How countries around the world are reacting

CORONAVIRUS has infected more than 4.6 million people across the world and killed more than 311,000, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.

Here are the latest updates on the pandemic from around the world:

CHINA

China reported five new cases of coronavirus yesterday, as the commercial hub of Shanghai announced the restart of classes for many younger children from June 2.

Of the new cases, two were imported and three were domestic infections in the north-eastern province of Jilin, which has seen a small spike in cases of unknown origin.

No new deaths have been reported for the past month, but Jilin added one fatality retrospectively, bringing China’s total to 4,634 out of 82,947 cases reported since the outbreak was first detected in the central city of Wuhan late last year.

ITALY

Premier Giuseppe Conte acknowledged reopening the economy brings a risk of new outbreaks of coronavirus, but said “we must accept it”.

Shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, hairdressers and museums are among the business and cultural activities that can resume from Monday. Gyms and swimming pools can reopen a week after. Travel between regions and into Italy from abroad will be permitted from June 3.

SPAIN

The country has registered its first daily death toll of fewer than 100 since declaring a state of emergency two months ago.

The health minister said regional authorities have reported 87 new deaths, the lowest daily count since March 16. Spain reported over 900 deaths a day at the height of the outbreak.

The country of 47 million has had 27,650 fatalities in total and 277,719 infections from Covid-19.

Tourism, which accounts for 12% of GDP, looks set to lose its critical summer season.

“Spain needs tourism,” Mr Sanchez said. “But tourism needs security. It needs health guarantees.”

TURKEY

Senior citizens have been allowed to leave their homes for a second time as the country continues to ease some coronavirus restrictions.

People above 65 – the age group most at risk of developing serious Covid-19 symptoms – can be outside for six hours on Sunday, but their lockdown on other days continues. When outside, they are urged to wear masks and practise social distancing.

Turkey has instituted partial lockdowns with people above 65 and under 20, who are ordered to stay at home. The measures for senior citizens came into force on

March 21 and were relaxed for the first time last week.

The latest statistics from the health ministry put confirmed infections at 148,067 and the death toll at 4,096.

RUSSIA

Russia has relaxed border restrictions for athletes and coaches in a move that will help football to restart in the country next month.

Since March, Russia has barred most foreign arrivals in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Now the government says athletes and coaches will be allowed in if they have a contract with a Russian sports team or organisation. Anyone who returns will have to spend 14 days in isolation on arrival and will be observed by doctors.

GREECE

Churches throughout the country have opened their doors to the faithful after two months.

They limited the number of congregants and dispensed disinfectant outside, but communion was given using the same spoon.

Those who flocked to churches for Sunday Mass sat three chairs apart and observed social distancing of at least five feet. The number of people attending was limited and many were left outside, but avoided crowding, and churches used loudspeakers to broadcast Mass.

SUDAN

The health ministry has reported the country’s highest one-day tally of coronavirus infections, with 325 new Covid-19 patients and six deaths. The figures take the country’s tally to 2,289 confirmed cases, including 97 fatalities. A total of 222 patients were discharged after recovering.

SOUTH KOREA

The country’s top anti-disease official has said it is too early to have an optimistic view that recent coronavirus outbreaks linked to nightlife spots in Seoul have been suppressed.

Jung Eun-kyeong, director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, made the comment hours after her agency reported 13 additional cases - the second day in a row that the daily jump was below 20.

Ms Jung said the recent outbreaks have not yet shown “explosive” surges in infections. But she noted the incubation periods for those who recently visited night clubs in Seoul’s Itaewon entertainment are have not ended and a large number of people who came into contact with those clubgoers are still under quarantine.

She said 168 new patients have so far been found linked to Itaewon clubs. Of those, 89 visited the establishments and 79 came into contact with them.

Five of the 13 new cases reported on Sunday are associated with Itaewon clubs, she added.