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.
Here are the latest updates on the pandemic from around the world:
TURKEY
Parks have filled with the sound of children at play as Turkey allowed youngsters aged 14 and under to leave their 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 on May 10.
The government has announced a “normalisation plan” as the number of confirmed cases has dropped, but warned of tougher measures if infections go up again.
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 until May 27.
Those days mark the start of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that comes at the end of Ramadan. That holiday typically sees families invite loved ones over for meals and go out to eat and drink during the day.
SOUTH KOREA
South Korea said it has no immediate plans to revive strict social distancing rules despite a spike in coronavirus cases linked to nightclubs in Seoul.
Vice-health minister Kim Gang-lip said the government needs more time to analyse details of recent outbreaks before determining whether or not to maintain relaxed social distancing guidelines.
South Korea eased up on many of its strict social distancing rules last week before it had about roughly 30 new cases each day in the past few days. Yesterday South Korea recorded 26 new cases, 20 of them associated with clubs in Seoul’s
Itaewon entertainment district.
Health officials said in principle they would maintain relaxed social distancing rules if the country’s daily jump is below 50 and the number of untraceable cases account for less than 5% of all confirmed cases.
MEXICO
Mexico’s top advisory body on the coronavirus pandemic has issued guidelines that would allow for the reopening of construction, mining, and car and truck manufacturing.
The General Health Council said it had decided to classify those industries as “essential activities” that are allowed to continue working during a lockdown aimed at fighting the spread of coronavirus.
The council did not set a timeline
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 restrictions. Most businesses, including shopping centres, stores and restaurants, will be able to reopen. Social distancing rules will remain and gatherings will be limited to 10 people.
PAKISTAN
Pakistan has passed 2,000 new positive coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time since the outbreak earlier this year.
The increase comes just days after Prime Minister Imran Khan eased lockdown restrictions and stepped up the return of residents stranded overseas.