Updates from around the world
CORONAVIRUS has infected more than 4.2 million people and killed over 287,000, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.
■■TURKEY
Parks have filled with the sound of children as Turkey allowed youngsters aged 14 and under to leave homes for the first time in 40 days.
They were allowed to venture out for four hours between 11am and 3pm as Turkey eased some restrictions. Youngsters aged between 15 and 20 will be able to leave homes for a few hours tomorrow, while senior citizens were briefly allowed out for the first time in seven weeks last Sunday.
The government has announced a “normalisation plan” as the number of confirmed cases has dropped.
■■NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand reported no new cases of coronavirus yesterday, the second day in a row without any and the fourth such day since early last week.
Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said it was encouraging news as the country prepares to ease many of its lockdown restrictions.
Most businesses, including shopping centres, retail stores and restaurants, will be able to reopen. Social distancing rules will remain in place.
■■MONTENEGRO Authorities in Montenegro have detained eight Serbian Orthodox Church priests after a few thousand people attended a religious procession despite a ban on gatherings.
Prosecutors said that the priests are facing charges of violating health regulations during the virus outbreak by organising the procession in the western town of Niksic.
People participating in the procession did not wear face masks nor keep distance from each other.
The detentions could heighten tensions between the government and the Serbian Orthodox Church which earlier this year led protests against a religious law it says would strip the church of its property.
■■SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia said it will go into a full lockdown during the days of celebration that follow the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.
The Interior Ministry said the lockdown would be in effect from May 23 to May 27.
Those days mark the start of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that comes at the end of Ramadan. That holiday sees families invite loved ones over for meals and go out to eat and drink during the day.