI) As many as 13 personnel of border guarding force Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have tested positive for coronavirus till now, officials said on Monday.

They said while nine infected officials belong to the 25th battalion of the force based in Ghitorni area of the national capital, the rest are from other locations.

Pune, May 4 (PTI) A 57-year-old assistant sub inspector of Pune police on Monday died of coronavirus infection in a private hospital, officials said.

He had tested positive for the virus in the last week of April and succumbed at around 1pm, Pune Joint Commissioner of Police Ravindra Shisave said.

A statement from Bharti Hospital where he was admitted said the ASI was suffering from obesity and hypertension and was on ventilator for 12 days.

The Joint CP said so far 12 Pune police personnel have tested positive for the virus.