Health

TEHRAN, Apr 2 (NNN-IRNA) – The Iranians, on Wednesday, cancelled Nature Day celebrations, after the authorities advised people to avoid public gatherings over the COVID-19 spread.

People celebrate the 13th day of the Iranian New Year, officially called Nature Day, which falls on the first day of Apr this year.

On Wednesday, the parks and green lodges across the country were closed and the roads leading to these places were quiet.

DUBAI, Apr 2 (NNN-WAM) — Dubai Municipality withdrew six types of hand sanitizers that were non-compliant with the approved specifications, against the backdrop of an intensive inspection campaign, to verify the safety of antimicrobial products, including hand sanitizers circulating in the local market.

ISTANBUL, Apr 2 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Wednesday, said, if the outbreak of COVID-19 becomes more widespread in the country, tighter measures will be inevitable.

“We have partially limited inter-city transportation and if needed, we can implement similar methods in urban transportation as well,” Erdogan said, while attending his party meeting via teleconference from Istanbul.

Erdogan reiterated his call on the nation, to stay at home and maintain social distance, as part of the measures taken to restrain the outbreak of COVID-19.

GENEVA, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A UN human rights expert called for lifting international sanctions against countries ranging from Iran to North Korea and Venezuela to ensure that food supplies reach hungry populations during the coronavirus pandemic.

Iran, under sweeping US sanctions for its nuclear and missile programmes, is among the hardest-hit by the new pathogen. Venezuela has notified 113 cases to the World Health Organization (WHO), while isolated North Korea, which borders on China and South Korea, has yet to report any.

HAVANA, Apr 2 (NNN-XINHUA) – Cuba announced the decision to suspend the arrival of international passenger flights and withdraw all foreign boats from the Carribean island, as part of the measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19.

The decision came as the Cuban Ministry of Public Health reported 16 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 earlier in the day, bringing the total in the country to 186.

BANGKOK, April 1 (NNN-XINHUA) — Thailand’s Ministry of Finance on Wednesday said the Treasury Department will release new coins and collect old ones for a thorough cleanup to help stem the spread of COVID-19.

“In Thailand, cash is the main source of transactions. People still carry cash with them to buy food and items,” said Yuttana Yimgarund, director-general of the department.

LONDON, Apr 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) – This year’s Wimbledon has been cancelled, due to public health concerns, related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the All England Club (AELTC) announced, after an emergency meeting.

This year’s Wimbledon competition was scheduled for Jun 29 to July 12. The cancellation was the first time in the tournament’s history, the oldest tennis tournament in the world, since the second World War.

ROME, Apr 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Italy will remain under a nationwide anti-COVID-19 lock-down until Apr 13, Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, said, in a televised press conference on Wednesday evening.

The announcement came just two days before the current lock-down, which started on Mar 10, was due to end on Apr 3 (tomorrow).

“We have surpassed 13,000 deaths, and this is a wound that pains us especially — it is a wound that will never heal,” Conte said.

WASHINGTON, Apr 2 (NNN-XINHUA) – The United States has reported more than 210,000 COVID-19 cases Wednesday night (last night), hours after it became the first country with more than 200,000 infections, according to Johns Hopkins University on Wednesday night.

Death toll from the disease also exceeded 5,000 on Wednesday, jumping by 884 in 24 hours.

As of Wednesday night, a total of 215,417 confirmed cases have been reported in the United States, with 5,116 deaths, showed the tally, updated by the university’s Centre for Systems Science and Engineering.

01 April 2020; MEMO: Turkish defence and electronics firms are teaming up to produce 5,000 ventilators to help treat coronavirus patients, the head of a military drone manufacturer said on Tuesday, reports Reuters.

Baykar Chief Executive Haluk Bayraktar said 100 engineers from his company, defence contractor Aselsan and household electronics maker Arcelik were working together to have the ventilators ready by the end of May.