www.thepeninsula.qa Sunday 19 April 2020 Volume 25 | Number 8232 26 Sha'aban - 1441 2 Riyals

BUSINESS | 01 PENMAG | 04 SPORT | 10

Turkey’s banking Classifieds ‘Big 3’ discussing watchdog sets and Services ways to help deposit ratio to section lower-level boost loans included players: Djokovic

Qatar ramps up safety measures for Industrial Area workers

SIDI MOHAMED sterilisers, masks, gloves have cleansed and sterilised and this To facilitate the process of THE PENINSULA The Ministry of Public Health has already been distributed among them.” contributes to creating a suitable money transfer for workers, a set up an outpatient clinic in the area “A field hospital has been and healthy environment for number of exchanges are opened The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has established on which work is employment.” in the area to provide uninter- said that the general situation in Leaflets have been distributed in more than under way that can accommodate He said that the area hosts a rupted services to workers. Phar- the Industrial Area is quite satis- nine languages to raise awareness a large number of patients to take large number of companies that macies and food supermarkets factory and round-the-clock care of them,” he said. take care of their workers and are also open in the area. operations are conducted to Sterilisers, masks and gloves have been The Ministry of Public Health communicate with them around It is clear from the visit that ensure the needs of food, medical has already set up an outpatient the clock. “Also all food items there is a great deal of cooperation supplies and others are met. distributed among workers. clinic in the area where testing which enter the area are on part of workers regarding “The workers are our brothers and examinations are done and examined by specialists to see taking safety measures to prevent and we seek to protect them with To facilitate money transfer a number of all the needed medical care is their quality and safety,” he said. the spread of COVID-19. The everything we have especially exchanges are opened given for free by the Hamad Media persons were briefed awareness campaigns are also during this crisis. All medical con- Medical Corporation. on the level of the health situation, being run in about nine languages ditions were taken into consider- Al Ghanim pointed out edu- where a hospital with a capacity to raise workers’ understanding ation particularly for the people security commander responsible arrangements in place for the cational leaflets have been dis- of about 200 beds is under con- of the viral disease. who have diabetes or stress dis- for Industrial Area. workers who are quarantined tributed in more than nine lan- struction, and two other hospitals Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa Al eases and others as their health This was disclosed yesterday there. guages by charities and other will be built in future. The Moftah, Director of the Public condition is monitored by during a field trip, which was Al Ghanim, said: “Together organisations. Peninsula also noticed the efforts/ Relations Department at the Min- healthcare professionals around organised by MoI, of media person with the medical teams, we He further said that all the activities of charity organisations istry of Interior said: “We are keen the clock and the authorities are and community leaders to the examined and investigated all efforts were being made to protect including Qatar Charity, which is to communicate with community responding to their requirements,” locked-down streets of Industrial areas and labour accommoda- workers’ rights and also to prevent distributing free food among representatives regarding com- said Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Area.Media and community tions to provide the necessary spread of coronavirus in the workers with each basket suf- munity matters, especially in the Mohammad Al Ghanim, the leaders were briefed about the medical care for workers. Also country. “The area has also been ficing one person for 14 days. Industrial Area.” 190-bed hospital for workers in Industrial Area SJC, MADLSA hold labour SIDI MOHAMED dispute sessions remotely THE PENINSULA QNA — DOHA specified during the session, to Qatar is building a 190-bed communicate visually with the hospital, that will include 40 The Supreme Judicial Council judge in charge of labour dis- beds, to deal with the emergency (SJC) in cooperation with the putes, who will for his part be care for the workers who are Ministry of Administrative connected to the visual com- quarantined in Industrial Area. Development, Labor, and Social munication system, as well as The move is part of its efforts to Affairs (MADLSA), began the communication of other ensure better medical care for the holding sessions of the Labor stakeholders is also visible, workers. Dispute Resolution Committee similar to the employers The area will get three hos- (LDRC) “remotely” to decide on through a link sent to them pitals which will carry tests and urgent cases and requests. from the Ministry. extend medical care to the The sessions were held The sessions using the workers there. through the use of the visual visual communication tech- This was disclosed yesterday communication technology nology will allow urgent cases during a field trip of media currently adopted by SJC in to be considered, and the Min- person and community leaders holding trial sessions as part of istry will also provide full tech- organised by the Ministry of the preventive measures and nical support to workers who Interior to visit the locked-down efforts to curb the spread of do not have adequate means streets of Industrial Area. “Con- the coronavirus. of communication and attend struction work of one hospital is It is scheduled to hold the the session headquarters at the under way and a plan has been sessions of the committees for dates set for them. Dr. Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen, Director of Hamad International Training Centre at Hamad Medical chalked out to set up two more the settlement of labour dis- This approach to holding Corporation and Chair of Kulluna for Health and Safety Campaign, speaks to media on the safety hospitals,” said Dr. Khalid putes at the headquarters of the such sessions comes within the PIC: ABDUL BASIT/THE PENINSULA Abdulnoor Saifeldeen, Director measures in Industrial Area for ensuring a normal life for workers. committees in the Al Huda framework of keenness to of Hamad International Training Tower of the Ministry by allo- protect the rights of workers Centre at Hamad Medical Cor- beds for emergency care. we will set up an observation already set up an outpatient clinic cating a hall equipped with and employers and to provide poration, who is in charge of “We appreciate the private facility for people who need to in the area where testing and visual communication means. a healthy and safe environment medical care activities at the area. sector for allowing us to use their stay for a day or two under examination is being done and The workers who do not have for the resolution of disputes He said that the first hospital building. A Qatari businessman observation,” he added. all the needed medication is appropriate means of commu- that may arise between them will have 190 beds including 40 has given us his building where Ministry of Public Health has given free by the HMC. nication will attend the day with appropriate precautions. MME campaign trains Qatar records recovery of 46 patients from children remotely COVID-19, 345 new cases & one death THE PENINSULA — DOHA yesterday. residents. The new infected death. The Ministry extends to fight coronavirus Most of the new cases of cases have been placed under condolences and sympathy to The Ministry of Public Health COVID-19 are people, who complete isolation and they the family of the deceased. The THE PENINSULA — DOHA by eateries or other food (MoPH) has announced the were in contact with the are receiving necessary death toll due to COVID-19 is outlets. registration of 345 new existing cases among citizens medical care. eight in Qatar, as of The Ministry of Municipality Al Zaidan who is also a confirmed COVID-19 cases and and other residents, and a The Ministry also yesterday. and Environment (MME) has member of the committee for also the recovery of 46 number of other new cases are announced that a man, aged The total number of launched a campaign to volunteering work support patients. The Ministry has also among migrant workers. Some 59, who was infected with COVID-19 cases recorded in educate children remotely initiative educated children announced the death of a cases of the virus were dis- COVID-19, suffered an acute Qatar stands at 5,008, among about the importance of about health and safety rules person due to COVID-19, covered among citizens and heart attack that led to his them 510 have recovered and receiving home delivery and regulations. there are 4,490 active cases services safely. Giving safety tips to COVID-19COVID-19 QATARQATAR UPDATESUPDATES ONON 1418 APRILAPRIL 20202020 under treatment. The Ministry The campaign ‘Junior children, Al Zaidan said that has conducted 1,811 tests yes- Home Inspector’ provides it is necessary for junior terday taking the total tests basic information to children inspectors to wear face mask NEW CASES done in the country to 60,139. about receiving home and glove properly and make ANNOUNCED 345 The Ministry said in a delivery services safely, said sure that delivery boy is also NEW statement that, the noticeable the Ministry in a release. wearing them while deliv- RECOVERIES increase in the number of con- The junior inspectors are ering food items at the door. 46 firmed new cases of infection told to conduct inspection The junior inspectors TOTAL is due to several reasons, while receiving food items were also instructed to keep CASES 5008 including the fact that the from delivery boys. distance from delivery boy TOTAL spread of the virus has entered The junior inspector cam- and ask him to place the its peak stage and it may con- paign was launched within parcel order at the door. RECOVERIES 510 tinue to increase for a period the efforts of the committee Al Zaidan asked children TOTAL before it starts to decline. for volunteering work to ensure that parcel boxes DEATHS 8 It is also due to the steady support initiative at MME to and packets should be closed increase in efforts of the Min- ACTIVE support State’s measures to tightly because it is necessary istry and its medical teams to curb the spread of COVID-19. to curb the spread of infection CASES 4490 track the transmission chains Head of the Health Mon- of coronavirus. of the coronavirus and conduct itoring Section at Al Rayan Speaking about the intensive and proactive inves- Municipality, Majid Burhan Al payment to delivery boy, he tigations of groups of contacts Zaidan, held a remote said that it is better to make with people who were diag- meeting through video con- prepayment by parents online nosed with the disease previ- ferencing with a number of but in case of paying cash, ously. This has contributed to TOTAL POSITIVE TOTAL DEATHS TOTAL RECOVERED children to explain how to exact amount should be given the early detection of many deal with the food items to avoid taking back the COVID-19 GLOBALLY 2,310,572 158,691 590,682 cases of infection and reducing which are delivered to home remaining change.`P2 the spread of the virus. 02 HOME SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020

Marine Special Forces training courses graduation OFFICIAL NEWS Amir sends congratulations to President of Zimbabwe DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, and Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Kha- lid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani sent yesterday cables of congratulations to President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, H E Emmerson Mnangagwa, on the occasion of the anniversary of his country’s independence. QNA MME campaign

The Joint Special Forces celebrated yesterday the graduation of the Special Marine Corps Training Course, trains children the courses of the Advance Maritime Special Team No. 16 and the Marine Special Team Course (SBS) with the participation of the friendly British forces at the headquarters of the Naval Special Forces. remotely to The ceremony was held under the auspices and in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, and attended by the Commander fight COVID-19 of the Amiri Guard, Major General Hazza bin Khalil Al Shahwani. The training courses, which lasted 28 weeks, included several phases and advanced training stages aimed at raising the readiness and FROM PAGE 1 competence of the marine special team. Al Zaidan said that the project aims at achieving the vision of MME (Always Safe Food) by involving children in 'COVID-19 will increase role of technology in education' community services, utilizing their capability to protect FAZEENA SALEEM “The current crisis may Qatar Foundation's COVID-19 pandemic on edu- around the world and at dif- themselves and their families THE PENINSULA accelerate changes that cation systems now and in the ferent stages of development. from the epidemic. already started to occur. The WISE initiative has future. This virtual seminar WISE has also supported He said that the campaign The present situation due to first is higher education fol- taken steps to find gave educators around the through the WISE Accelerator helps children introduce key the COVID-19 pandemic may lowing increasingly a blended the impact of COVID- world, including QF educators, a Lebanese based initiative health conditions for the safety push government and model in which online a chance to contribute ideas that aims to improve teaching of foods, creating a sense of education institutes around learning plays an increasingly 19 pandemic on on the many ways of and learning Arabic. responsibility among them the world, including Qatar, to important role and contributes education systems approaching virtual learning,” “The initiative is called towards the community. rethink teacher training in towards lowering higher edu- he said. Kamkalima. It uses data ana- Al Zaidan said that the order to move away from cation cost and improves and initiatives to “WISE has also collabo- lytics and algorithms to project will continue to involve emergency remote teaching accessibility,” he said. promote virtual rated with different local accompany learners in their large number of children at towards proper online “Another trend that we entities on curating valuable journey to learn Arabic. It also home for creating health learning, according to an may observe in the coming learning. digital education resources for provides teachers with pre- awareness about food items expert. years is an increase in the the local and global com- cious data about the students’ until the end of this crisis. This will require better adoption of education tech- munity such as Education pace of learning. Thousands training for teachers and nology solutions in schools by The measures taken by Above All. WISE’s learning of students including in Qatar school leaders in designing improving procurement proc- WISE include organized a ecosystems track has been benefit from Kamkalima. Ramadan Moon and delivering content online esses and involving increas- global virtual seminar, collab- organizing virtual convenings Through its programs and for students at all levels, said ingly more teachers in the orated with local entities and for local education stake- awards, WISE has supported to be born on Touhami Abi, who is Manager evaluation of those solutions education stakeholders, said holders as a means to over 100 initiatives worldwide at the Qatar Foundation’s since education technology Abi. exchange ideas and foster a of which dozens are education Thursday WISE (World Innovation solutions provided the crisis “Since the start of the thriving digital education eco- technology solutions,” said Summit for Education) Accel- that they are not just a nice current crisis, WISE has been system. Many of the local Abi. QNA — DOHA erator Program. thing to have but rather a organizing digital convenings partners are QF universities,” WISE serves as a platform Speaking about the future necessity.” such as the recent Education said Abi. that brings together education Specialists at the Qatar of virtual learning in Qatar and WISE has taken steps to Disrupted, Education Reim- Earlier, through various stakeholders in Qatar and from Calendar House(QCH) have across the world, Abi said that find the impact of COVID-19 agined’ Virtual Seminar hosted international events and pro- around the world to exchange announced that the crescent it is difficult to predict the pandemic on education by WISE and Salzburg Global grams, WISE has recognized best practices, learn from each of the blessed month of future of a sector as complex systems and initiatives to Seminar held recently with a and supported various other and collaborate including Ramadan for 1441 AH will be as education. promote virtual learning. focus on the impact of the e-learning initiatives from collaboration in e-learning. born on Thursday, at 5:27am Doha local time (2:27am GMT), according to the exact calcu- Exhibition by UCL Qatar Master's lations by astronomers. Dr. Bashir Marzouq, an students explores motherhood expert astronomer at the Qatar Calendar House, said that it is impossible to see or monitor THE PENINSULA — DOHA The aim of the virtual exhi- the crescent of the blessed bition is to explore the topic of month of Ramadan on This year’s UCL Qatar Master’s support for expectant mothers Wednesday evening, with the (MA) students in the Museum and in Qatar, with the purpose of naked eye or with astro- Gallery Practice Programme, empowering them, their families nomical devices in the skies of have combined their efforts, in and the medical community. the State of Qatar and all the collaboration with Sidra The MA in Museum and countries of the Arab and Medicine and Weill Cornell Gallery Practice Programme is Islamic region, because the Medical College in Qatar, to designed to help shape future crescent of Ramadan for this create a virtual exhibition that generations of museum profes- year will not be born at sunset explores becoming a mother and sionals and cultural leaders in on the monitoring day of in the journey of pregnancy. The Qatar and the region. The the skies of the State of Qatar, exhibition carried out by UCL student exhibition project is one as well as in the skies of all Qatar, a Qatar Foundation of the core modules the MA stu- Arab and Islamic countries. Partner University, launched on dents undertake each year and The legal decision of the its own website www.umoumah. gives students the opportunity advent of the blessed month com. to visually showcase their talent of Ramadan for this year The exhibition named and skills. remains within the compe- ‘Umoumah’, which stands for Dr. Sam Evans, Director of tence of the Moon Sighting “motherhood” in Arabic, features UCL Qatar, said “I am very proud Committee of the Ministry of five thematic units woven of the outcome of this exhibition. Endowments (Awqaf) in the together through different Our talented students have Field hospital being built for workers State of Qatar. mediums such as video, poetry, worked extremely hard with the He added that the moonset Work is under way on a field hospital being constructed for workers in the Industrial Area. interactive games, educational academic team and partners to PIC: ABDUL BASIT/THE PENINSULA in Qatar on Wednesday will be activities among others. bring this to life." at 5:30pm local time. One million in 22 countries to benefit from QRCS Ramadan campaign THE PENINSULA — DOHA workers, respectively. “The purpose is to alleviate the Under the theme “It is better impact of coronavirus outbreak and greater in reward”, Qatar on their lives,” said Muna Fadel Red Crescent Society (QRCS) Al Sulaiti, Executive Director of has launched its annual Volunteering and Local Devel- Ramadan campaign for the year opment Division at QRCS. 1441 AH. Al Sulaiti revealed a Double The new drive comprises a Reward initiative, under which wide range of humanitarian customers of LuLu Hyper- operations in Qatar and 22 market can purchase food other countries, at a target value baskets, which are then to be of QR60m. These operations the campaign involves over 200 Development Goals (SDGs) of donated for a poor person. Part include Ramadan Iftar projects, humanitarian projects, such as the United Nations, QRCS will of the value of the basket will food baskets, Eid clothing, Ramadan Iftar, Eid clothing, launch far-reaching devel- go for another poor Eng. Ibrahim Al Maliki, Chief Muna Fadel Al-Sulaiti, Executive Zakat-ul-Fitr, and diverse relief coronavirus control, just to opment projects. To address beneficiary. Executive Director and General Director Volunteering and Local and development projects name a few. poverty and hunger, QRCS will To donate to QRCS’s Ramadan during and after the holy month Director of the Relief and Development Division, QRCS. The total number of bene- help 250,000 refugees, dis- campaign, people can choose of Ramadan. International Development ficiaries is 1 million in 22 coun- placed persons, patients, older from several options — all the pre- The launch was announced Division, QRCS. the brink of collapse. The global tries (Palestine, Yemen, Sudan, persons, persons with disability, cautions are taken to ensure the by Eng. Ibrahim Abdullah Al economy is plunging into a deep Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Mali, Sri and persons deeply in debts. safety of donors — including Maliki, Chief Executive Director pandemic, which weighed too recession. It is time for civil Lanka, Afghanistan, Somalia, Medical convoys will be Online donation (www.qrcs.org. of QRCS and General Director heavily on many countries,” Al society organisations and non- Bangladesh, Syria, Lebanon, deployed to treat up to 10,000 qa), SMS page (app.qrcs.org.qa/ of the Relief and International Maliki said. “Markets are shut profits, notably, QRCS, to do Jordan, Senegal, Albania, Iraq, poor patients. cov), Bank transfer to QRCS’s Development Division. down, and business is halted. something to help the most vul- Ethiopia, Pakistan, Turkey, In Qatar, QRCS’s Humani- account with QIIB and via tele- “This Ramadan comes as Millions of poor people are suf- nerable groups in Qatar and Mauritania, Nepal, and the tarian Services Fund will dis- phone. QRCS also has donation the world is experiencing a hard fering. Now, they have no beyond”. Philippines). tribute food baskets for 6,000 collection agents at Al Meera, time facing the coronavirus income, and their lives are on According to Eng. Al-Maliki, Towards the Sustainable needy families and 1,500 LuLu, and Carrefour. SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020 HOME 03 Ooredoo installs Fever Screening Thermal Camera System at retail shop THE PENINSULA — DOHA The camera can screen and identify individuals with a body temperature of 37.3 degrees or higher. In a move designed to further reinforce its complete commitment to protecting the The system is also capable of identifying individuals attempting to health and safety of staff and customers, Ooredoo has enter the shop without wearing a face mask. announced the installation of a Fever Screening Thermal Any person with a body temperature of 37.3 degrees or higher will Camera System at its Al Sadd retail shop, in partnership with not be permitted to enter the shop, in the interests of protecting Huawei. the health and safety of others. The camera screening system is capable of identifying individuals presenting with a The system is also capable customers is of paramount virus means we can not only body temperature of 37.3 of identifying individuals importance to all of us at better protect staff and cus- degrees or greater, upon which attempting to enter the shop Ooredoo. We’re doing every- tomers at our shops, but we can an alarm will sound to notify without a mask, in contra- thing we can to minimise risk also identify someone who may staff. vention of Ooredoo’s policy of to our staff and our customers, not know they could potentially The Fever Screening Thermal Camera System which has been Such individuals will, in the asking its customers to wear in the interests of protecting our be sick, enabling them to then installed at Ooredoo’s Al Sadd retail shop. interests of protecting the health masks when visiting its wider community, and bal- seek immediate medical and safety of those around premises. ancing that with continuing to attention. them, not be permitted to enter Speaking of the installation, meet the needs of our "We remain committed to support and understanding,” he screening systems across the the shop and will be advised to Sabah Rabia Al Kuwari, Director customers.” supporting Qatar in the ongoing said. rest of its open retail shops and visit the nearest medical facility PR at Ooredoo, said: “The health “Being able to identify those fight against COVID-19, and we Ooredoo intends to roll out other Ooredoo premises as soon for evaluation. and safety of all our staff and possibly at risk of carrying the thank all our customers for their installation of the camera as possible. Ehsan provides Ashghal completes trunk sewer to serve 8 northern areas counselling THE PENINSULA — DOHA The sewer line for the elderly starts at a depth of The Public Works Authority and families (Ashghal) has announced the 7 meters, from Al completion of all the main Rayyan Stadium, until THE PENINSULA — DOHA upgrade works for the 17.2-kilometer-trunk sewer that it reaches the tie-in The Center of Empowerment serves 8 areas to the North of point on Al Shamal and Elderly Care (Ehsan), Doha. Road, where the line which operates under the The new trunk sewer aims umbrella of Qatar Social Work to facilitate discharge of sewage runs at a depth of Foundation (QSW), has flows from several northern approximately 30 announced launching the areas such as Rawdat Al (Consult Me) service, which is Jahaniya, Al Themaid, Rawdat meters. a support telephone line to Egdaim, North Al Nassriya, Bani Eng. Abdulla Al Nuaimi, Project provide social and psycho- Hajer, Al Kharaitiyat, Izghawa, Engineer in the Roads Projects logical counselling for the and the area surrounding Al strategic deep sewer line that Department, Ashghal elderly. Rayyan Stadium. This is in Municipality.” environmental conditions in the transfers flows to the main The Executive Director of addition to serving Al Rayyan Eng. Al Nuaimi also added area by providing well- treatment plant in the area. “Ehsan” Mubarak bin Stadium, which is one of the sewer extending from Al that “The foul sewer infra- developed sewer connections It is worth noting that the Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, said that stadiums that will host World Rayyan Stadium to Al Shamal structure upgrade serves to replace the traditional septic sewer line starts at a depth of 7 the center, especially under cup 2020. Road to collect and discharge several areas witnessing a sig- tanks.” meters, from Al Rayyan Stadium, the current circumstances, Eng. Abdulla Al Nuaimi, foul flows to Pumping Station nificant urban growth as it col- Eng. Al Nuaimi pointed out until it reaches the tie-in point seeks to continue providing Project Engineer in the Roads 70, located in Al Ebb and lects the sewage of other that the project comes as part in Al Kharaitiyat and Izghawa high-quality services to the Projects Department, said: “The Leabaib. The sewage will then existing projects in the area. It of Ashghal’s commitment to area on Al Shamal Road, where elderly in Qatar with the aim completed works involved the be pumped into the treatment will also improve the quality of solve sewerage-related issues the line runs at a depth of of helping to prevent the construction of a deep trunk plant in Umm Slal life as well as the health and in these areas by providing a approximately 30 meters. threat of the novel corona- virus (COVID-19) pandemic. He explained that the aim of the service is to provide Qatar Center for Voluntary counseling and social and psychological support Activities intensifies services to lift the morale of the elderly and their families COVID-19 awareness efforts by receiving their calls on the designated phone numbers in both Arabic and English, to QNA – DOHA answer their inquiries and direct them to the specialized Qatar Center for Voluntary government hotlines that suit Activities is working to their health condition in intensify its awareness-raising addition to opening a commu- activities and campaigns nication channel with the against the new coronavirus, elderly in the local com- through a number of activities munity and introduce them that it offers by concluding to the “Ehsan” service cooperation agreements with package. various parties. He added that the phone The Center continues its The Center continues calls would be answered by efforts in the belief in the its efforts in the social and psychological spe- necessity of community par- cialists from the center, ticipation, seeking guidance belief in the necessity explaining that the specialized for the correct methods and of community team provide social or psy- sound measures that must be chological counseling and taken to prevent this imminent participation in efforts take actions in a timely danger and limit its spread, against COVID-19. manner or directs the caller along with field contributions to the competent authority, through its volunteers. stressing maintaining the The Center is expected to places that requested vol- privacy and confidentiality of launch a package of various unteer services. the call because the main goal activities during the holy Al Qahtani added that one is to spread reassurance and month of Ramadan, as well as of the most prominent lift the morale of the elderly offer a range of interactive awareness campaigns carried and their families. activities on social media out by the center during the Mubarak bin Abdulaziz Al platforms. crisis of the spread of the coro- Khalifa also stressed that the The Director of the Center, navirus, was the participation team receive its information Moeedh Al Qahtani, stressed of a number of volunteers in from government approved that dealing with the crisis the awareness campaign about sources to avoid rumors and took place from its inception, the risks of the emerging virus misinformation, that any where a special team was for foreign workers, which inaccurate information formed to coordinate a were carried out by the Qatar regarding the COVID-19 might number of campaigns, which Center for Cultural and Her- confuse the elderly and became in two parallel lines, itage events under the super- increase their anxiety. the first included awareness vision of the Ministry of “We are very careful campaigns, and the second Culture and Sports and in about not discussing any was through participation on cooperation with the Ministry matters that require diagnosis the ground by volunteers. of Interior. It was carried out or medical and psychological He noted that the first start through cars that roamed all treatment, and we refer these of the Center’s activity was areas in partnership with matters to the medical awareness through social volunteers. authorities of the Ministry of media accounts. Messages As for the safety measures Public Health,” he said. were sent through the existing taken by the Center in its Al Khalifa expressed the database, which includes working, Al Qahtani said that importance of promoting this approximately 6,500 volun- since the beginning of the pan- service so that the largest teers, as well as sending clips demic, the number of number of citizens and resi- containing the latest news, employees had been reduced dents of the elderly and their information and developments to 20% compared to 80% families can benefit from it, of the situation, and an action working remotely, as the explaining that the numbers plan was prepared to partic- Internet was used during that were allocated to ipate in the campaign in coor- meetings and interviews in provide the service are dination with the Ministry of addition to examining 66722026, 66724929 and Public Health and a number of employees and providing all 66713878, adding that the agencies involved in volun- tools for sterilization under the center provided a number for teering and distributing vol- supervision of the crisis team English speakers which is unteers after training and par- at the Qatar Center for Vol- 66893755. ticipation in the centers and untary Activities. 04 HOME SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020 Georgetown workshop gives QF students tools for academic success

THE PENINSULA — DOHA

For busy college students, time management is already a challenge, but the corona- virus pandemic is making it even harder. To give students at QF-partner Georgetown University in Qatar the self- management tools they need A CMU-Q faculty member discussing ways to equip students to succeed, a Georgetown through online learning. Leadership Track (GLT) workshop titled “Finding the Rhythm” was organised on CMU-Q faculty explores how to get the best out of technology without getting distracted in an online world. Afsha Kohli, Associate Director for Student Development, led the workshop, which aimed at helping the future of teaching The workshop was led by students to get the best out of technology without getting distracted in an online world. THE PENINSULA — DOHA spent on learning activities, dis- Afsha Kohli, Associate cussion and delving deeper into Director for Student Devel- The transition to online course concepts. Online teaching, with opment and GLT program The workshop was partly based on the helped me gain insights into delivery has spurred innovation ample use of technological organizer, and attended by book “Indistractable: How to Control Your new topics such as financial in the way faculty members are tools, has spurred many students enrolled in the GLT literacy and social media approaching teaching at CMU-Q professors to move to program, as well as other stu- Attention and Choose Your Life” by Nir Eyal, management.” Carnegie Mellon University in a flipped-classroom approach. dents, faculty, and staff at an international bestselling author and Learning a new skill is Qatar (CMU-Q), a Qatar Foun- Khalid Warraich, chief GU-Q. important, she emphasised, dation partner university. information officer at CMU-Q She provided practical former Stanford lecturer and behavioural but noted that the benefits of Michael Trick, Dean of and a member of the task force, techniques on how students design expert. the workshops goes beyond CMU-Q, reflects on the long described what is driving the can take back control of their that. “A feature I love about term impact of the unplanned innovation: “It’s clear that time and their attention by these workshops is to meet move to remote teaching: “I human contact has become a understanding the psycho- keeps us online. time is still precious and val- with other Hoyas and Student really think that the faculty and precious commodity. Faculty logical triggers that lead to “There is so much news uable, just be mindful and Life members virtually. For the programs are all going to members can provide materials technological distractions. By and information streaming make wise choices, on what me, this is a recognition and be stronger having gone digitally beforehand, and then understanding those triggers across our screens, whether you choose to spend your re-emphasis on the sense of through this. Our faculty focus on what is most valuable and using technological tools that’s Facebook, or Instagram time on. Get control of your community and collective members have had to think during their face-to-face time, like online calendars to or Twitter. And there is a time, else someone else will.” work we continue to do, carefully about what goes in like discussion, analysis and schedule all activities in the pressure to stay informed and International Politics despite these challenging and their courses and how they all answering questions.” day, she explained, students on top of all of that. While it’s major and Leadership Track unprecedented times.” fit together.” For the students, the move will be better equipped to important to know what’s participant Khushboo Shah The workshop was partly The COVID-19 pandemic to online learning has been take on the added challenges going on, it’s also important (SFS’22) said she signed up based on the book “Indis- was the catalyst for a swift quite smooth. First-year of the current crisis. to know where to draw some for the session because of the tractable: How to Control move from classroom to online student Muhammad Ali Raza is “Practicing physical dis- boundaries, because oth- benefit of previous work- Your Attention and Choose learning at the beginning of completing the semester from tancing means so much of our erwise we won’t have the shops. “The past workshops Your Life” by Nir Eyal, an March. CMU-Q completed the his family home in Pakistan: time is spent virtually online,” time or energy to focus on life have helped me to improve international bestselling full transition within two days “The experience is going great said Kohli. And it’s not only priorities.” my soft skills such as com- author and former Stanford of the official directive by the so far. I miss CMU, but apart school work and staying in Kohli’s advice to students munication and time man- lecturer and behavioural Qatar government suspending from that, online classes are touch with loved ones that is simple and effective. “Our agement, and have also design expert. schools and universities. perfect. We can talk to pro- Initially, the focus was fessors and friends face to face, simply to mimic in-person lec- ask questions and get tures and maintain the conti- feedback.” AAB, QCA collaborate for second edition of nuity of learning objectives. A Information systems task force of CMU-Q staff tech- student Fatima Mustafawi, who nology and educational experts will graduate this year with 87 Stay Home Online Chess Tournament guided the move of 125 courses of her classmates, remarked, to virtual delivery. “This is not how I wanted my THE PENINSULA — DOHA In the first few days, faculty CMU story to end, of course, but members were still working I think in some way it’s been a Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros. from the CMU-Q building. With blessing. This experience has Co. (AAB), the exclusive the closing of all but essential made me more adaptable to my distributor of Toyota and Lexus services in Education City, pro- environment, and my priority in Qatar, continues its collabo- fessors began working from is my work right now.” ration with Qatar Chess Asso- their homes. Many students Michael Trick sees the ciation (QCA) in the second have returned to their home innovation in teaching as an edition of Stay Home Online countries, and with students Education City-wide phe- Chess Tournament held over and professors in different time nomenon: “The partner uni- the weekend. This is part of zones, faculty members began versity deans realized pretty AAB’s CSR initiative to promote to explore ways to use the quickly that we couldn’t do strategic thinking in the technology. this all on our own. People are community as well as develop One approach has been to exchanging ideas, thoughts, the community through sports. adopt a “flipped classroom” resources, and in many ways, Following the success of the model of education. Using this this has brought us together. I first edition, the second edition approach, students are intro- think this experience has was held to sustain the chess duced to new material before made us all better community’s awareness on the class, and then class time is educators.” importance of social distancing measures while at the same Qatari chess player Mohammed Al Sayed. RIGHT: Abdullah Al Homaid, a U14 player from Qatar. time connecting chess players around the world. More than 2,000 participants consisting Aizharkyn (Kyrgyzstan) got Best Rolenson (Philippines) won Best of both QCA and AAB Qatar. 48 Grandmasters (GM) and Female prize. Resident third Prize. Stay Home Online Chess is renowned International Masters First place winner, 18-year Mohammed Al Sayed won not merely a tournament but (IM), FIDE Masters (FM) and old Raja Harshit from Pune is Best Qatari (Male) prize, also a statement that we all Women GMs, CMs and IMs racing his way towards Kholoud Al Khulaifi won Best contribute to the flattening of came together from all over the becoming India’s next Grand- Qatari (Female) prize, Ali Al the curve by finding ways to world. master. Meanwhile, aside from Saadi won Best Qatari (U20) become creative and more Raja Harshit (India) secured the over-all winners, top three prize, Abdullah Al Homaid Best productive as we observe and first place; Sanal Vahap resident players were also Qatari (U14) while Layan Al maintain social distancing. It (Turkey) came second while recognised. Qassabi Best Qatari (U12) prize. is a tribute to the frontliners in Matthias Bluebaum (Germany) Abdulrahim Al Mahyo The third edition of Stay the battle against the spread of came third. Rauf Mamedov (Syria) won Best Resident first Home Online Chess Tour- coronavirus which includes not (Azerbaijan) secured fourth prize, Pimentel Eugene (Philip- nament in collaboration with only the medical and Muhammad Ali Raza, a first-year CMU-Q student, taking his lessons place; Andrew Tang (USA) came pines) won Best Resident QCA will be held on April 24, healthcare practitioners, the through online classes. fifth and Shyngys Kyzy, second prize and Loyola 2020. To register, interested providers of basic needs participants amongst others, but more should visit the importantly those who stay at social media home and support the govern- platform such ment’s effort of flattening the as Instagram curve during its fight against and Facebook coronavirus. SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020 HOME 05 The path to beating coronavirus — from test to vaccine

THE PENINSULA — DOHA When an infection does get do now is determine what can be through these precautions, the obtained from this strain of the coro- The rapid pace at which coronavirus immune system creates antibodies to navirus that can be injected into the continues to spread across the world fight and counteract it. However, individual, which will allow the per- has inevitably raised questions about We can expect enough every so often, a virus such as the son’s immune system to counteract testing, vaccines, and potential treat- tests to ultimately be coronavirus mutates and evades the the virus,” Dr. O’Kennedy said. ments — including why testing for the human immune system. The consequences of prematurely virus appears difficult and time- developed, but getting to “This process of viruses mutating introducing a vaccine that turns out consuming, how long a vaccine will this point will take some and attacking people’s immune to be unsafe are potentially severe. In take to develop, and how it will work systems has been going on for thou- order to prevent this, vaccines go once it has been developed. time, given the gravity of sands of years,” said Dr O’Kennedy. through rigorous testing and clinical Dr. Richard O’Kennedy, Qatar the current situation.” “When a virus such as this enters trials, contributing to the timescales Foundation Vice-President for the body, and the immune system fails involved in introducing them. Research, Development, and Inno- to recognize it, this allows it to divide In the meantime, the global vation, and an immunology expert, rapidly. A person will usually build up medical community is exploring Dr. Richard O’Kennedy said, “It’s important to remember that rendered even more difficult due to immunity, but only after a period of potential treatments using combina- what is being tested for is a specific the speed with which COVID-19 cases time. This is why scientists across the tions of existing drugs. One that has kind of novel virus. worldwide have risen. are working around the clock on world are looking to accelerate the gained a high profile is chloroquine, “Not only does it take time to “We can expect enough tests to research that is aimed at developing a process of developing a vaccine.” an antimalarial drug, but its effec- develop a virus test of any kind, but it ultimately be developed, but getting vaccine within a much shorter A vaccine can be described as tiveness is subject to trial results. is also vital to ensure that any test to this point will take some time, given timescale. something that activates or primes the “The World Health Organization is detects only this particular strain of the gravity of the current situation,” As Dr. O’Kennedy explains, the immune system. The way the polio also looking at combinations of drugs coronavirus, and no other.” he added. immune system is essentially a series vaccine – the success rate of which that have been used to fight HIV, as Adding to the complexity of devel- A vaccine for coronavirus has been of defense mechanisms within the has contributed to the near-elimi- well as drugs used to modulate oping accurate testing kits is the the subject of discussion since the start human body. People can play their own nation of polio worldwide – works, immune responses, and those used for urgency with which the world is of the outbreak, with such conversa- part in ensuring something that may for instance, is that the human other diseases,” said Dr. O’Kennedy. seeking these tests. However, as Dr. tions often failing to recognize that the look to attack their body does not have immune system is exposed to a small, “However, we really need sys- O’Kennedy points out, the companies vaccine development process can take the opportunity to do so, which inactive dose of the virus to activate tematic checks to determine the most developing them need to ensure they as long as 10-15 years. However, given explains why healthcare professionals an immune response. This immune effective combinations, and this is the are validated and approved before the severity and ever-changing con- unanimously agree that the best course response allows the body to defend reason for what people may see as a they can move to the mass manufac- sequences of the current global pan- of action is to keep washing hands and itself against the virus. delay in introducing them as treat- turing stage, with the process demic, specialists in several countries observe social distancing guidelines. “What scientists are now trying to ments for this virus.” QLC students complete Georgetown University residency online

THE PENINSULA — DOHA professors, experts, and leaders American politics, even through in the US. in a concerted effort digital conference calls, gave us Students in Qatar Leadership to protect the health of all an incredible opportunity,” said Centre’s (QLC) Executive parties involved while con- Mohammed Ali Kareeb, an Master’s in Leadership – Qatar tinuing the tradition of high EML-Q student. “Their expe- (EML-Q) recently concluded quality leadership education. rience in one of the world’s their annual weeklong resi- Georgetown University most powerful economies dency at Georgetown University McDonough School of Business offered valuable lessons for my in Washington DC, but in a new faculty connected students with fellow students and me, as we way, as all of its modules and political leaders, including the consider ways to contribute to meetings were offered through US Secretary of Energy Dan Qatar’s economic growth.” the Internet. Brouillette, who answered QLC The agenda featured panels Based on the need for students’ questions and offered of experts in healthcare, foreign careful compliance with the insights forged from his expe- policy, education, trade, energy, government’s health and safety rience as a senior government finance, and education, a range measures introduced as a result official. The School also facili- of subjects reflecting interests of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tated a meeting with Jim Moran, of QLC students working in long-standing academic former US congressman and Qatar’s government, public Faculty, experts and leaders in the US share their insights with EML-Q students in a digital meeting. partners collaborated closely in current senior policy advisor at institutions, and the private order to deliver the Washington Nelson Mullins, who shared his sector. experience completely through perspectives on legislative pri- Faculty from the and emerging technologies at capitalism, and the importance EML-Q degree, which is a nine- online tools. They created a orities for the current US McDonough School used online work, as well as diversity and of US elections in 2020. month program offered for unique schedule that facilitated Congress. tools to consider leadership’s inclusion. Simulations were fea- QLC and Georgetown Uni- qualified alumni from one of the digital conference calls between “The chance to meet and role in areas such as shaping tured, along with consideration versity’s McDonough School of Centre’s three National Lead- the students in Qatar and the learn from important figures in strategy, international trade, of changing factors affecting Business jointly developed the ership Programs. NU-Q student clubs continue virtually WCM-Q overcomes coronavirus In the spirit of challenges to continue clinical teaching solidarity, students THE PENINSULA — DOHA to the role of telemedicine. conduct thorough case histories from all classes Dr. Jabre said that using with standardized patients, as and majors joined Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar online video conferencing apps well as learning how to counsel student club leaders (WCM-Q) may have closed the has allowed students to deliver patients on smoking cessation doors of its building to faculty oral presentations and that prac- and delivering bad news. in creating a platform and students due to the corona- tical work can still be taught and But once the pandemic is where student needs virus pandemic but teaching the learned by assigning clinical over, everyone agrees that stu- are addressed, next generation of doctors must cases and diagnostic imaging dents will have follow-up ses- continue — and has never been cases for online self-review. The sions and real-patient clinical and their interests more important. trainee doctors continue to have skills instruction to ensure they engaged through Online education presents full access to their professors for have the correct practical exam- new challenges, though, partic- feedback and support through ination skills. interactive virtual ularly when teaching clinical virtual meetings. For the obstetrics/gynae- activities. skills, an area of the curriculum Dr. Stella Major, associate cology clerkship, Dr. Jabre that often demands practical professor of family medicine in explained how she plans to have experience as well as theoretical clinical medicine and director of students attend a practical exam THE PENINSULA — DOHA facilities, and production,” said creating the Yope dance. knowledge. WCM-Q’s Clinical Skills and skills session in the Clinical Skills Sarah Shaath, president of “We thought it would be a WCM-Q faculty, staff and Simulation Lab, said she and her and Simulation Center for As Northwestern University in NUQSU. “NUQSU does not stop good way to destress after a students have risen to the team have also used online physical examination compe- Qatar (NU-Q) moved its whether in person or virtually; long week of classes,” said occasion, however, allowing resources to continue the clinical tence in gynaecology. The stu- academic courses online, the transition online is just Azma Mulundika, president of lessons to continue as planned, skills curriculum. dents will watch instructional students began parallel initia- making sure that we are still as the Afrowimbo Dance Group, albeit digitally. Dr. Major said: “Using video videos first then have a practice tives at safeguarding access to present, if not even more in a dance club for students in Dr. Moune Jabre, senior conferencing, simulated patients session followed by a compe- the resources that make NU-Q these crucial times.” NU-Q and EC interested in attending physician in obstetrics and a variety of simulation- tency check station for each skill. an inclusive and thought- For NU-Q’s Chess Club, African dance. “Quarantine has at Sidra Medicine and the based educational models, we This determination to provoking place for students. headed by Cade Aguda as pres- been tough, but it has also given director of WCM-Q’s obstetrics have started supporting clinical overcome the challenges pre- In the spirit of solidarity, stu- ident and Beatrice Zemelyte as us some extra time to practice and gynaecology clerkship, said skills teaching and assessment sented by COVID-19 has been dents from all classes and vice president, the cancellation new dances, take part in some she and her colleagues have remotely. Students feedback has praised by Dr. Thurayya Arayssi, majors joined student club of gatherings on campus was an challenges, and also focus on been able to deliver the entirety been very positive, as this has professor of clinical medicine at leaders in creating a platform opportunity to put into action our social media presence,” of the planned curriculum so far, offered them a chance to be WCM-Q and senior associate where student needs are the months of preparation the Mulundika added. and there have even been some exposed to telehealth.” dean for medical education and addressed, and their interests club had spent in honing its Beyond student clubs, unintended positive conse- She said that students have continuing professional engaged through interactive members’ virtual chess skills. NU-Q’s student affairs quences, such as an introduction used telemedicine skills to development. virtual activities spanning dance “Throughout the whole year, department is also responsible challenges, cooking tutorials, we have been emphasizing the for several programs catering and online game contests. importance of using chess. to the diverse interests of the “While some student clubs com—a website with explan- student body, such as NU-Q have gone on a hiatus, others atory videos that cover the rules Cooks, which, according to have been very active in finding and strategies of chess—and Keelie Sorel, director of student creative ways to remain con- hosted several training sessions affairs, “is an initiative rooted nected to their members and the on how to use it.” Zemelyte said. in building community through larger student body,” said Indee With the help of this expe- food. Thotawattage, student life spe- rience, members of the Chess Students who heard about cialist at NU-Q, who mentors Club, who were set to take part the concept of the program and advises student leaders. in a championship in March and requested that Darrell One such association is the April, took the spirit of compe- Pinontoan, a sophomore known NU-Q Student Union (NUQSU), tition online where they partic- among his peers for his passion whose main priority has been ipated in a tournament on chess. and skill in cooking, be asked to ensure that student voices com, hosted by the Qatar Chess to participate. “I love cooking continue to enjoy representation Association on March 27. and have cooked ever since in the discussions taking place Other student clubs I was a child,” Pinontoan across the University during the engaging their members during said. “It’s a bond that I share global health crisis. the ongoing pandemic is the with all my family members. “We are ensuring that the South Asian Student Association, I also love to be able to serve students’ questions are always which hosted a bingo game tai- others and be a source of joy answered through Town Halls lored to the interests of the club, for people and just to share and meetings, especially with and the Afrowimbo Dance something back with my Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar students during a session held via video conferencing. the dean, student affairs, Group, which made a video re- community.” 06 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020 Turkey food supplies safe amid pandemic: UN official

ANATOLIA — ANKARA “We are welcoming as cereals and oil seeds. “The COVID-19 outbreak As it grapples with coronavirus, the measures taken will pass sooner or later, and Turkey is not expected to face by the government there is a need to ensure that any major problems in the agricultural and food production short- or mid-term in its food to help farmers is continued,” he stressed. supply or food security, and food-related Touching on Turkey’s according to the UN’s Food and business operators general steps to stem the pan- Agriculture Organisation (FAO) demic, Gutu said the country representative in Ankara, by postponing tax has been very deliberate in its Turkey’s capital. payments, advancing fight against the COVID-19 pan- “We are welcoming the demic since day one. measures taken by the gov- agricultural support “It seems that the country’s ernment to help farmers and payments, (and) healthcare system has been quite food-related business operators successful in its response to by postponing tax payments, providing interest- increasing needs, and the Min- advancing agricultural support istry of Health has been informing free loans for An aerial view shows Buyukdere Road and Zincirlikuyu junction near empty due to the restrictions payments, (and) providing and updating the public on a daily reimposed at midnight in 31 provinces for two days as part of measures to stem the spread of COVID- interest-free loans for investment investment," said basis,” he underlined. and operation which are pro- FAO representative in Since the outbreak began, Tur- 19 in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday. vided for small farmers and proc- Ankara. key’s health minister has been essors,” Viorel Gutu said, hailing holding daily briefings and issuing son is participating in these about it.” Gutu explained that Also, Mahmut Duruk, who state campaigns to cushion the updated statistics through Twitter, meetings, hiding behind me,” his shopping habits have seen sits on the board of Turkey’s Fed- pandemic’s economic impact. development both from a nutri- in addition to periodic government Gutu said. He added that the little change, except for now he eration of Food and Drink Gutu added that he also backs tional prospective and for sup- advisories and news on safety lockdown also gave him more leaves the children at home. Industry Associations (TGDF), the Agriculture and Forestry Min- porting producers. guidelines and lockdowns. time to improve his Turkish. Asked what he does per- downplayed any risk of istry’s “Evde Hayat, Sofrada Balik He also praised other gov- Gutu stressed that the time Stating that this period gave sonally to prevent any person- shortages, saying Turkey has — Life at Home, Fish on the Plate” ernment steps to secure the spent in meetings — now held him more of a chance to be with to-person spread of the infection enough food and beverage stock- promotional campaign. agricultural production process virtually — rose considerably, his family, Gutu said: “We’re — which often produces no piled to last it at least six months. The campaign, promoting and food supply such as the which also paved the way to helping each other with cooking symptoms — he said: “Obviously, “Production and distri- the retail sale of fish at project of allocating idle agri- communicate more with col- and cleaning. using masks, gloves and sani- bution activities in food and wholesale prices, aims to boost cultural lands under public leagues during lockdowns “In this sense, our kids have tisers, when going out shopping. beverage continue at full speed household consumption of fish, domain to farmers to grow through much of the country. chosen their own responsibil- But, also, consuming healthy on weekdays,” Duruk reassur- which would be a welcome certain types of products, such “Sometimes, even my little ities and we’re very happy food and exercising every day.” ingly stressed. Syria’s Kurd-led Some businesses in Tehran reopen after weeks of lockdown northeast AP — TEHRAN working from home, and withdrew the US from Tehran’s supplies due to sanctions,” the Authorities have also confirms first schools and universities are still nuclear deal with world UN experts said. “Some are at banned Friday prayers in Iran allowed some businesses closed. powers. great risk from COVID-19 due Khartoum mosques, a measure case of COVID-19 in the capital and nearby towns Traffic was heavy in Tehran On Friday, UN human rights to their age or underlying health taken by several other countries to re-open yesterday after early yesterday, the first day of experts called on Iran to release conditions. We call on the in the region. The transitional REUTERS — QAMISHLI weeks of lockdown aimed at the work week. Authorities political prisoners who could be authorities to immediately government sacked Khartoum’s containing the worst corona- allowed businesses outside the vulnerable to infection inside release them.” governor, Lieutenant General The Kurdish-led administration virus outbreak in the Middle capital to reopen a week ago. the country’s detention facil- Elsewhere in the region, Ahmed Abdoun Hamad, after in Syria’s northeast said on East. The virus causes mild to ities. Iran has temporarily Sudanese formed long lines he objected to the ban. Friday that the World Health Iran was slow to respond to moderate flu-like symptoms in released 100,000 prisoners, but outside bakeries and fuel sta- In Israel, authorities closed Organisation had found the the pandemic and held off on most patients, who recover is still detaining many convicted tions early yesterday ahead of off two small Arab towns in the area’s first case of coronavirus imposing widespread restric- within a few weeks. But it is on security charges, including a round-the-clock curfew in the north to prevent the spread of earlier this month after samples tions even after other countries highly contagious and can cause several dual-nationals. capital, Khartoum, that is set to the virus. Police said were tested in Damascus. in the region with far fewer severe illness or death, partic- Rights groups say many of last three weeks. movement into and out of Deir In a statement, the regional cases forced most businesses to ularly in older patients or those the dual-nationals are political The country, which is still Al Assad and neighbouring administration said a 53-year- close. with underlying health prisoners or are being held as reeling from last year’s uprising Bineh would be strictly old man had died at Qamishli Gyms, restaurants, shopping problems. bargaining chips for future that toppled longtime ruler limited. Israel has increased National Hospital on April 2 malls and Tehran’s grand Iran’s leaders have said negotiations with the West. Omar Al Bashir, has reported testing in Arab areas in recent and that a sample sent to bazaar will remain closed. they had to consider the eco- “We recognise the emer- 66 cases, including 10 deaths. days, and the closures Damascus had tested positive Shrines and mosques are also nomic consequences of quar- gency situation in the Islamic An outbreak in Sudan would appeared to be linked to a for COVID-19, the lung disease shuttered, and a ban on public antine measures, as the country Republic of Iran and the severely strain the health spike in cases. Arab citizens of caused by the coronavirus. gatherings remains in place. struggles under severe sanc- problems it faces in fighting the system, which has been Israel account for 20 percent But it said health authorities Government offices have reo- tions imposed by President pandemic, including reported weakened by decades of civil of the population and have in the northeast, a region ruled pened with a third of employees Donald Trump after he challenges in accessing medical war and sanctions. long faced discrimination. autonomously from Damascus, had not been made aware of the results, which emerged on the New coronavirus death same day as the patient’s death. A WHO regional spokes- person said the positive test toll drops in Iran result was reported by the Syrian government health min- AFP — TEHRAN victory” against the coronavirus istry on April 2, and that active had been won despite surveillance was being carried Iran yesterday announced 73 “enmities” towards Iran. out in northeast Syria to probe new deaths from the corona- He claimed that US sanc- for other potential cases. virus, raising the official toll to tions had prevented Iran from “Contact tracing of the 5,031. buying virus testing kits from patient’s close contacts was It was the seventh day that South Korea, but gave no further conducted, and all were the number of deaths in the pre- details. reported negative. However, vious 24 hours had fallen. “This is despite all their false another family member is cur- It was also the fifth straight claims that trade in medicines rently reportedly also in hos- day that the number of new is not covered by the sanctions,” pital with symptoms of deaths had stayed in double he said. COVID-19 with test results figures, Health Ministry “The world will judge such pending,” said WHO spokes- spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour actions.” Jahanpour added that person Inas Hamam. told a news conference. 1,374 new infections had been The Kurdish-led adminis- “This (73) is a very low confirmed in the previous 24 tration said it was “dangerous” number compared to recent hours, taking the total to 80,860. that their health authorities days,” he said, hoping the Of those admitted to hos- had not been informed directly downward trend would pital, 55,987 have recovered and when the case was first continue. been discharged, while 3,513 A view of a crowded road in Tehran yesterday, after some restrictions were eased. confirmed. Jahanpour said the “small remain in critical condition. COVID-19 more difficult Virus response stirs Jerusalem sovereignty struggle

AFP — JERUSALEM But meetings with “hospital the thorniest issues in the in east Jerusalem, according to for heart patients doctors in Jerusalem, interviews Israeli-Palestinian conflict. the Palestinian Health Israel’s arrest of senior Pales- with media calling on people to Israel captured its eastern Ministry. ANATOLIA — ANKARA important thing is to obey tinian officials for “illegal” stay at home to fight corona- sector in the Six-Day War of Israel recently doubled the social distancing rules and efforts to contain coronavirus virus — they (Israel) consider 1967 and later annexed it in a number of its screening centres The coronavirus is more wash hands for at least 20 and the Jewish state’s closure these things violations,” he move never recognised by the in Palestinian neighbourhoods difficult for heart patients than seconds. of a clinic have exacerbated a complained. international community. It of the city from three to six fol- others, a cardiologist said at Emphasizing the ongoing long-running row over the Earlier this month, Hadami views the whole of Jerusalem lowing a petition to the supreme the end of Heart Week in discussion on taking vitamin status of east Jerusalem. and Adnan Ghaith, the Pales- as its “eternal, indivisible court by a human rights group. Turkey. supplements to strengthen Since the onset of the health tinians’ Governor of Jerusalem, capital” and bans any Pales- The detention of the senior Bilal Boztosun, who heads the immunity system, Boz- crisis, Palestinian officials allege were detained by Israeli tinian government activity Palestinian officials this month the cardiology department at tosun said according to a the Arab population of Israeli- authorities amid their on-the- within the city. was nothing new — Ghaith has Medipol Mega University Hos- recent research on 24 vitamin annexed east Jerusalem has been ground response to the coro- The Palestinian Authority been arrested seven times in pital in Istanbul, said it is dif- supplements, there is no evi- overlooked by Israeli efforts to navirus crisis. considers east Jerusalem the two years, Hadami four times. ficult for a lot of patients but for dence to show they protect curb the spread of the virus. Both men were released capital of its future state and But this time, the men said, those who have heart condi- against heart disease or Israeli police recently shut- within 24 hours. But the spread tries to maintain a presence on they were not asked about tions and diagnosed with prolong life. tered a COVID-19 screening of COVID-19 in predominantly the ground. political activities but their COVID-19 it becomes more “There is even moderate facility in the east Jerusalem Palestinian east Jerusalem risks The city’s status was meant work spreading awareness challenging. evidence that some vitamin neighbourhood of Silwan — the exacerbating political tensions to be resolved as part of a final about the coronavirus among “Especially if you are above supplements containing testing was unauthorised, they that could put lives at risk. peace agreement between the Palestinians in Jerusalem. 70 years old if you have other calcium and vitamin D may said, because it was overseen Yesterday, the Palestinian two sides, but the diplomatic The two men are from Jeru- chronic disease beside cardio- increase the risk of strokes,” only by the Palestinian Health ministry reported the process between Israel and the salem, but due to Israeli restric- vascular disease, such as he said. Authority, and not Israel. first coronavirus death in east Palestinians has long been tions they work in Al Ram, on kidney or lung disease, cardiac A healthy and balanced “Our goal is to provide aid Jerusalem, naming the victim dormant. the other side of an Israeli wall insufficiency, valvular heart diet will help protect against to the people of east Jerusalem as a 78-year-old woman, Nawal Israeli police, meanwhile, separating the city and the disease, and if you had by-pass heart disease, according to who are intentionally being Abu Al Homos. It said that she enforce the prohibition on any occupied West Bank. surgery in last three months, Boztosun who acknowledged neglected” by Israel, Fadi Al died in an Israeli hospital in Palestinian activity in east Jeru- “If I walk in the street the you are in very high risk if there is vitamin deficiency, Hadami, the Palestinian gov- west Jerusalem. salem they deem political. Israelis consider it political group,” said Boztosun. doctors should prescribe sup- ernment’s Minister for Jeru- At the heart of the dispute A total of 81 people have because of my position,” He suggests the most plements to patients. salem Affairs, said. is the status of the city — one of tested positive for coronavirus Hadami said SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020 AFRICA 07 Virus deaths in Africa Libya’s eastern forces strike top 1,000, including Tripoli civilian Nigerian chief-of-staff area, four dead AP — CAIRO AP — ABUJA, NIGERIA The World Health Libya’s east-based military Africa now has more than 1,000 Organization on forces fired into residential deaths from COVID-19, the Friday noted a 51% neighbourhoods of the coun- Africa Centers for Disease try’s besieged capital with Control and Prevention said increase in cases heavy weapons, killing four yesterday, while Nigeria said in Africa and a 60% civilians on Friday, including the President’s chief of staff had jump in deaths in the an elderly man and a teenager, died. according to Tripoli health A total of 52 of the conti- past week. officials. nent’s 54 countries have “The humanitarian situ- reported the coronavirus, with ation is catastrophic, terrifying, the overall number of cases sur- highest-profile in Africa. Several really,” said health ministry passing 20,000 yesterday. government ministers and a US official Amin Al Hashemi. Workers use sewing machines to assemble a piece of protective equipment for coronavirus frontline Nigeria’s government said ambassador were infected with Despite appeals for a health workers at a factory commissioned by the government, in Accra, Ghana, on Friday. Abba Kyari, chief of staff to the virus earlier in Burkina freeze in the fighting so that President Muhammadu Buhari, Faso. authorities can confront the died on Friday of COVID-19. Kyari announced his illness He was reported to have Nigeria currently has nearly warned that because of a coronavirus pandemic, “the “May God accept his soul,” the last month, saying that “I have been infected during a visit to 500 cases of the virus. shortage of testing “it’s likely the shelling has not stopped for statement said. made my own care arrange- Germany. He was criticized for The World Health Organi- real numbers are higher than hours, it is only increasing,” he Kyari had been considered ments to avoid further bur- not isolating upon his return to zation on Friday noted a 51% reported.” The Africa CDC has said. by some as Nigeria’s most pow- dening the public health system, Nigeria and accused of infecting increase in cases in Africa and said more than 1 million test kits On Friday, artillery rounds erful government figure, His which faces so many other top government a 60% jump in deaths in the past will be rolled out starting next crashed into houses across infection had been one of the pressures.” officials. week. But the WHO chief week. from the prominent Royal Health Clinic in southern Tripoli, killing a 16-year-old Sudan witnesses boy and wounding his mother Women and children die in Nigeria aid stampede and two younger brothers, sharp increase in aged 12 and 8, said health min- AFP — KANO, NIGERIA brought to the hospital along gathered at a primary school for help of Chadian troops after a istry spokesman Malek Merset. COVID-19 cases with seven injured,” a medical handouts of 5,000 nairas (13 series of offensives that lasted In the Souk Al Juma neigh- At least five women and source said at the hospital. dollars) and clothing supplied months. bourhood of Tripoli, one man ANATOLIA — KHARTOUM children died yesterday in a “We learned that (other) by Borno state governor Residents returned to both was killed when a Grad rocket stampede when cash and bodies were identified and Babagana Umara Zulum. towns but some 70,000 live in struck his home, and four Sudan has witnessed a sharp clothes were handed out to claimed by relations from the “There was a stampede as squalid camps at Gamboru and others wounded, including a increase in the coronavirus thousands of displaced people scene,” the source added the distribution was about to rely on food aid from interna- woman, he added. cases as 30 new cases were in northeastern Nigeria, militia without specifying how many. start,” in the morning, said local tional charities. In a western Tripoli neigh- reported over the past 24 and local people said. However Umar Kachalla, resident Yahaya Bukar, who Fourteen people died on bourhood, a 70-year-old man hours, bringing the total A large crowd surged who heads a local militia force, also counted 12 dead. Friday and 15 were badly hurt was killed and four members number to 66, the Health forward for the government aid said: “There was a crush which Gamboru, a border trading in a blaze in the town’s main of the same family wounded Ministry said yesterday. distribution and people were led to the death of 12 women hub, has been repeatedly tar- camp. when shells hit grocery stores “27 of these cases were trampled under foot in the town and children and left seven with geted by Boko Haram insur- The insurrection has killed and surrounding homes, said reported in Khartoum state, of Gamboru, near the Cam- severe injuries.” Some of the gents since August 2014 when 36,000 people and displaced Al Hashemi. while for the first time two eroon border, a region hit by dead were taken to hospital and the militants seized the town 1.8 million from their homes in A shelter for civilians who cases were confirmed in White jihadist violence. others claimed at the site of the along with nearby Ngala. the northeast. The violence has fled fighting in other parts of Nile state and one in Gazeera “Five dead bodies, four stampede, he added. Nigerian soldiers re-took spread to neighbouring Niger, the city also came under fire, state,” the ministry said in a women and a little girl, were Thousands of women had both places a year later with the Chad and Cameroon. killing one 40-year-old man statement. and wounding two policemen. The total deaths from the The fighting over Tripoli coronavirus in the country erupted last April, when forces rose to 10, as four more people Lesotho PM deploys under the east-based com- died over the past 24 hours, it mander Khalifa Haftar added. launched a campaign to seize Meanwhile, a three-week army to ‘restore order’ the capital from the UN- lockdown began yesterday in backed government. the country’s capital AFP — MASERU, LESOTHO have been arrested by the army. In recent weeks, Haftar’s Khartoum. “The general informed the forces have escalated their use Lesotho’s embattled prime Prime Minister that he has of Grad rockets and artillery minister announced yesterday arrested Holomo, Mokete... shells in Tripoli’s densely pop- South Africa’s he had sent troops onto the They are temporarily detained ulated neighbourhoods. The streets to “restore order”, at Makoanyane Barracks,” the weapons by their nature SAA offers staff accusing unnamed law source said in the capital cannot be fired precisely and enforcement agencies of under- Maseru. place civilians at grave risk. severance deals mining democracy. There was a heavy presence The intensifying assault Prime Minister Thomas of armed soldiers, in bulletproof drew condemnation from the REUTERS — CAPE TOWN Thabane is under pressure to vests and helmets, patrolling the United Nations, where step down after police said they streets. spokesman Stephane Dujarric South African Airways (SAA) suspect him of having a hand Other soldiers drove around appealed for a cease-fire on is offering severance packages in the murder of his estranged Maseru in armoured cars. humanitarian grounds to slow Troops are seen patrolling in Maseru, Lesotho, yesterday. to its workforce of around wife in 2017, a case that has The Premier said he was the spread of the virus. The 5,000 workers, a proposal by thrown the country into “surprised” that some “institu- majority of Libya’s 49 infec- the airline’s administrators political turmoil. tions entrusted with main- the scene of his estranged wife’s security forces and intelligence tions have been reported in showed, after the government In an address on public tel- taining order and adhering to murder included the Prime service to probe his ruling All Tripoli and the western city of said it wouldn’t provide more evision, 80-year-old Thabane law are busy tarnishing the very Minister’s mobile phone Basotho Convention (ABC) party Misrata. The UN-backed gov- funds for rescue efforts. said he had “deployed the army principles” of the country’s sta- number. His order deploying rivals, whom he accused of ernment imposed a lockdown The proposal, which was to take control of this situation bility and democracy. the army comes a day after the plotting to topple his on Friday in its most sweeping put to trade unions this week and take necessary measures He said the army would also constitutional court set aside his government. anti-virus measure yet, and hasn’t been agreed with against these elements in help enforce a 24-day corona- decision to suspend parliament Citing his advanced age, the warning that violators who them, is the latest sign that alignment with the security virus lockdown in the country, for three months. Prime Minister had earlier this venture out after curfew hours state-owned SAA is on the orders and restore peace and which has so far not recorded In March, Thabane imposed year offered to step down from would be penalised. But while brink of collapse. Talks with order”. a single case. a three-month suspension of office by July 31 following the the virus may lurk in streets unions will resume on “This is to avoid putting the The Prime Minister’s order parliament shortly after the accusation of his possible and public spaces, Monday. nation in danger,” he said. is the latest twist in a saga that national assembly passed a bill involvement in the murder. “A humanitarian pause is SAA entered a form of A highly-placed gov- has gripped the southern barring him from calling fresh He faces allegations he urgently required,” said bankruptcy protection in ernment source said police African kingdom. elections if he loses a no-con- acted in “common purpose” in Dujarric, noting that the UN December, since when it has commissioner Holomo Molibeli, The murder accusations fidence vote hanging over his the killing of 58-year-old had recorded at least 131 had to suspend all commercial his deputy Paseka Mokete and against Thabane came after head. Lipolelo Thabane, whom he civilian casualties in just the passenger flights due to the another senior police officer communications records from Last month, he ordered the was in the process of divorcing. first three months of this year. global coronavirus pandemic. This week the government told administrators that it Violence and looting point to food crisis in South Africa lockdown wouldn’t provide more funds, lending guarantees or allow AFP — CAPE TOWN Mr President, we are past the “As people are not getting foreign financing of a business stage of sending people away,” food parcels or hear of other rescue plan. “Mr President we are in the an emotional Fredericks people getting parcels they are According to the proposal, middle of a food crisis. It’s war pleaded. starting to react. And I don’t employees would see their out here,” warned Joanie Fred- Already, several violent pro- think that’s going to ease unless employment terminated by ericks, a community leader in tests have broken out across the there’s more rapid delivery of mutual agreement on April 30. Mitchells Plain township in country over access to food food to people in poor areas.” They would be entitled to one Cape Town. parcels handed out by South Africa is ranked one week’s pay for every year of The desperate plea was authorities. of the most unequal countries service, one month’s pay in made in a video posted on social Hundreds of angry people in the world. lieu of notice pay and pay for media to South African Pres- fought running battles with the A study by the national sta- outstanding annual leave. ident Cyril Ramaphosa who police, hurling rocks and setting tistics agency in 2017 found that The proposal said it imposed a five-week lockdown up street barricades with 20 percent of households in the seemed “unlikely that the to try curb the spread of the burning tyres in Mitchells Plain country of 57 million, had inad- company will be successfully coronavirus. over undelivered food parcels equate access to food. rescued as a result of the “People have broken into on Tuesday. The lockdown and its business rescue process”. tuck shops. They have attacked Police fired rubber bullets impact on the poorest is at “In order to make payment people. The simple reason is and teargas to disperse them. breaking point. of the severance packages... because they are hungry,” she Social commentators fear “It’s a very, very dangerous the company is required to sell said from a kitchen dishing such violent episodes could situation,” said Scott Drimie, of and dispose of its assets,” it cooked meals into packs for dis- escalate. the think-tank Southern Africa added. An SAA spokesman tribution to the poor. “There’s a bunch of us at Food Lab. declined to comment. Two Four weeks into a 35-day home getting fat and there’s a Already South Africa has a unions confirmed the proposal lockdown poor communities bunch of people who really history of frequent protests over A South African soldier patrols the streets in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, had been made and said they are facing food shortages as have nothing,” said Julian May, basics like water and housing during an operation to enforce a national lockdown, yesterday. would discuss it with their incomes for mostly informal director of the Centre of Excel- crisis. members. workers have dried up. lence in Food Security, at the “Now when you add hunger SAA has not been prof- Imposed from March 27, the lining up for food at the self- feeding people we started out University of the Western Cape. to that, now there’s depri- itable since 2011 and has lockdown has placed already funded scheme run by Fred- with the very vulnerable,...the “And it speaks a lot about vation...and then you add the received more than 20 billion cash-strapped citizens under ericks and other volunteers are children, the disabled people the inequalities in South Africa enforcement with the army and rand in bailouts in the past further strain. growing by the day. and the pensioners. (that) are likely to come out,” police that needs to be handled three years. The numbers of people “When we started out “But we are way past that said May. very carefully,” warned Drimie. 08 VIEWS SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020

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CHAIRMAN SHEIKH DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

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DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI [email protected]

A volunteer from Nairobi’s governor Sonko rescue team sprays disinfectants to help fight the spread of the coronavirus disease at the EDITORIAL Raila Educational Centre in the Kibera slums in Nairobi, Kenya, yesterday.

The noble spirit Africa’s most vulnerable countries

OFFERING our time, efforts and skills without expecting any financial rewards except complacency and the noble have few ventilators - or none at all spirit of willing to help people at the time of need is one of the initiatives that requires a high level of social required in most cases to thinks coronavirus cases of Africa’s 54 countries have awareness. intubate patients or supervise could be spiraling out of less than 1 per 100,000 When the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) called that process, are scarce. control. It was just last week people, according to the in March for volunteers to join the National Volunteering The inadequate that Somalia developed the World Federation of Societies Campaign “For Qatar” and help fight the coronavirus equipment and training mean capacity to domestically test of Anaesthesiologists. (COVID-19), nearly 17,000 people responded on the that Africa’s most vulnerable samples for the virus. Such expertise, however, second day of the announcement and got registered. countries stand little chance “I think there can be even cannot be packed up and This swift response showed the level of awareness of saving the lives of their a million cases that we’re shipped over like a ventilator. MAX BEARAK, DANIELLE PAQUETTE and readiness for solidarity and helping people prevailing THE WASHINGTON POST most severe covid-19 cases as missing in Somalia,” he said, Physicians used to board among the citizens and residents of the State of Qatar. the number of patients begins speaking from the country’s planes to help each other It is crucial to be aware of the fact that not only less to spike. As of Friday, there one isolation center, out of through crises, but now fortunate people need always assistance but govern- The most critical piece of life- were more than 19,000 con- breath from a day of frantic doctors trained to use venti- ments also sometimes need support to fill gaps under saving equipment of the coro- firmed coronavirus cases and work. “My colleagues are lators are linking up with critical, unexpected and fast spreading pandemics like navirus pandemic is in 1,000 deaths across the even testing positive. Our African counterparts on Zoom, the one the entire world experiencing these days. desperately short supply in continent. ministry people are testing Skype and WhatsApp. They sit Volunteering works not only benefit people we serve Africa: According to the World “We are now failing. Let positive. Most of the people six feet apart in hospital con- but also have valuable benefits for the volunteers them- Health Organization, there me use that word deliber- we are testing are testing ference rooms, demonstrating selves, such as connecting them with others, giving are fewer than 2,000 venti- ately,” said Mahad Hassan, positive.” techniques on human mind and body reliefs, help in obtaining new skills, lators across 41 countries that one of Somalia’s few epide- Five covid-19 patients dummies with fake lungs. advance in career and complacency with the fulfillment reported to it. Somalia’s miologists and a member of have already died in Somalia, Nurses in Sierra Leone of task making a difference in someone’s life. The vol- health ministry still doesn’t the government’s coronavirus and Hassan said he is have connected with doctors unteering campaign “For Qatar” is to contribute to the have a single one. The Central task force. “At our main expecting “very, very painful in Baltimore to record efforts being carried out by the government to curb the African Republic has three. treatment center, almost weeks ahead.” All five needed training sessions they hope to spread of the COVID-19 in alignment with the standards South Sudan, four. Liberia, nothing is there. Last time I intubation with a ventilator share with colleagues in set up by the MoPH and other authorities concerned. five. Nigeria, with a popu- visited, beds, only beds. No when the oxygen support that Liberia, Ghana and Kenya. The responsibilities given to the volunteers of the lation two-thirds that of the oxygen, no ventilators.” was available failed to “It is better than nothing,” campaign “For Qatar” are based at medical facilities United States, has fewer than Somalia has just four improve their condition. said Seyoum Worku, one of across the country to support medical staffs, raising 100. intensive care unit beds, Somalia’s health care two doctors in Liberia who is public health awareness, logistics and more. Officials say those according to Abdirizak Yusuf, system is one of the poorest in trained to use a ventilator and This volunteering campaign also comes in line with numbers will change as venti- 35, who is in charge of the the world. Yusuf estimates is leading six-hour crash the state’s plan to engage all institutions, organisations lator donations trickle in. But health ministry’s response. As there is just one doctor for courses with his colleagues. and individuals to curb the spread of COVID-19, as con- even in countries with the of Friday, the country had every 100,000 people. Those “When you look at our firmed cases have increased these days creating more machines on hand, few confirmed 116 cases. The gov- doctors are concentrated in health workforce, we are not strain on resources. doctors have undergone the ernment has tried to procure the capital, Mogadishu, where talking about people who “For Qatar” campaign showed the importance of intensive training to use them, protective equipment and the government runs its have done research, gotten unity, engagement, and true community spirit and read- and anesthesiologists, ventilators quickly, but every- response out of a dilapidated grants, et cetera,” said Hassan, iness to give back the community without expecting where they turn, they come hospital dating to the Italian the task force member in any returns. Thus volunteers are offering their time and The inadequate up against countries that want colonial era. Beyond the city, Somalia. “The total number skills to contribute to the health and wellbeing of Qatar’s equipment and training to keep what they can for the extremist group al- who have done so is less than population and backing hardworking healthcare themselves. Ventilators are Shabab controls much of the almost any other country. You professionals. mean that Africa’s most also expensive, costing at country’s rural areas, making wouldn’t even compare us to This is the right time for the people to stand together vulnerable countries least $25,000 each. access nearly impossible. a small American state.” with selflessness, social awareness, and dedication to stand little chance of A few ventilators and 200 “In those places, we can Right now, the lack of help others and response to the call of the health and other saving the lives of their ICU beds are on the way, only reach them by phone to ventilators seems like a concerned bodies to adhering to the preventive measures. most severe covid-19 Yusuf said, and should be in tell them how to prepare for looming crisis in Somalia. The Under the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19, cases as the number of Somalia within two weeks. covid,” said Yusuf.Even with country is still trying to get its we express our appreciation to all the volunteers sup- Jack Ma, Chinese billionaire ventilators, however, trained testing abilities off the ground. porting medics and working day and night to save the patients begins to spike. and owner of the e-com- health workers are scarce. Danielle Paquette is The lives of the infected people. merce giant Alibaba, has Operating a ventilator Washington Post’s West donated 500 ventilators that requires intensive training Africa bureau chief. will be divvied up among and isn’t a one-person job. Max Bearak is The Wash- African countries. Most times, an anesthesiol- ington Post’s Nairobi bureau In the meantime, Yusuf ogist has to be involved. Most chief.

D-RING ROAD, POST BOX: 3488, DOHA - QATAR EMAIL: [email protected] Beware of falling victim to crimes exploiting anxiety over infections TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE: JAPAN NEWS-YOMIURI FAX: +974 4455 7758 personal information. Others caused harm of about ¥10 authorities to promptly said they had been sent suspi- million. These are extremely provide residents with the cious emails informing them heinous because many of the latest information and have TEL: 4462 7505 There has been an increasing MANAGING EDITOR: number of crimes that have that masks were available for cases target elderly people who them be on the alert. apparently tried to take sale. Yet others said they had are staying home, refraining It is also necessary to be TEL: 4455 7769 DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: advantage of the spread of the been contacted about having from going out. cautious about crimes tar- new coronavirus. People are their water pipes cleaned To avoid becoming the geting children. TEL: 4455 7743 LOCAL NEWS SECTION: urged to be on alert to prevent because the pipes were con- victim of such crimes, people In Tokyo, an elementary themselves from getting taminated with the virus. are encouraged to take nec- schoolgirl, while playing TEL: 4462 7535 BUSINESS NEWS SECTION: entangled in wrongdoers’ Some of these incidents essary steps to protect them- outside, was reportedly attempts to exploit the anxiety have caused actual harm. A selves, such as by using an touched by a stranger as he TEL: 4455 7745 SPORT NEWS SECTION: that many are feeling amid woman in her 80s in Kan- answering machine all the said he was conducting tests the outbreak. agawa Prefecture received a time so as not to pick up any for the virus. In another case, TEL: 4462 7501 ONLINE SECTION: Consumer affairs centers phone call in late March in suspicious calls. It is also a child was offered a yogurt- email: [email protected] across the country are which the caller said she important to talk to local flavored candy from a man receiving an increasing would be provided with sub- police or a nearby consumer who claimed it was effective PUBLIC RELATIONS: TEL: 4455 7613 amount of reports about fraud sidies as a countermeasure affairs center when receiving against the coronavirus. email: [email protected] cases and unscrupulous against the virus. She was dubious emails. As society as a whole is business practices. then visited by a man who Police and local govern- struggling in the fight against ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 For example, some con- pretended to be an employee ments in various parts of the infections, crime monitoring FAX: 4455 7870, email: [email protected] sumers said they received of a financial institution. The country send emails functions are weakening. In phone calls from people who man took away her cash card describing such fraud cases to times like this, it is even more CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT: TEL: 4455 7857 claimed to be officials of a and about ¥500,000 was residents who have preregis- important for adults to keep email: [email protected] local municipal government withdrawn from her account. tered. More sophisticated an eye on children so they do office dealing with the coro- In Chiba Prefecture, similar tactics are being used in fraud not get caught up in criminal SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION: TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 navirus in a bid to get their fraud cases have already cases. It is necessary for local activity. FAX: 44557819, email: [email protected]

www.thepeninsula.qa Quote of the day /PeninsulaQatar

/ThePeninsulaQatar We need a global coalition to develop a COVID19 vaccine, which must become available /Peninsula_Qatar and affordable for everyone, everywhere. It must /ThePeninsulaNewspaper be considered a global public good.

+974 6698 6188 Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020 OPINION 09 Any good news on coronavirus this week? Actually, yes

COVID-19. One of the devel- found that of 44 Wuhan proteins the body makes to opers of the drug, Timothy samples, 42 were B and only 2 fight the infections. Sheahan of the University of were A. There were more A New York Times tech col- North Carolina, told me in an strains in the Guangdong umnist Kara Swisher wrote this interview last January that the One surprise is Province in southern China. week that she got one, “because drug was designed to interfere Some people have specu- she knew a guy,” but found it a with enzymes SARS and MERS that the virus had lated that the virus escaped moral dilemma to take a test so FAYE FLAM need to replicate themselves. At already branched from the Wuhan Institute of many others need. BLOOMBERG the time, his group had just Virology, which may have It would have presented started to see impressive results into two subtypes been experimenting on coro- no moral dilemma had the in animal studies of MERS. by the time it was naviruses, but Forester says guy been the head of a legit- Scientists all over the world The only human trials isolated from his data point to a jump from imate research project, are working to understand, before the current outbreak bats in Southern China that because scientists still can’t be contain and cure COVID-19. were in Ebola patients in the the first patient subsequently spread to sure antibodies from a pre- Here’s a quick look at four Democratic Republic of in Wuhan on Wuhan and other areas. The B vious infection always protect important advances that Congo. While it didn’t work strain might have branched against a new one. Harvard made headway this week. against Ebola as well as other December 23, and off before it reached Wuhan, epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch A positive trial for an therapies, it did pass basic this patient seemed where the first major out- also warned that too little is antiviral drug safety standards. break was noticed. yet known about post- Yesterday a rare bit of The drug has been given to have the second Meanwhile, he says, they infection immunity to assume good news emerged from a sporadically for COVID-19. subtype - not the find viruses from cluster A in people can’t get re-infected. clinical trial at the University Anecdotal reports abound of Americans who’d travelled “It’s hard to know what Long before the of Chicago. STATnews people near death bouncing original. from China to the West Coast immunity to this virus looks current COVID-19 reported that the antiviral back after getting the drug. of the United States between like since it’s only been in drug Remdesivir appeared to And even this clinical trial has January and early March. humans since, maybe late pandemic, scientists have some fighting force to be viewed with cautious patient variant B. (B carries Before March 24th, most U.S. 2019,” says Harvard immu- at the University against COVID-19. The trial optimism, since it was small, two mutations not found in A.) cases were A. nologist Duane Wesemann, included 125 people, 113 of and wasn’t compared with a Strain A is more than 96% B, however, quickly who is collecting samples of North Carolina them classified as having a placebo. But more trials are identical to samples isolated became the dominant type in from volunteers to figure it and Gilead began severe case of the virus. underway around the world - from horseshoe bats, which Wuhan and across China. out. Several other coronavi- All got the drug; there was including 2,400 participants he believes harbored the virus Another mutation in B led to a ruses infect humans, causing developing this drug no placebo group. Most were with severe disease and 1,600 before it jumped to humans. A strain C, which is nearly absent a subset of common colds. in anticipation of released from the hospital less patients whose symptoms are molecular clock technique in China, but is still spreading Scientists want to know than a week later, and only 2 moderate. puts that leap between Sep- across Europe. Europe has also whether recent infection with new coronavirus died - an unusually low New clues to how the tember 18 and December 7, shown a lot of sequences from these might affect the severity epidemic. Two other number given how deadly the virus spread from China 2019. the B cluster. (Whether these of COVID-19 infections. deadly outbreaks disease has been in those who Genetic sleuths are digging Forster said he and his col- mutations affect the behavior The testing itself isn’t get severely ill. Other trials deep into the origin and early leagues, who published their or lethality of the virus is yet to rocket science, says that occurred this around the world, if they go this spread of the COVID-19 virus, work in the Proceedings of the be determined, since muta- Wesemann. But under- century, SARS well, should lead to quick FDA tracking small mutations in its National Academy of Sciences, tions don’t always lead to standing the complex rela- approval for the drug, manu- genetic material. One surprise used a collection of published changes in function.) tionship between the virus and MERS, were factured by Gilead Sciences. is that the virus had already viral sequences collected in an Forster said the viral and the human immune both caused by Long before the current branched into two subtypes international database nor- genetics show the first case in system is. So far only about COVID-19 pandemic, scien- by the time it was isolated mally used to track influenza. Italy in late January originated 6% of volunteers from around coronaviruses tists at the University of North from the first patient in The paper only included the from an early spread in the Boston area were positive. from bats, as with Carolina and Gilead began Wuhan on December 23, and first 160 viral genomes, but his Germany, though Italian Some reported a cold or sore developing this drug in antici- this patient seemed to have group has now studied more health authorities focused throat in February or March, COVID-19. pation of new coronavirus the second subtype - not the than 1,000. only on the patients’ possible while others recalled no epidemic. Two other deadly original. Peter Forster, a Looking at data from connections to China. “Mean- symptoms at all. But the outbreaks that occurred this genetics professor from Cam- before January 17, which rep- while the disease is spreading sample is still small. century, SARS and MERS, bridge University, has dubbed resents the earliest date uncontrolled across Italy.” Antibody-rich blood were both caused by corona- the original variant A, and the people started travelling for Researchers at NYU and could help protect health viruses from bats, as with one found in that Wuhan Chinese New Year, Forster Mount Sinai used similar care workers genetic information gathered If antibodies do work, and later in the outbreak to you test positive for them, you determine that cases in New may be able to share your York City originated from protection with several other multiple sources elsewhere in people. Already, patients the U.S. and Europe, rather who’ve recovered from docu- than directly from China, and mented infections are that there had been local donating their antibody-rich spread in New York for a blood to others. month or so before it was offi- Doctors in China have cially first identified there at treated small groups of the end of February. Their patients and reported prom- paper is pending publication. ising results in the Journal of Forster hopes further the American Medical Associ- work in sequencing genomes ation and the Proceeding of could help health authorities the National Academy of Sci- track new outbreaks without ences. In the United States, looking in the wrong place. some severely ill patients get And finding the true origin of the same treatment under the pandemic could help us compassionate use guidelines. avoid making the same But those are the cases mistake again. where it’s least likely to work, Antibody studies are says Johns Hopkins immunol- looking for more volunteers ogist Arturo Casadevall. By Antibody tests have then the virus has already become a hot topic since done too much damage. people jumped to the con- Faye Flam is a Bloomberg clusion that getting a positive Opinion columnist. She has test means you can’t get or written for the Economist, the spread COVID-19. While New York Times, the Wash- standard tests detect genetic ington Post, Psychology Medical laboratory scientist, Alicia Bui, runs a clinical test in the Immunology lab at UW Medicine looking for antibodies against SARS- material from the virus itself, Today, Science and other CoV-2, a virus strain that causes coronavirus disease yesterday, in Seattle, Washington. antibody tests can detect publications. Exit lockdowns with caution to avoid being confined again

AMELIE BOTTOLLIER Health at the University of Fund’s chief economist Gita time to “restart America”. “You can see how little AFP Geneva said lockdown was “a Gopinath has dubbed the Whatever the country, the margin for error we have” Chinese invention”. crisis the “Great Lockdown” exit route for lockdown when tweaking the step-by- As several countries prepare “The effectiveness of the and said it is expected to be measures will look more like step lockdown exit, Merkel Many to ease sweeping restrictions Chinese version applied with the “worst recession since the a tightrope than a highway. said, adding that “caution governments, put in place to slow the coro- rigor and force in Wuhan Great Depression”. The balance will depend should be the watchword, not navirus pandemic, experts say meant the least prepared coun- In a blog this week, she on a simple number -- the over-confidence”. faced with the openings should be tries — most Western countries said the loss to global output reproductive rate of the virus, French epidemiologist exponential enacted with extreme caution — had no choice but to apply over 2020 and 2021 could be or the number of people each Laurent Toubiana, who was to avoid sparking a fresh an adapted version when they around $9 trillion, greater infected person will spread opposed to the country’s growth of cases wave of infection -- and found themselves facing the than the economies of Japan the virus to. Before the lockdown, said that “the exit of COVID-19, have another painful lockdown. pandemic wave,” he said. and Germany combined. lockdown measures were put automatically brings us back ordered people Many governments, faced In Britain, where restric- Specialists also fear in place, this rate was around to the starting point: the situ- with exponential growth of tions are due to last at least growing risks to society: 3.5, according to Jean- ation before the to stay in their cases of COVID-19, have several more weeks, the pop- increases in inequality, Francois Delfraissy who confinement”. homes as they try ordered people to stay in their ulation is broadly supportive domestic violence, mental advises the French authorities The experience of South homes as they try to reduce of the lockdown, according to health problems, alcohol con- on the virus response. Korea has been frequently to reduce hospital hospital admissions and Linda Bauld, a professor of sumption and the neglect of France and Germany cited as an example. The admissions and prevent intensive care units public health at the University serious non-coronavirus have seen this rate drop country implemented mass from becoming overwhelmed. of Edinburgh’s Usher Institute. health problems. below 1.0 thanks to weeks of testing, quarantined positive prevent intensive But the measures have “Compliance is generally As the epidemic slows in containment, meaning the cases, tracked the contacts of care units taken a painful toll, both on good and concern about the some countries, governments epidemic is under control. those infected and then tested economies and society itself. virus is at the forefront of are looking at ways to ease This week German Chan- them as well. from becoming “When the decision (to lock people’s minds,” she said. the economy back onto its cellor Angela Merkel explained But this strategy is impos- overwhelmed. down) was taken, it was our “But this won’t last. The feet, with measures such as that the decision to inch the sible to implement “without But the measures only weapon with any hope of social, economic and health the reopening of schools and country out of lockdown was a the necessary means being in beginning to control the epi- effects of lockdown are accu- shops and the loosening of result of data showing each place”, said Costagliola. have taken a demic,” French epidemiologist mulating. There will come a confinement rules. COVID-19 sufferer was, on This requires a sufficient painful toll, both Dominique Costagliola said. tipping point when the cost of In Europe, Germany, average, infecting fewer than number of tests and the But she said the measures the current restrictions out- France, Belgium, Switzerland, one other person. logistics to enable tracing with on economies and in France, which are expected weighs the benefits.” Denmark, Italy and Spain But she warned that even digital applications. But even society itself. to begin lifting next month, Most experts agree that among others, are on track to if the rate just went up to 1.1, that might not be enough. were taken in an “emergency” the lockdowns have saved ease or consider easing the country’s health system South Korea also had and were “not bearable in the thousands of lives. restrictions by mid-May. would be overwhelmed by some 20,000 people to carry long term, either for the But they have given rise In the United States, October. If the rate was 1.2 out its contact tracing efforts, people or for the country”. to a punishing worldwide which has not yet passed the that date would be brought said Delfraissy, warning that Antoine Flahault, director economic slowdown. peak of its epidemic, Donald forward to July, and at 1.3 it an all-digital approach was a of the Institute of Global International Monetary Trump has already said it was would be June. “fantasy”. 10 ASIA SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020 15 HK activists held over charges tied to last year’s protests

AFP — HONG KONG China’s leaders have refused to accede to the protesters’ demands, which include fully free Police in Hong Kong carried out a sweeping operation against elections in the city, an inquiry into alleged high-profile democracy police misconduct during the protests and an campaigners yesterday, arresting 15 activists on charges related to amnesty for more than 7,000 people arrested massive protests that rocked the during the movement — many of them under Asian financial hub last year. the age of 20. Among those targeted was media tycoon Jimmy Lai, 72, founder of anti-establishment All 15 are due to appear in his actions and is proud to walk Former lawmaker and pro-democracy activist, Martin Lee (centre), talks to members of the media newspaper Apple Daily, who was court mid-May. with Hong Kong’s youngsters in as he leaves the Central District police station, in Hong Kong yesterday. arrested at his home. Media boss Lai was previ- their fight for democracy. The group also included ously detained in February over The semi-autonomous city former lawmakers Martin Lee, his participation in another was shaken by widespread and next precise move, but it seems China’s leaders have refused take down the local opposition, Margaret Ng, Albert Ho, Leung August rally that was banned by sometimes violent street protests Hong Kong officials will further to accede to the protesters’ but then united we stand,” she Kwok-hung, Au Nok-hin and police for security reasons. in 2019, sparked by a now-aban- enable abuses rather than defend demands, which include fully said. “It’s so obvious they’re current lawmaker Leung “Finally I’ve become a doned proposal to allow extra- Hong Kong people’s rights.” free elections in the city, an choreographing all their acts.” Yiu-chung. defendant. How do I feel? I’m ditions to the authoritarian Last year’s rallies morphed inquiry into alleged police mis- Chris Patten, Hong Kong’s They are accused of organ- very much relieved,” Lee, known Chinese mainland and its opaque into a wider movement calling conduct during the protests and last colonial governor before ising and taking part in unlawful as the father of democracy in judicial system. for greater freedoms in the most an amnesty for more than 7,000 the 1997 handover, said the assemblies in August and Hong Kong, told media after he “Today’s arrests of pro- concerted challenge to Beijing’s people arrested during the arrests were another step October, according to the police. was bailed. democracy figures in Hong Kong rule since the former British movement — many of them towards burying the city’s Five were arrested on sus- “For so many years, so many is another nail in the coffin of ‘one colony returned to Chinese sov- under the age of 20. autonomy. picion of publicising unau- months, so many good young- country, two systems’,” China ereignty in 1997. Pro-democracy lawmaker “This is not the rule of law. thorised public meetings in Sep- sters were arrested and charged, director at Human Rights Watch The protests and clashes with Claudia Mo said yesterday the This is what authoritarian gov- tember and October. while I was not arrested. I feel Sophie Richardson said, referring police have since died down, local government “is trying very ernments do,” he said. “The arrestees were charged sorry about it,” the 81-year-old to the principle that guarantees partly due to exhaustion and hard to introduce a reign of “It becomes ever more or will be charged with related barrister and founding chairman freedoms in the city not seen on arrests but also because of the terror”. clear, week by week and day by crimes,” superintendent Lam of the city’s first political party the Chinese mainland. emergence of the deadly “They are doing whatever day, that Beijing is determined Wing-ho said. said. He added he does not regret “It’s hard to know Beijing’s coronavirus. they can do to try to silence, to to throttle Hong Kong.” 30% of COVID-19 cases in India traced to Tablighi event: Govt Malaysia urged IANS — NEW DELHI 4,291 coronavirus cases are epi- Nizamuddin event have already cases and 43 deaths. — Lakhisarai, Gopalganj, to allow demiologically linked to the been quarantined. The total “The implementation of the Bhagalpur in Bihar; Dholpur The Union Health Ministry said Nizamuddin Markaz event. number of confirmed cases in Action Plan is yielding good and Udaipur in Rajasthan; Rohingya refugee yesterday that 4,291 or about 30 “These cases are spread India is 14,378, while 1,991 have results in 23 states/UTs across Pulwama in J&K; Thoubal in percent of coronavirus cases in across 23 states and Union Ter- been cured and 480 people 47 districts. Kodaggu (Kar- Manipur; Chitradurga in Kar- boats to land the country have been traced ritories, which include most of have succumbed to the dreaded nataka) is a new district that has nataka; Hoshiarpur in Punjab; AP — KUALA LUMPUR to the Tablighi Jamaat's congre- the high degree burden cases virus. There are 11,906 active been added to this list along Rohtak and CharkhiDadri in gation held in Delhi's Niza- -- Tamil Nadu has 84 percent cases in the country. with Mahe (Puducherry) which Haryana; Lohit in Arunachal Human Rights Watch said muddin area last month, out the cases, Delhi 63 percent, Assam “If lockdown and social dis- has not reported any fresh cases Pradesh; Bhardak and Puri in yesterday that the coronavirus of the total 14,378 cases in India. 91 per cent, Uttar Pradesh 59 tancing norms are not followed, during the last 28 days. Twenty- Odisha; Karimganj, Golaghta, pandemic doesn’t justify In Delhi, 63 percent of the per cent, Telangana 79 per cent, then the entire country would two new districts in 12 states Kamrup Rural, Nalbari and Malaysia’s turning away of reported 1,707 cases are linked Andhra Pradesh 61 percent and have to face the consequences,” have not reported any fresh South Salmara in Assam; Jal- overloaded boats carrying to the same gathering. Andaman & Nicobar 83 said Agarwal. cases during the last 14 days,” paiguri and Kalimpong in West Muslim Rohingya and risking Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary percent,” said Agarwal.Nearly The country in the last 24 added Agarwal. Bengal; and Vishakapatnam in the refugees’ lives. at the Health Ministry, said that 40,000 people related to the hours saw 991 fresh COVID-19 The 22 districts are Andhra Pradesh. The New York-based rights group noted that Malaysia had recently pushed back to sea at least two boat- Australia sees 3 new loads of Rohingya refugees. Despite Malaysia’s partial coronavirus lockdown that virus deaths as govt prevents foreigners from entering the country, Human Rights Watch said the pan- urges app installation demic should not be an excuse for a blanket policy of turning REUTERS — MELBOURNE up, which would enable the away boats in distress. government to detect potential “Malaysia’s claims to Australia’s coronavirus-related new outbreaks and which has support the rights of the death toll rose by three to a total been criticised as invasion of Rohingya mean shockingly of 68 yesterday, health data privacy, would not be little when they push des- showed, with the government mandatory. perate refugees back to sea,” stepping up its calls for people “We will be seeking the said Phil Robertson, Human to sign up for a controversial cooperation and support of Aus- Rights Watch’s Asia director. movement-tracking mobile tralians to download the app to “The COVID-19 pandemic phone app. help our health workers, to does not create a justification Australia and neighbouring protect our community and help for risking the lives of refugees New Zealand have shown early get our economy going again,” on overcrowded boats.” success in potentially stopping Morrison said on his Twitter Malaysian navy on COVID-19 after closing their account. Government Services Thursday intercepted a boat early and imposing strict curbs Minister Stuart Robert said with some 200 Rohingya ref- on public movement. there would there will be no ugees off its northern coast The daily growth rate of surveillance involved with the and prevented it from entering new infections has steadied in app, which is to be ready within Malaysian waters. The fate of the low percentage single digits weeks. that boat is unknown. On in both countries, a fraction of “The app is simply a health Wednesday, Bangladesh coast A man walks past bus stop advertising boards displaying ‘thank you’ messages to health workers in what was seen a month ago. app,” Robert said in a televised guard officials rescued a response to the COVID-19 outbreak, in Sydney. Australia recorded 36 new cases briefing. The government said boatload of 382 starving yesterday and a total of 6,533 the app would help guild poli- Rohingya refugees. Survivors cases, according to the health cymakers in winding back gatherings of more than two by mid-year. new confirmed coronavirus said the boat had been turned ministry data. social distancing measures. people are banned under the New Zealand, which cases yesterday, bringing all away from Malaysian waters Prime Minister Scott Mor- Australia’s bars and other threat of fines and even prison. adopted one the world’s infections to 1,094. So far 11 weeks earlier and that at least rison said yesterday that down- “non-essential” businesses The measures are expected to harshest lockdowns even before people have died, health min- 30 people on board had died loading a movement-tracking have closed, and public double the unemployment rate reporting a first death, saw 8 istry data showed. before the rescue. Thousands defy lockdown for funeral of cleric in Bangladesh Taiwan to quarantine 700 navy AFP — DHAKA by more than 300 yesterday to about 2,200, while nine more sailors after virus outbreak Tens of thousands of people deaths in one day took the toll REUTERS — TAIPEI Taiwan’s presidential office defied a nationwide corona- to 84. said that President Tsai Ing-wen virus lockdown in Bangladesh Authorities have conducted Taiwan will put 700 navy sailors had been at the ceremony to yesterday to attend the funeral few tests and experts say the into quarantine after three cases welcome back the ships but had of a top Islamic preacher, even number of cases is higher than of the new coronavirus were only waved to the sailors from as authorities battle a surge in officially recognised. confirmed among sailors who the shore and had not been virus cases. New rules ban more than had been on a goodwill mission exposed to the risk of infection. Police had agreed with the five people taking part in to the Pacific island state of These are the first corona- family of Jubayer Ahmad prayers in the country’s Palau, the government said virus cases reported in Taiwan’s Ansari, that only 50 people 300,000 mosques. yesterday. military. The navy was carrying would attend the funeral in the The prime minister has Three Taiwan navy vessels out a deep clean of the three eastern town of Sarail because called on Bangladeshis to pray visited Palau — one of only 15 ships to disinfect them. of the risk of spreading the at home when the Ramadan countries to maintain formal dip- Taiwan has only reported disease. festival starts this month. But lomatic relations with Taiwan — 398 coronavirus cases and six But local police chief Sha- a group of influential clerics in the middle of March, before deaths, a far lower number than People attend a funeral prayer during the government-imposed hadat Hossain said officers has called on Muslims to turn returning to Taiwan a month many of its neighbours due to nationwide lockdown, in Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh, yesterday. were helpless to stop the out in their masses for daily later, Health Minister Chen Shih- strict measures. crowds who came to honour the prayers. chung told reporters. The president of Palau, 55-year-old popular preacher 100,000 attended the funeral. nationwide lockdown on Last month at least 25,000 The three confirmed cases Tommy Remengesau, said on and seminary head, who died Aide to Prime Minister Sheikh March 26 as coronavirus people attended a Muslim had all shared quarters on the Wednesday that his country of on Friday. Hasina, Shah Ali Farhad, also spread across the country of prayer meeting in a field in the same ship, but all 700 sailors on 20,000 people had not had a “People came in waves,” he said more than 100,000 were 168 million people. southern city of Raipur to chant all three ships were being re- single case of the virus and he said. present. The health department said “healing verses” to rid the called and would be put into will to shut it off from the outside Organisers said some Bangladesh imposed a the number of cases had risen country of the deadly virus. quarantine, he said. world to keep the virus out. SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020 ASIA 11 Japan expands testing as virus infections mount REUTERS — TOKYO For weeks Japan has experts say, as Japan struggles with red tape, staff shortages Japan, alarmed by rising coro- limited its testing and the absence of centralised navirus deaths and the spectre for the coronavirus, decision-making with no single of the collapse of the medical agency coordinating the system, is scrambling to expand which emerged in response to the disease. testing with drive-through facil- neighbouring China There has been widespread ities and general practitioners late last year, despite criticism that phone lines for helping to collect samples. public health centres, set up by For weeks Japan has limited calls from many local governments and tasked its testing for the coronavirus, health experts who to conduct screening for PCR which emerged in neighbouring test candidates, are always busy China late last year, despite calls see testing as vital as people become more worried from many health experts who to detecting and about infection. Tokyo remains see testing as vital to detecting the hardest-hit place in Japan, and isolating cases and slowing isolating cases and with a record 201 additional the spread. slowing the spread. cases reported by its governor Japan conducted about yesterday, for a total of 2,796. 52,000 polymerase chain issued for Tokyo and six other Japan’s total infections stand reaction (PCR) tests in March, areas, to the entire country, and at more than 9,800, with 207 or just 16 percent of the number warned of the growing burden deaths, according to a tally by carried out in South Korea, on health facilities. public broadcaster NHK. according to data from Oxford “With help from regional As part of effort to boost University. medical associations, we will set testing capacity, several general Medical workers walk by tents set up to test coronavirus disease infection, at Kawakita General Experts say Japan’s strategy up testing centres. If home practitioners’ groups in Tokyo Hospital, in Tokyo yesterday. of keeping the number of PCR doctors have decided testing is have stepped up to shoulder the tests low has made it difficult to necessary, test samples are task of examining potential trace the disease as it spread in taken at these centres and sent patients and taking test samples hospitals would break down,” coronavirus really does,” said were put up this week in antic- Tokyo and other big cities and to private inspection firms,” Abe from them, which is now con- said Konoshin Tamura, deputy Tamura, who runs a clinic spe- ipation of more virus-related led to a wave of in-hospital told a news conference ducted mainly by doctors head of an association of cializing in internal medicine visits. infections, crippling some yesterday. working at large hospitals, who general practitioners in Tokyo’s and paediatrics. In another bid to make PCR facilities. “Thus, the burden on public are already overstretched. Suginami ward. On the grounds of one of the tests more available, the health The decision to expand health centres will be lessened.” “This is to prevent the “Also, in order for PCR tests four Suginami hospitals where ministry on Wednesday sug- testing came as Prime Minister While the measures marked a medical system from crumbling. to be conducted more widely, general practitioners are taking gested to local governments Shinzo Abe this week expanded shift in policy, it remains to be Everyone needs to extend a we need to get used to the turns to see suspected corona- that drive-through tests can a state of emergency, originally seen how effective they will be, helping hand. Otherwise, whole process and see what the virus patients, two white tents bolster their capabilities. Pakistan extends US announces $8.4m for Pakistan’s anti-virus campaign suspension of INTERNEWS — ISLAMABAD living in virus hotspots to be burden on hospitals. COVID-19 nationwide and to partnership. It built on US con- tested, treated and monitored Life-saving activities among care for the affected people. tributions over the past 20 years flight operations The United States announced a to stop the spread. Afghan refugees and in host All of these contributions of more than $1.1bn in the funding of $8.4m for Pakistan High-tech emergency oper- communities in the country will were identified as top priority health sector, and more than until April 30 to combat the spread of new ations centres will be estab- be carried out at a cost of $2.4m, needs by the Pakistani author- $18.4bn overall to the US- coronavirus in the country. lished in Islamabad, Sindh, which will be administered by ities, and they were fully paid Pakistan development part- INTERNEWS — KARACHI The contribution was Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the UN High Commissioner for for by the American people, a nership, Ambassador Jones said. announced on US mission’s and Balochistan under the Refugees. press release of the US embassy “Together, we can stop the Pakistan has suspended its social media platforms by initiative. Details about the remaining said. spread of this deadly disease to flight operation until April 30, Ambassador Paul Jones. Funding of $2m will be $1m were not spelt out. With the The US ambassador protect out loved ones and the Civil Aviation Authority An amount of $3m will be used to train community new contributions, the US is described the contributions as regain our prosperity and (CAA) said yesterday. utilised to provide three new health workers to assist people collaborating with Pakistan to the latest chapter in a long, freedom,” emphasised the According to CAA, special/ mobile labs to enable Pakistanis in their homes and lessen the help stop the spread of vibrant US-Pakistan health ambassador. cargo and relief planes holding special approval would continue operations as per permission. China mandates virus “As per the decision of the Government of Pakistan, the suspension of international tests for select public and domestic flight opera- tions as effected earlier has workers leaving Wuhan been extended upto April 30, 2020,” CAA said. REUTERS — SHANGHAI who arrived in there before The new directives come Chinese New Year, when the as the number of confirmed China ordered yesterday that virus was peaking in China, are cases in the country rose to anyone in Wuhan working in allowed to go back to their over 7,500 with 143 deaths. certain service-related jobs must homes. Earlier, Pakistan had sus- take a coronavirus test if they People working in other pended domestic and inter- want to leave the city. sectors aiming to leave Wuhan national flight operations in The order comes after the are encouraged to take voluntary the country in a bid to contain central city, where the corona- tests before going. the coronavirus till April 21. virus emerged late last year, lifted Within seven days of arrival In an earlier, notification, a 70-day lockdown that all but at their destinations, people who the CAA had said that diplo- ended the epidemic there. can present test results showing matic, special/cargo flights People in Wuhan work in they do not carry the virus, as and flights of national carrier nursing, education, security and well as a clean bill of health on a to/from Pakistan holding A factory employee is disinfected and his temperature taken by security guards in protective gear other sectors with high exposure health app, can go back to work. special approval from the at the entrance of the company in Wenzhou, China. to the public must take a nucleic Everyone else will have to competent authority for acid test before leaving, the spend 14 days in quarantine Wuhan will speed up its and 84 percent of the death toll toll from the coronavirus by 1,290 transporting stranded pas- National Health Commission said before returning to work. efforts to investigate asympto- as of yesterday, has been testing on Friday, taking the city’s toll to sengers” would be exempted in an order. Authorities have worked with matic coronavirus cases and inhabitants aggressively 3,869, because of incorrect from the ban. The government of Hubei the China’s tech giants to devise confirm the presence of anti- throughout the virus’ breakout reporting, delays and omissions, Most countries around the province, of which Wuhan is a colour-based health code bodies in people, which might and many companies had especially in the chaotic early world have suspended inter- capital, will pay for the tests, the system, retrieved via mobile app, suggest immunity, the com- already been asking workers stages of the outbreak, author- national travel ever since the commission said. that uses geolocation data and mission said. from the city to undergo tests ities said. pandemic started spreading Since the city relaxed its self-reported information to Wuhan, which accounts for before resuming work. China national death toll is at a high pace in Europe, lockdown restrictions people indicate one’s health status. 60 percent of infections in China Wuhan revised up its death 4,632 from 82,719 cases. America and Asia last month. 20 Afghan Presidential Palace North Korea flouting sanctions through staff test positive for virus

REUTERS — KABUL spokesman, said the Civil China shipping, says UN panel report Service Commission has At least 20 officials working at already asked government AFP — UNITED NATIONS The annual report to the UN Security Council by 3.89 million barrels of refined Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s employees to stay at home sanctions experts went online and inexplicably petroleum products between palace have tested positive for before the tests were conducted North Korea sharply stepped up January and October 2019. coronavirus, prompting the and that order has been trade in coal and oil products disappeared later in the day, with the text itself China is North Korea’s 70-year-old leader to limit most extended for another three last year in defiance of UN sanc- noting China’s reservations about the findings. primary political and economic of his contact with staff to digital weeks. tions through the apparent help Publishing photographs, shipping logs and ally and had backed UN sanc- communication, government A government source said of China’s shipping industry, a tions out of frustration with sources said yesterday. that Ghani, who in the past has UN panel said yesterday. submissions from member-states, the panel Pyongyang’s nuclear and An official document said he suffers from health The annual report to the UN said that North Korea had violated the total missile tests. delivered to the Presidential issues related to his stomach, Security Council by sanctions But Beijing has since called Palace in Kabul is thought to has limited contact with staff, experts went online and inex- UN prohibition on exporting coal as well as for an easing of sanctions after have infected staff, many of conducting most meetings plicably disappeared later in the restrictions on imports of refined petroleum. leader Kim Jong Un froze long- whom began feeling unwell and through video conference calls day, with the text itself noting range missile and nuclear test were tested earlier this month, and meeting only a handful in China’s reservations about the launches following three according to a senior health his inner circle in person. findings. ballistic missile programmes,” evade detection, the report said. meetings with US President official. COVID-19, the disease Publishing photographs, the report said. As North Korea’s fleet is not Donald Trump. “A contaminated document caused by the new coronavirus shipping logs and submissions The panel, quoting data known to include such barges, The United States has was sent to an office inside the has been known to dispropor- from member-states, the panel from an unspecified country, they are likely from China, with insisted on maintaining sanc- palace from another gov- tionately affect older people said that North Korea had vio- estimated that North Korea 47 shipments from May to tions as leverage, although ernment department and that’s and result in much higher mor- lated the total UN prohibition exported 3.7m tonnes of coal August last year directly Trump has voiced admiration how the employees were tality rates within that on exporting coal as well as between January and August reaching ports on China’s for Kim and recently sent him infected,” the official told demographic. restrictions on imports of last year, grossing around Hangzhou Bay near the eco- a letter with a plan to revive Reuters, speaking on condition Afghanistan — already bat- refined petroleum. $370m . Most coal exports were nomic powerhouse of Shanghai, ties, according to the two of anonymity. tling shortages of food and “The continued violation by transferred from North Korean it said. countries. “Some of the employees medicine — had recorded 933 the Democratic People’s ships to Chinese barges, which The report said that the The UN panel in February were still working in their positive cases of coronavirus Republic of Korea of com- often sailed up the Yangtze North also far exceeded a UN released a summary of its con- offices when the results came as of yesterday. modity export bans not only River to make deliveries, it said. restriction on importing more clusions, but the more out, and we had to quarantine Thirty people have died of flouts Security Council resolu- In a new development, than 500,000 barrels a year in exhaustive report was delayed. them and their families, but the the virus but health officials say tions but serves to fund a North Korea has also been refined petroleum. The full report said that numbers could be higher,” the the number of cases are likely revenue stream that has histor- spotted sending coal into the Citing the United States as China as well as Russia had official added. to be much higher than ically contributed to the coun- ocean for pick-up on self-pro- its source, the panel said North asked the panel for “more con- Sediq Sediqqi, Ghani’s reported due to limited testing. try’s prohibited nuclear and pelled barges that are easier to Korea had imported more than clusive evidence” of its findings. 12 EUROPE SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020

Queen Elizabeth II Spain may extend confinement cancels birthday plans over virus as virus deaths exceed 20,000 REUTERS — LONDON Britain’s Queen Elizabeth will REUTERS — MADRID Parliament approved not celebrate her 94th birthday on April 9 a 15-day in any special way and has Spain’s death toll from corona- asked that there be no gun virus rose at a slower pace extension of a salutes to mark the occasion yesterday but surpassed 20,000 state of emergency because it would not be appro- fatalities as the government priate while the country battles mulled whether to ask that brought in the a deadly coronavirus outbreak. parliament for a third extension lockdown measures. Britain is at or near the peak of the confinement imposed in of an outbreak in which more one of the world’s hardest hit Socialist Prime than 14,000 people have countries. Minister Pedro already died - the fifth highest The number of deaths national death toll of a pan- increased by 565 yesterday, Sanchez said then demic linked to at least 150,000 down from a rise of 585 on he was certain he deaths worldwide. Friday, the Health Ministry said. would have to ask Ceremonial gun salutes, in The number of coronavirus cases which blank rounds are fired rose to 191,726 from 188,068. again for another from various location across “The data of hospitalised, extension, which London, are typically used by deceased and ICU admissions the royal family to mark special have maintained a downward would go into May. occasions such as anniversaries trend the past few days,” said and birthdays. The Queen’s health emergency chief Fernando most people are still confined to birthday is on April 21. Simon at a press briefing, adding their houses except for essential The Queen was keen that no that he hoped to see a steeper outings like shopping for food special measures were put in decrease soon. and not even children are place to allow gun salutes as she Healthcare workers dressed in protective gear collect samples from drivers at a drive-through testing Simon said he expected a sig- allowed out for exercise. did not feel it appropriate in the point for the COVID-19 disease in Burgos, Spain, yesterday. nificant rise in registered coro- Parliament approved on April current circumstances, a royal navirus cases as the number of 9 a 15-day extension of a state of source said. quick tests conducted has emergency that brought in the on it next Wednesday. “We are very close to the de- Yolanda Diaz said on Friday her It is believed to be the first doubled in the past three weeks, lockdown measures. Socialist The technical panel that escalation,” he said, without department was planning a two- such request in the Queen’s but stressed that the tests have Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez advises Sanchez is in favour of elaborating. phased economic resumption, 68-year reign, the source said. shown a lower infection rate said then he was certain he extending the confinement Madrid’s mayor Jose Luis the first for productive sectors up “’We will not be marking among citizens. would have to ask again for measures, Simon said. But he Martinez-Almeida told radio to the summer and a second for Her Majesty’s birthday in any Spain has begun to ease a another extension, which would added they could be progres- station Onda Cero that it was pos- tourism and leisure which would special way’ this year due to the strict lockdown imposed on go into May. That request appears sively eased if it was assessed that sible that large events and gath- last until the end of the year. coronavirus crisis,” ITV reporter March 14 and this week opened likely, Spanish public TVE the health system could handle erings would be banned in Spain But any final decision would Chris Ship, who first reported up some sectors of the economy, channel reported yesterday, a potential second wave of until the autumn. depend on health authorities, her the queen’s request, tweeted including manufacturing. But saying that lawmakers could vote infection. Spain’s labour minister office said in a statement. citing a source. Britain is in its fourth week of a national lockdown, with businesses forced to close and France reports 642 more COVID-19 deaths taking total to 19,323 citizens ordered to stay at home. Earlier this month, the country’s AFP — PARIS homes — brought the total toll This was the fourth con- the statement said. France has and there could be no summer longest-serving monarch made in the country from the epi- secutive day there has been a been in lockdown since March festivals until mid-July at the an exceptional address to the France yesterday reported 642 demic to 19,323, the French fall in the numbers in hospital 17 in a bid to slow the spread earliest. nation, promising “Better days more deaths from COVID-19 health ministry said in a and the tenth day in a row of the epidemic. Prime Minister Edouard will return.” in hospitals and nursing homes statement. there has been a fall in the But President Emmanuel Philippe and Health Minister Buckingham Palace last over the last 24 hours, but However in a continuation numbers in intensive care. Macron announced this week Olivier Veran are due today to month said a parade to cele- registered new falls in the total of a trend seen over the last “The fall in the demand for that the lockdown could begin give a news conference on brate the Queen’s official numbers of coronavirus days the number of corona- equipment and human to be eased from May 11. how France is dealing with the birthday, which is celebrated in patients in hospitals and virus patients in hospital fell resources in intensive care is Schools could gradually virus. June, would not go ahead in its intensive care. by 551 to 30,639. The numbers continuing, but it is still at an reopen then, he said — but They are expected to be traditional form in light of The new deaths — 364 in in intensive care meanwhile exceptional level, far higher cafes, cinemas and cultural pressed on how the lockdown restrictions on social hospitals and 278 in nursing fell by 194 to 5,833. than the usual level in France,” venues would remain closed, can be eased from May 11. gatherings. 47 children from Italy sees additional Greece refugee camps arrive 482 virus deaths; in Germany infection cases rise AP — BERLIN ANATOLIA — ROME than half of the total. The gov- A group of 47 unaccompanied ernment continues to struggle children evacuated from Italy yesterday reported 482 with planning the country’s refugee camps in Greece landed additional deaths from the recovery and protecting its in Germany yesterday, German novel coronavirus — lower than fragile economy, which faces a officials said. the previous day — bringing the drop in national output of up to The Interior Ministry said total number of fatalities to 9 percent in 2020. the minors landed in Hanover 23,227 and confirming a As a few shops reopened on a flight from Athens. They slowdown in the death rate. following a partial loosening of were all tested for the corona- According to the latest data lockdown rules, the debate on virus before departure and will released by the Italian Civil Pro- how to handle the next phase remain in two-week quarantine tection Department, infections of the coronavirus pandemic before moving on to other grew at a slightly faster rate of has heated up. German states Germany’s 0.7 percent from Friday to Friction between regional interior minister, Horst See- reach 107,771. governors and the central gov- hofer, said the evacuation was Recoveries climbed to ernment continues to intensify “the result of months of prepa- 44,927, while the number of as regions have also begun People ride their bicycles amid the coronavirus outbreak, in Milan yesterday. ration and intense talks with our intensive care patients con- squabbling among each other. European partners” and tinued a more than two-week As the northern Lombardy expressed hope that other coun- drop, further easing pressure and Veneto regions started to to avoid risks of a new listen to their requests. More than 2.27 million cases tries would also begin taking in on Italy’s overstretched plan possible re-openings of contagion. The novel coronavirus has have been reported worldwide, refugee children soon. healthcare system. productive activities even The government has spread to 185 countries and with the death toll over 156,000 The children come from The epicentre of the Italian before the end of the lockdown pledged to meet with local regions since emerging in China and almost 580,000 recoveries, Afghanistan, Syria and Eritrea. outbreak remains the northern on May 3, the southern Cam- authorities soon to start last December, with the US and according to data compiled by Four are girls and there are Lombardy region, which now pania region threatened to planning the so-called phase Europe now the hardest-hit the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins several siblings among the counts 12,050 fatalities — more “close it borders” to northerners two of the emergency and areas in the world. University. group. Some of them have families waiting for them in Germany. They were previously Deaths from virus in Britain’s care Ireland flattens the curve housed in refugee camps on the Greek islands of Lesbos, Samos of virus spread: Official and Chios that have been criti- homes could be over 7,000: Report cized as unsuitable for children AFP — LONDON result of COVID-19.” The figure But the Care England AFP — DUBLIN Ireland, like many other by human rights activists. is more than five times higher estimate would mean that countries, had been bracing for “The Greek government has The number of coronavirus than the estimate of 1,400 sug- deaths in hospital account for Ireland has successfully “flat- a surge in cases, where trans- been trying to sensitise other EU victims in Britain’s care homes gested by the government a far lower proportion of the tened the curve” of coronavirus mission would peak and hos- countries to (the plight) of the could be as high as 7,500, five earlier this week. true total than the ONS data transmission and no longer pitals become overrun with young children, who have fled times more than the official It is also far in excess of the suggested. expects a peak in infections, patients. But Holohan said war and persecution, to find estimate, the sector’s main 217 care home deaths recorded “This is a shocking and Chief Medical Officer Tony analysis shows the reproductive new families and start a new charity warned yesterday. by the Office for National Sta- utterly heartbreaking estimate Holohan said. rate of the virus — the number life. I’m glad this program is Care England, Britain’s tistics (ONS) up to April 3, the that will send a chill down the “We think we’ve flattened of people a confirmed case typ- finally being implemented,” largest representative body for most recent date for which spine of anyone with a loved that [...] curve so much that there ically spreads to -- is now below Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos care homes, told the Daily Tel- official data is available. one living in a care home,” said is no peak,” he said on RTE’s Late one. “That means that on average Mitsotsakis told reporters at the egraph that estimates based on Britain’s official corona- Caroline Abrahams, charity Late show on Friday. a person who’s infected is Athens airport, where he met “some of the death rates since virus toll currently stands at director at the Age UK charity. “We think we can go along passing it down to less than one the departing children, April 1” suggested up to 7,500 14,576, although that only “As we have feared for at a low level and reduce it even person,” he said. alongside the German ambas- may have died of the virus. includes deaths recorded in some time, what’s going on in further.” He said nationwide “If you continue on that path, sador to Greece, Ernst Reichel. “Without testing, it is very hospitals, which can take some care homes — not only here adherence to a lockdown — the rate of infection in the pop- Mitsotakis added that he difficult to give an absolute days to register fatalities. but in many other countries imposed until 5 May — had ulation will continue to drop.” hoped over 1,500 minors would figure,” Martin Green, chief The ONS said this week too —is a tragedy in the “already saved hundreds of lives Concerns remain over the high be relocated over the next executive of Care England, told that its data suggested that making.” and admissions to intensive number of cases and mortality months. Germany pledged last The Daily Telegraph. deaths in hospital accounted Care England did not publish care”. in residential care homes across month to take in at least 350 “However, if we look at for around 85 percent of all the data underlying its estimate, There have been 530 the republic. children living in Greek refugee some of the death rates since coronavirus fatalities in the but Health Secretary Matt COVID-19 related deaths and Around 60 percent of those camps as part of a joint April 1 and compare them with country. This figure was cal- Hancock told the health and 13,980 confirmed cases of the who die from the virus come European effort, but the plan previous years’ rates, we culated by comparing overall social care committee on Friday virus in Ireland according to from long term residential care has stalled in some countries estimate a figure of about 7,500 excess deaths in the country to that figures would be published department of health figures homes, Ireland’s Health Service due to the pandemic. people may have died as a the official coronavirus toll. “very shortly”. released on Friday. Executive reported on Friday. SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020 EUROPE 13 Russia tries again to win UN approval for virus resolution AP — UNITED NATIONS The original recognises “the unprecedented effects” of the coronavirus pan- Russia is trying again to win UN Russian draft demic and calls for “intensified General Assembly approval for resolution, which international cooperation to a resolution on the coronavirus was co-sponsored contain, mitigate and defeat” the pandemic, dropping a call to COVID-19 disease. end unilateral sanctions by Central African Muhammad-Bande, the without UN Security Council Republic, Cuba, assembly president, sent a Mex- approval but still calling for an ican-drafted resolution to end to protectionist practices. Nicaragua and member nations on Thursday The 193-member world Venezuela, failed to calling for global action to body has until noon Wednesday rapidly scale up development, to consider the revised Russian win apporoval on manufacturing and access to draft resolution, which is called April 2. medicine, vaccines and medical Switzerland-France border remains closed a “Declaration of solidarity of equipment to confront the A view of concrete blocks closing the border adorned with graffiti reading in French: “Our fate the United Nations in the face coronavirus pandemic. Member depends on your choice” (left) and “Stay home” near Collex at a border post between Switzerland of the challenges posed by the the global economy,” and states have until 5pm EDT on coronavirus disease.” makes a commitment to pursue Monday to object. and France, during the COVID-19 outbreak’s lockdown. The General Assembly insti- “coordinated and decisive South African and Egypt are tuted new voting rules because actions aimed at defeating the also reportedly preparing draft it isn’t holding meetings as a pandemic, guided by the spirit resolutions on COVID-19 to put result of the pandemic. Nor- of solidarity and international before the assembly. Portugal mulls beach restrictions, mally, assembly resolutions are cooperation.” Some diplomats believe the adopted by majority votes or Another welcomes the April world body should draft an by consensus, but now if a 3 statement by the Group of 77 omnibus measure instead of face masks for lockdown exit single country objects a reso- and China - the main group of considering many separate ones. lution is defeated. developing countries at the Its resolutions are not legally REUTERS — LISBON non-essential businesses will bouring Spain. The original Russian draft United Nations which now has binding but are an important remain shut, and restrictions on Costa also said the use of resolution, which was co-spon- 134 member states — on gauge of world opinion. movement and gatherings will masks could be made com- sored by Central African COVID-19, calling it “a strong The more powerful Portugal may make face mask remain in place. pulsory in schools, all of which Republic, Cuba, Nicaragua and message of solidarity in the face 15-member Security Council, use compulsory on public Costa said the plan, which have been closed since Venezuela, failed to win appo- of the pandemic from the whose resolutions are legally transport and impose beach is likely to be announced on mid-March. roval on April 2. Diplomats said developing world.” binding, has not adopted a res- restrictions during the summer April 30, could limit the number He said it was not yet clear the European Union, United The G-77 statement includes olution since the pandemic months as part of a plan to ease of people visiting beaches when events, such as music fes- Kingdom, United States and a call on the international com- began circling the globe, the coronavirus lockdown. across the country which are tivals, would be allowed to take Ukraine objected to it. munity “to adopt urgent and infecting more than 2.1 million In an interview in yester- usually crowded during place but that cinemas might The revised Russian draft effective measures to eliminate people and killing more than day’s Expresso newspaper, summer. be able to re-open sooner resolution, which was sent to the use of unilateral coercive 140,000 worldwide, according Prime Minister Antonio Costa “This virus doesn’t under new restrictions to member states on Friday by economic measures against to a tally by Johns Hopkins said he hopes to relax restric- hibernate in the summer,” reduce risk of contagion. General Assembly President developing countries,” saying University. tions on schools, stores, restau- Costa said. “Mass gatherings Portuguese football league Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, sig- that at this juncture they have Its five permanent rants and cultural spaces from cannot happen. Municipalities matches might be able to go nificantly increases the number “a negative impact” on the members, who have been May onwards but such a plan will have to take necessary ahead but behind closed doors of co-sponsors to about 30, drops ability of countries to respond divided on how to address the would require new rules to measures so that we can go to or only allowing season ticket a call to end trade wars, and adds to the pandemic. pandemic, are discussing a keep people safe. the beach without holders to attend matches. a number of new provisions. The General Assembly French-drafted resolution Portugal declared a state of overcrowding.” On Thursday, Costa said One addition expresses adopted a resolution on COVID-19 while its 10 elected members emergency to halt the spread The country has so far small neighbourhood shops, grave concern at “the negative on April 2 sponsored by Ghana, have their own draft. Diplomats of coronavirus on March 18 and reported 19,685 confirmed hairdressers and childcare impact of the spread of Indonesia, Liechtenstein, Norway, said discussions have started on on Thursday extended it until cases of the coronavirus, and centres were likely to be among COVID-19 on public health and Singapore and Switzerland. It merging the rival texts. May 2. Until then most 687 deaths, well below neigh- the first to re-open in May. Putin orders daily virus projections as cases reach 36,793 Croatia extends lockdown

REUTERS — MOSCOW rose by 40 to 313. Sergei Sobyanin said the their homes unless they were till May 4; infections rise The government must lockdown measures first intro- going to buy food or medicines, Russian President Vladimir “provide a short-term prognosis duced in March were bearing get urgent medical treatment REUTERS — ZAGREB new infections rose by 18 which Putin ordered the government of the number of citizens who fruit. or walk the dog. is the lowest daily increase reg- to provide daily forecasts of the may contract the new infectious “The disease rate in the city The authorities also intro- Croatia is extending its coro- istered since March 17. spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19)” and report is growing but not exponen- duced a travel permit system navirus lockdown for another The number of new cases as Russia recorded almost its estimates on a daily basis, tially, and far from the worst- effective from April 15, and Sob- 15 days, Interior Minister Davor has been dipping in recent days, 5,000 new cases in a single day. according to an order published case scenario,” Sobyanin wrote yanin said yesterday the Bozinovic said yesterday, but with 50 new cases on Thursday Coronavirus infections in on the Kremlin’s website. on his website. authorities would use traffic added the government was and 23 on Friday. Last Sunday, Russia began rising sharply in In Moscow, a city of 12.7 “A week ago, Moscow cameras to catch drivers trav- looking at whether it was health authorities confirmed 66 April after reporting far fewer million people which became medical institutions were elling without passes. possible to gradually ease new cases. “We decided to infections than many western the epicentre of Russia’s coro- working at their limit. Today, Authorities and clerics have restrictions on movement. extend the measures for 15 days, European countries in the out- navirus outbreak, cases jumped they have switched to a more urged Christians to stay home A month ago, the gov- until May 4,” Bozinovic said. break’s early stages. by 2,649 to 20,754, and the normal mode with a good stock during the Orthodox Easter ernment closed all the shops, He said the government Yesterday, Russia’s official capital city accounted for half of capacity,” Sobyanin said. weekend, although a senior bars, restaurants, schools and was considering the possibility tally of coronavirus cases was of all new fatalities reported Initially declared on March cleric urged police on Saturday public transport leaving open of relaxing certain measures to 36,793, a record overnight yesterday. 30, the lockdown regime to be lenient on those who still only food stores, pharmacies help the economy, while at the rise of 4,785, and death toll However, Moscow mayor banned residents from leaving try to make it to their church. and petrol stations. same time continuing to protect Croats have been allowed the health of citizens. to leave their homes to buy One such measure could be Prague Airport essentials or seek medical easing the restriction on leaving treatment, go for a walk or do their homes, but travel would thwarts several an exercise, but not in a group be possible only within their and avoiding social contact. region of the country. Trav- cyber attacks Many people have been elling between different regions working from home. would remain barred unless REUTERS — PRAGUE Croatia has recorded 1,832 people have a permit for spe- cases of COVID-19, with 39 cific business or medical Prague Airport said yesterday deaths. Yesterday the number of reasons. it had thwarted several cyber attacks on its IT network in recent days, reinforcing warnings by the national cyber Pompeo concerned by cyber security watchdog of likely attempts to harm the country’s attacks on Czech hospitals hospitals and infrastructure. “Attempted attacks on web AFP — PRAGUE and Information Security pages of the airport were Agency NUKIB on Thursday detected in preparatory phases,” US Secretary of State Mike warned against attacks which the airport’s spokeswoman said Pompeo said yesterday he was it expected “in the next few in an emailed statement. concerned by ‘malicious’ cyber days”. “That prevented their attacks that have targeted Hospitals in the eastern spreading and all further Czech hospitals battling the Czech cities of Olomouc and phases that could have fol- Cleaning surgical masks novel coronavirus. Ostrava as well as several lowed and potentially harm “As the world battles the others then announced attacks the company.” Several hos- A woman demonstrates a method to clean surgical masks yesterday, in Liege, as Belgium enters its COVID-19 pandemic, malicious on their computer systems pitals in the Czech Republic fifth week of confinement in coronavirus crisis. cyber activity that impairs the which they averted. reported attempted attacks on ability of hospitals and NUKIB did not say where their computer systems on healthcare systems to deliver the attacks might come from. Friday, but said the attacks critical services could have In a report last year, it singled were successfully blocked. Coronavirus spotlights Swedish segregation deadly results,” Pompeo said. out Russia and China as posing The Czech cyber-security “Anyone that engages in the biggest threat to Czech watchdog NUKIB said on AFP — STOCKHOLM Migration Board statistics show. were over-representad among such an action should expect cyber security. Thursday that it expected But Sweden has struggled those in need of hospital care for consequences,” he added in a “We call upon the actor in attacks aimed at damaging or People in Sweden with foreign to integrate many of the new- COVID-19, as were people born in statement. question to refrain from car- completely disabling com- backgrounds are dispropor- comers, with thousands failing Eritrea, Finland, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Several Czech hospitals rying out disruptive malicious puters and computer systems tionately affected by the new to learn the language profi- Turkey and the former have recently reported cyber cyber activity against the Czech in the coming days. coronavirus, underscoring the ciently and find jobs in its Yugoslavia. attack attempts which they Republic’s healthcare system US Secretary of State Mike grim reality of segregation and highly-skilled labour market. “For us the main signal is have withstood. or similar infrastructure else- Pompeo said on Friday the raising fears that a “blind spot” Many end up living in disad- really that we need to reach “The situation is quiet now, where,” Pompeo said. United States was concerned is masking some communities. vantaged neighbourhoods outside those groups better with dif- we have seen individual inci- “We also call upon all states by the threat of a cyber attack The wealthy Scandinavian big cities, where little Swedish is ferent kinds of messages to help dents which have been pre- not to turn a blind eye to against the Czech Republic’s country of 10.3 million has a spoken and unemployment and protect them,” state epidemi- vented,” Czech Health Minister criminal or other organizations healthcare sector, adding that generous immigration policy, crime rates are high. ologist Anders Tegnell said, Adam Vojtech said on Friday. carrying out such activity from anybody engaged in such granting asylum and family Earlier this week, the country’s conceding that authorities don’t “However, we still have to their territory,” he added, activity should “expect reunifications to more than Public Health Agency reported that know the reason for their be very cautious,” he added. vowing “zero tolerance” for consequences.” 400,000 people in 2010-2019, Somali-born residents in Sweden over-representation. The Czech National Cyber such attacks. 14 AMERICAS SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020 Governors cautiously review plans to reopen states amid lockdown

AP — TEXAS the US lockdown by May 1, a Protests against plan that hinges partly on more Stores in Texas can begin selling stay-at-home orders testing. merchandise with curbside Public health officials said service, and hospitals can organized by small- the ability to test enough people resume nonessential surgeries. government groups and trace contacts of those who In Florida, people are returning are infected is crucial before to beaches and parks. And and Trump supporters easing up on restrictions, and protesters are clamoring for were planned in that infections could surge more. anew unless people continue Governors eager to rescue several cities after to take precautions. their economies and feeling the President urged The issue of when — and heat from demonstrators and how — to ease the restrictions President Donald Trump are supporters to designed to control the coro- An Empress EMS paramedic treats a patient with COVID-19 symptoms before taking her to a hospital moving to ease restrictions “liberate” three states navirus pandemic are vexing meant to control the spread of governments around the world on Friday in Yonkers, New York. Yonkers is located in Westchester County just outside of New York the coronavirus, even as new led by Democratic after weeks of mandatory lock- City, the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. hot spots emerge and experts governors. downs that have brought wide- warn that moving too fast could spread economic hardship. prove disastrous. In a joint statement yes- New York Governor sounds optimistic Protests against stay-at- terday, foreign ministers from home orders organized by highest number of deaths in a 13 countries, including Canada, small-government groups and single day on Friday with 159. Brazil, Italy and Germany, note as virus cases and deaths drop Trump supporters were planned Republican Governor Charlie called for global cooperation to for yesterday in several cities Baker said it would be pre- lessen the economic impact of REUTERS — NEW YORK their downward trend. the chemical reagents needed after the president urged sup- mature for states to begin lifting the pandemic. “If you look at the past three to run the tests on machines porters to “liberate” three states restrictions when deaths are “It is vital that we work New York Governor Andrew days, you could argue that we supplied by private manufac- led by Democratic governors. still climbing. together to save lives and live- Cuomo said yesterday that a are past the plateau and we’re turers like Roche Holding AG. But protests were planned Citing the advice of health lihoods,” they said. recent drop in hospitalizations starting to descend which “They bought the machine, in Republican-led states, too, experts, he said states should The statement was also and other improving metrics would be very good news,” they have the machine, they including at the Texas Capitol. look for infection rates and hos- backed by Britain, France Indo- indicated the state may be past Cuomo said. have the test, but they need the Republican Gov. Greg Abbott pitalizations to be on the nesia, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, the peak of its coronavirus crisis He said, however, that reagents to do a higher volume already has said that restric- decline for about two weeks South Korea, Singapore and and on a path toward stabilizing about 2,000 infected people of tests,” Cuomo said, adding tions would begin easing next before acting. Turkey. It said the countries were its battered healthcare system. were newly admitted to hos- that makers like Roche are week. Trump, whose adminis- committed to “coordinate on Cuomo’s cautiously upbeat pitals on Friday, which he char- struggling to get the reagents Meanwhile, infections kept tration waited months to bolster public health, travel, trade, eco- report at a daily briefing came acterized as “still an over- from China. surging in the Northeast. stockpiles of key medical sup- nomic and financial measures in as the daily death toll across the whelming number,” and reit- “That’s the logjam we are in.” Rhode Island, sandwiched plies and equipment, appeared order to minimize disruptions state, the epicenter of the pan- erated that he would take a New York disclosed 7,090 new between the hot spots of Mas- to back protesters taking to the and recover stronger.” Those demic in the United States, cautious approach to reopening positive cases over the last 24 sachusetts and New York, has streets in several US states to efforts include maintaining “air, dropped to 540 on April 17, businesses and schools. hours for a total of 236,732 cases, seen a steady daily increase in vent their anger with the econ- land and marine transportation down from 630 a day earlier Cuomo repeated a call for while deaths increased by 540 to the number of infections and omy-strangling restrictions. links” to ensure the continued and the lowest in more than the federal government to help 13,362, marking by far the largest deaths, with nursing home res- Trump said in a tweet- flow of goods including medical two weeks. coordinate and provide funding number of fatalities of any state. idents accounting for more than storm in which he also lashed equipment and aid, and the The governor said total hos- for the mass testing that he and Even with stabilizing 90 of the state’s 118 deaths. The out at New York Goveror return home of travelers, they pitalizations of patients being other governors have said is numbers, Cuomo said the pan- state’s death rate of around 10 Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said after a virtual meeting late treated for COVID-19, the res- needed to determine when it is demic was taking a severe people per 100,000 population for criticizing the federal Friday. piratory illness caused by the safe for people to go back to emotional and economic toll on is among the highest per capita response. Cuomo “should spend There have been tentative coronavirus, came to 16,967, a work. people, and estimated the in the nation, according to data more time ‘doing’ and less time signs that measures to curb the drop of more than 1,300 over Providing new details on impact on society would prove compiled by the COVID ‘complaining,’” the president outbreak are working in places, the past three days. Intubations the challenge, Cuomo said a to be the biggest challenge Tracking Project. said. with the rate of new infections and admissions to intensive survey of labs in his state facing the country since the Massachusetts had its Trump is pushing to relax slowing across Europe care units also continued on revealed an inability to procure Second World War. Former Treasury Police urged to take anti-bias training over mask fears Secretary AP — NEW YORK economy in the coming weeks, enforcement, they may avoid people to wear masks when Authority began requiring Paul O’Neill the senators said. seeking help or adopting riding public transportation, customers to wear facial Democratic lawmakers want “With the ongoing public precautionary measures visiting grocery stores and coverings on buses and trains, dies at 84 police departments to be health emergency, it is more recommended by the CDC,” the pharmacies, or in other spaces an African American man vigilant about any racially important than ever for law letter reads. “This, in turn, where it is difficult to be without a mask was seen on AP — WASHINGTON biased policing during the enforcement to build trust with could have dire public health socially distant. video being forcibly dragged coronavirus pandemic, as communities of color,” the consequences.” Less than one week after from a bus by Philadelphia Paul O’Neill, a former Treasury people in communities of senators said in the letter, The toll of COVID-19 on the CDC’s mask transit officers. secretary who broke with colour express fears of being which was first shared with African Americans has been recommendations, two black These incidents suggest George W Bush over tax policy profiled while wearing masks The Associated Press. disproportionate, preliminary men in surgical masks mask requirements “could and then produced a book or other face coverings in Earlier this month, the public health records show. recorded themselves being expose Black Americans to critical of the administration, public. Centers for Disease Control The latest AP analysis of followed by a police officer as unfair and dangerous died yesterday. He was 84. In a letter sent Friday to and Prevention recommended available state and local data they left a Walmart in Wood treatment from law O’Neill’s son, Paul O’Neill Attorney General William Barr that people who go out in shows that nearly one-third River, Illinois. In another enforcement,” Harris, a former Jr confirmed that his father and FBI Director Christopher public wear a surgical mask of those who have died from incident, an African American prosecutor, said in an email. died at his home in Pittsburgh Wray, Senator Kamala Harris or a cloth covering their nose COVID-19, the illness caused doctor who wore a mask as he “We can’t let this become a after battling lung cancer for of California and other and mouth to prevent the by the coronavirus, are black. volunteered to test homeless bigger problem,” she said. the last couple of years. After Democratic members of the spread of the virus. And African Americans are people for COVID-19 was Jim Pasco, executive a few surgeries and chemo- Senate Judiciary Committee already, some black men have roughly 14 percent of the handcuffed and detained by director of the National therapy, he decided against urged federal law enforcement reported incidents of racial population in the areas police outside his home in Fraternal Order of Police, a any further intervention four agencies to provide anti-bias profiling while following the included in the analysis. Miami, Florida. union of more than 330,000 or five months ago, he said. training and guidance to police recommendations. Since the CDC issued its Black men also are members, pushed back on the “There was some family officers. The officers may “If communities of color - recommendations on April 3, reportedly being harassed for senators’ request. He said the here and he died peacefully,” increasingly encounter masked especially African American several states, including New not wearing face coverings. A vast majority of the nation’s the son said. “Based on his sit- residents as the nation weighs communities — feel at risk of York, New Jersey and day after the Southeastern police officers already receive uation, it was a good exit.” a gradual reopening of the disproportionate or selective California, began requiring Pennsylvania Transportation anti-bias training. Tony Fratto, who served as O’Neill’s Treasury spokesman, posted on Facebook, “Very sad that our friend Paul O’Neill Pence gives Air Force Academy passed away today. He was a friend, a good man, and I loved commencement address working with him.” A former head of alu- AP — COLORADO SPRINGS began his remarks. "And while minium giant Alcoa, O’Neill we don’t quite look like the served as Treasury secretary In a symbolic nod to normalcy, usual graduation at the Air from 2001 to late 2002. He Vice-President Mike pence Force Academy, let me tell you, was forced to resign after he delivered a commencement this is an awesome sight. And I objected to a second round of address to the US Air Force wouldn’t be anywhere else but tax cuts because of their Academy's 2020 graduating with the 62nd class of the Air impact on deficits. class yesterday, telling the Force Academy, the class of After leaving the adminis- cadets that by setting off on 2020.” tration, O’Neill worked with their mission to defend the The event usually attracts author Ron Suskind on an nation they "inspire confi- a big crowd to Falcon Stadium, explosive book covering his dence that we will prevail which has a maximum capacity two years in the adminis- against the invisible enemy in of more than 46,000. President tration. O’Neill contended that our time as well.” Donald Trump spoke last year. the administration began Pence's trip, only his second But this year, the pandemic planning the overthrow of outside Washington in the last forced the academy to close the Iraqi President Saddam six weeks, was aimed at ceremony to visitors, including Hussein right after Bush took showing that the country is on friends and family of the nearly office, eight months before the course to gradually reopening 1,000 graduates. Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. after weeks of the coronavirus Still, the ceremony fea- O’Neill depicted Bush as a shutdown. tured its signature dramatic disengaged president who He spoke at a scaled-down flyover by the Air Force Thun- didn’t encourage debate either ceremony in Colorado Springs, derbirds, which thundered at Cabinet meetings or in one- Washington scientist experiments with blood plasma where hundreds of graduating overhead as the graduates on-one discussions with cadets in blue and white dress threw their hats into the air Cabinet members. He said the Medical laboratory scientist, Alicia Bui, runs a clinical test in the Immunology lab at UW Medicine uniforms sat eight feet apart, and burst into cheers. lack of discussion in Cabinet looking for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, a virus strain that causes coronavirus disease, on Friday taking up an area nearly as But instead of being able to meetings gave him the feeling in Seattle, Washington. The plasma she is examining came from donors who have recovered from large as a football field. embrace their fellow graduates, that Bush “was like a blind COVID-19, may have the potential to help combat the disease in others. "I know we gather at a time the cadets remained several man in a roomful of deaf of great challenge in the life of feet apart and then proceeded people.” our nation,” Pence said as he to tie on white face masks. SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020 AMERICAS 15 Chile unrest simmers under pandemic lockdown AFP — SANTIAGO Experts say the will wreak led the International Monetary Fund to warn that Six months after the largest underlying frustration countries such as Chile, Ecuador social unrest in 30 years broke and social inequality or France “remain vulnerable out, the streets of Chile are calm to new protests, particularly if once again as the coronavirus that sparked the mass policy actions to mitigate the pandemic forces the country demonstrations have COVID-19 crisis are perceived into lockdown. not disappeared and as insufficient or as unfairly But experts say the under- favoring large corporates rather lying frustration and social ine- are merely simmering than people.” quality that sparked the mass under the surface, Despite Pinera’s upturn in demonstrations have not dis- popularity, the virus pandemic appeared and are merely sim- potentially ready to will likely highlight the very mering under the surface, explode again once inequality that fueled protests potentially ready to explode in a country whose health, edu- again once virus measures are virus measures are cation and pension sectors have lifted. lifted. been largely privatized since the A mass movement against Augusto Pinochet dictatorship President Sebastian Pinera and from 1973-1990. his government erupted on and over 9,200 infected, Pinera “It seems to me that the October 18, initially triggered by actually has the wind in his sails. crisis management will a modest rise in metro fares in His approval rating plunged probably unveil new structural Santiago before mushrooming to less than eight percent in problems, like inequality, and into general dissatisfaction with January — with weekly protests in that case it seems obvious the cost of living and a system raging — but has climbed again that the coronavirus will end that seems to benefit the rich at to almost 20 percent. up... hurting the government the expense of all others. The good news may not last, and provoking a new round of Peruvian citizens, stranded in Chile after the border was closed as preventive measure, gather at a For the last month, though, though. unrest,” said Luna. hotel following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Arica, Chile, on Friday. the epicenter of the protests in “We’re in something like a For Zapata, Pinera’s political Santiago’s Plaza Italia, as well parenthesis, and there’s the future looks shaky: “I can’t see those imbalances but also his Pinera’s popularity had activist and supporter of con- as other hotspot cities such as chance that after the paren- how he can regain the major- management of the unrest, been starting to recover in part stitutional change. Valparaiso and Concepcion, thesis, things will return to a ity’s trust,” he said. while the security services were due to a decision to hold a ref- Zapata is unsure which way have gone cool with the popu- similar situation” that existed Many accuse millionaire accused of abuses by human erendum on changing the dic- the crisis will affect the people. lation barred from heading before the unrest erupted, said 70-year-old businessman rights groups. tatorship-era constitution, It might “galvanize the outside to prevent the spread Juan Pablo Luna, a professor in Pinera of being out of touch He then scored another own which had to be postponed from forces of dialogue and cooper- of the deadly COVID-19 disease. the political science institute at with the poor and middle goal when, during the man- April 26 to October 25 due to ation, enabling great agree- “The problems, whose the Catholic University of Chile. classes in a country that posts datory quarantine, he stopped the virus. ments,” said Zapata. public expression is currently But “that will only happen impressive macroeconomic a convoy of official vehicles on But he remains in the eye of Or the subsequent economic suspended, are still there,” if the consequences of the crisis figures that mask a low average Plaza Italia to take a picture in a temporarily paused storm. downturn, “added to the dis- Patricio Zapata, a constitutional are such that the people prefer wage, high costs of basic the now deserted protest “I want this chapter to end covery that the health crisis hit lawyer and member of the to postpone their demands in services and the privatization epicenter. so we can return to uniting for the poor and excluded sectors opposition Christian Demo- order to satisfy basic needs in of a huge part of its health and “He’s always committing change politically, of the con- much harder, will generate a cratic Party, said. economic terms,” said Luna. care sectors. unforced errors... and it will take stitution, (with) everyone stronger, including more Faced with a health crisis The inescapable economic Pinera has been widely crit- a lot for the people to regain trust healthy for October,” said Maria violent, return to social that has left more than 110 dead downturn that the pandemic icized not just for in the government,” said Luna. Jose Gutierrez, a 30-year-old protests.” Virginia juvenile Canada, US extend border restrictions for another 30 days detention center AP — TORONTO goods and services back and COVID-19 than any country in the measures necessary to keep US for part of the year and are new coronavirus forth across the border,” the world. Canadians safe while ensuring returning to Canada are among Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. The US and Canada agreed the continued flow of our those who are also exempted hotspot Trudeau said yesterday the US Trudeau said in French the last month to limit border essential supply chains on from the current travel ban. and Canada have agreed to restrictions will remain in place crossings to essential travel which so many Canadians Canada sends 75 percent of AP — BON AIR keep their border closed to for “many, many weeks to amid the pandemic, but that depend,” Trudeau said. its exports to the US and about nonessential travel for another come” and then said in English agreement was due to expire Essential cross-border 18 percent of American exports Coronavirus has erupted 30 days and he said it will be it will “undoubtedly” be many this coming week. workers like healthcare profes- go to Canada. The US Canada inside a juvenile detention undoubtedly longer before the weeks. Nearly 200,000 people sionals, airline crews and truck border is world’s longest center in Virginia with 25 kids restriction is removed. US President Donald Trump cross that border daily in drivers will still be permitted to between two nations. testing positive, accounting for Trudeau said it will keep said this past Wednesday that normal times. cross. Trudeau said the border a quarter of all cases reported people on both sides of the the US-Canada border will be Many of Canada’s cases Truck drivers are critical as restrictions have helped. at youth facilities nationwide, border safe amid the among the first borders to open have come from those returning they supply grocery stores and Canada has more than officials said on Friday. pandemic. and said the US and Canada are from the US and there is a medical goods in both direc- 31,884 confirmed cases Children’s rights advocates “The agreement is the same doing well in handling the concern that Trudeau might tions. Much of Canada’s food including more than 1,308 and health experts have terms. It’s just extended for pandemic. reopen the border again amid supply comes from or via the deaths. The country has con- warned state officials for another 30 days. It will ensure The US has more confirmed pressure from Trump. US. ducted more than 507,000 weeks that it was just a matter we continue to get essential cases and deaths from “We will continue to take Canadians who live in the tests. of time before the virus took off inside juvenile facilities. They have called on Governor Ralph Northam to start British Columbia sees releasing as many children as safely possible from centers, including at the newly hit Bon potential for years of Air Juvenile Correctional Center outside Richmond. “Unfortunately, those social distancing sworn to protect our vulnerable youth have failed,” said Liz BLOOMBERG — VICTORIA the virus’ march across the Ryan, head of the Washington- Pacific Coast province has based nonprofit Youth First Ini- British Columbia saw one of more closely resembled that tiative. “It’s clear that refusing North America’s earliest coro- of South Korea than Italy. It to listen to public health experts navirus outbreaks. It contained has recorded 1.5 deaths per has put our youth and commu- the spread so successfully that 100,000 people compared to nities at extreme risk.” So far, more than 50 percent of crit- 6 in Washington state, its 97 kids have tested positive ical-care hospital beds are closest US neighbor which nationwide, more than half of empty. Nevertheless, it’s suffered an early nursing them in Virginia and warning that physical home outbreak at roughly the Louisiana. distancing restrictions could same time. Of British Colum- On April 2, officials in Vir- last years. bia’s 72 fatalities, all except ginia announced two staffers The western Canadian one were people older than at Bon Air had tested positive, province said on Friday that its 60. but contact with residents was number of Covid-19 cases, as Earlier, in preparation for limited. A day later, a kid well as hospitalizations, have the worst, British Columbia started showing symptoms peaked and started to decline. emptied out hospitals, can- and later tested positive. In its epidemiological models, celled elective surgeries, and Chris Moon, chief phy- Medical supplies from China arrive in Argentina British Columbia health offi- took over a glitzy convention sician at Virginia’s Department cials are ditching Italy and center on Vancouver’s water- of Juvenile Justice, said 21 of The crew of Aerolineas Argentinas aeroplane carrying medical supplies from China, posing with the Wuhan as reference points front to set up 271 emergency the 25 infected kids in Bon Air Argentinian flag upon landing at Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires, yesterday. because they no longer see a beds in halls that typically host exhibited no outward risk of an exponential surge in international auto shows and symptoms and only four cases. film sets. showed signs that were more British Columbia has about With only 45 percent of its severe than a cold or a flu. Many migrants on US deportation flight 14 percent of Canada’s popu- critical-care beds occupied, Dix The facility has around lation but just five percnet of said the province would begin 280 kids, from 11 years old to had coronavirus: Guatemalan President its confirmed virus cases. But considering in the coming 20. “Any resident who tested in a reality check for those weeks whether to reallocate positive was immediately hoping that the pandemic could some of that capacity back to placed in medical isolation,” REUTERS — GUATEMALA CITY “A large part of it was passengers on a deportation soon blow over, the province elective surgeries. Moon said, adding that 13 have infected,” the president said in flight were infected with the had a dismal message. Dr. Bonnie Henry, the chief already been released. Guatemalan President a televised address, referring to virus. The Associated Press later “This is going to be not just medical officer, said the America locks up more Alejandro Giammattei said on a flight carrying 73 Guate- cited a Guatemalan official weeks, but months and, con- province is modeling to what people than any other country Friday a large number of malans that left the United saying 44 people on the Monday ceivably, years,” the province’s degree it can relax restrictions, in the world, with more than migrants on a deportation flight States for Guatemala City on flight were infected. health minister, Adrian Dix, hopefully by the summer, 2.2 million men, women and to Guatemala from the United Monday. The United States said on said. without setting off a resurgence children in detention. Experts States this week were infected The Trump administration Thursday it had sent a CDC Like South Korea Early on, in cases. say that prisons and jails can with the coronavirus, adding has pressured Guatemala to mission to assess the situation British Columbia seemed But she quelled expecta- act as petri-dishes for the that US authorities had keep receiving deported and test the migrants, who poised to become a major epi- tions that there would soon coronavirus. Social distancing confirmed a dozen cases. migrants despite growing remain in quarantine in a center of the virus. Its first con- be enough so-called herd is almost impossible, many Giammattei said 12 ran- concern in the poor Central hospital. firmed case on Jan. 28 was community to allow normal institutions have only recently domly selected people on the American nation that returnees It is not clear when the among the earliest on the life to resume. Even Italy started providing inmates with deportation flight tested pos- are bringing the virus with them deportees became infected. continent. hasn’t had enough infections masks and many do not have itive for coronavirus when and could infect remote There have been 30 confirmed That quickly led to a major to build that kind of defense, access to hand sanitiser. examined by the US Centers for communities. cases of COVID-19 among ICE outbreak in a nursing home in she said. The coronavirus has Disease Control and Monday’s flight has been at employees working in the Vancouver that caused Can- “What we really need is a already ripped through several Prevention. the center of a political storm agency’s detention facilities, ada’s first COVID-19 death and vaccine,” she said. Until then, adult county jails along with He suggested more on the since Guatemalan Health Min- including 13 at the Alexandria first confirmed case of com- “our new normal is going to be state and federal institutions flight had tested positive as ister Hugo Monroy this week Staging Facility in Louisiana, munity spread. modifications of what we’re for adults. well. said up to 75 percent of ICE data shows. Yet in subsequent weeks, seeing right now.” 16 MORNING BREAK SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2020

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER TODAY

FAJR03.49 am SUNRISE 05.08 am o o Partly cloudy with a chance of scattered rain maybe 22 C 29 C thundery at places and slight dust at times. ZUHR 11.33 am ASR 03.03 pm Minimum Maximum HIGH TIDE 02:27– 16:04 LOW TIDE 10:22 – 21:02 MAGHRIB 06.00 pm ISHA 07.30 pm W ALRUWAIS: 22o↗28o W ALKHOR: 20o↗27o W DUKHAN: 22o↗31o W WAKRAH: 23o↗27o W MESAIEED 23o↗27o W ABUSAMRA 22o↗33o

Paper towels may remove virus missed by poor hand washing

AFP — PARIS Contaminated hands infects bacteria and is harmless to humans — and then did not People should dry their hands are a major route for attempt to wash the microbes with paper towels to avoid germ transmission, away. spreading the new coronavirus, They then dried their hands according to the authors of a potentially spreading either with paper towels or a jet study published yesterday that pathogens to surfaces air dryer in a hospital toilet and finds disposable tissues are went on to touch various sur- better than jet dryers at — like door handles faces including door handles, removing pathogens missed by or taps — and causing stair rails, phones and ineffective washing. stethoscopes. Global health authorities infection when people Researchers found that have highlighted the crucial touch their faces. using both paper towels and jet importance of washing hands dryers reduced the contami- with soap and water to protect towel was more effective at nation on hands. against COVID-19, which has removing microbes. But for 10 out of 11 surfaces killed tens of thousands and “We believe that our results sampled, the jet method left spread around the world. are relevant to the control of the “significantly greater environ- Contaminated hands are a novel coronavirus that is mental contamination”. A doctor washes her hand after a treatment for a coronavirus patient at an intensive negative pressure major route for germ trans- spreading at pace worldwide,” Microbes were found on all room of Ankara City Hospital, yesterday. mission, potentially spreading said the authors, led by Ines surfaces touched after using the pathogens to surfaces — like Moura from the University of jet dryer, with contamination hand-washing — as well as using professor in medicine at the removed as possible before door handles or taps — and Leeds. on average 10 times higher than them to turn off taps — healthcare University of East Anglia, in drying.” causing infection when people “Paper towels should be the after the use of paper towels. facilities in the UK were increas- response to the research. The study was due to be touch their faces. preferred way to dry hands The authors said the study ingly using jet dryers. “If people do not wash their presented at this year’s A small study by experts after washing and so reduce the was particularly relevant for “Clearly how much virus hands properly then other European Congress on Clinical from Britain’s University of risk of virus contamination and hospital settings. remains on peoples’ hands after people may be at risk if standing Microbiology and Infectious Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hos- spread.” They noted that while the washing depends to a large close to someone using such a Diseases (ECCMID) in Paris this pitals NHS Trust found that if Four volunteers had their NHS and World Health Organi- extent on how efficiently people jet dryer. This study reinforces month, which was itself can- hands had not been properly hands contaminated using a sation (WHO) recommend the are at washing their own the need to wash hands celled due to the coronavirus washed, drying with a paper bacteriophage — a virus that use of disposable towels after hands,” said Paul Hunter, properly so as much virus is pandemic. Nasa steps in to help develop COVID-19 solutions World primed for all-star IANS — WASHINGTON Antelope Valley College to come the need for these patients to Nasa engineer Allen Parker virtual show featuring up with innovative ideas to use ventilators. and this team at Armstrong In a bid to find solutions that meet shortage of medical The device functions like a designed a canopy that protects can address shortage of critical equipment that could arise in continuous positive airway health care workers by safely Taylor Swift, Rolling Stones medical equipment like venti- future. pressure (CPAP) machine to covering COVID-19 patients lators in tackling the corona- One of their first efforts was force oxygen into a patient’s while still allowing health care AFP — NEW YORK virus (COVID-19) crisis, the US to build a prototype oxygen low-functioning lungs. providers access to the patients space agency has joined forces hood that has now proven to “We looked across our to provide care. A world stuck at home was with a task force in California work for the doctors at the hos- center’s expertise in innovation, “The patient will be located gearing up for a marathon to build medical devices to help pital, Nasa said, adding that the engineering, design, and fabri- inside this canopy where global special event in support patients infected with the production of 500 will begin cation of unique systems, to aerosol viral contaminants will of health care workers, disease. next week at TSC’s Faith Facility bring Nasa knowledge and be vacuumed out through a featuring dozens of superstars The US space agency said in Mojave, California. people together to collaborate viral filter located within the ranging from Taylor Swift to its Armstrong Flight Research The device, developed by on solving the needs and chal- canopy. In doing so, the health The Rolling Stones. Center partnered with Antelope Nasa engineer Mike Buttigieg, lenges brought about by the provider can freely work The Lady Gaga (pictured) — Valley Hospital, the City of Lan- is an oxygen hood for COVID-19 COVID-19 situation,” said Arm- around the patient outside the curated virtual show — backed caster, Virgin Galactic, The patients exhibiting minor strong Chief Technologist David canopy with minimal risk,” by the international advocacy Spaceship Company (TSC), and symptoms and will minimise Voracek. Parker said. organization Global Citizen in collaboration with the World against COVID-19, which has Health Organization (WHO) — left more than 154,000 dead US animator, aims to celebrate and support worldwide. the efforts of medical workers The special “will continue filmmaker Gene against coronavirus, which has this, telling global stories of at least 4.5 billion people forced triumph and hope, and told to Deitch dies at 95 or urged to stay home. a global audience, truly The party kicks off at 2pm bringing the world together,” AP — PRAGUE ECHT (1800 GMT) with a six- Lady Gaga said. “We can do hour pre-show streamed something to bring joy and Gene Deitch, an American online, which will feature a respite to the corners of the Oscar-winning illustrator, laundry list of stars including earth.” animator, film director and performers Christine and the The event intends to producer has died. He was 95. Queens, Annie Lennox and Luis entertain but also act as a “ral- His Czech publisher, Petr Fons; actors Don Cheadle and lying cry” to support health Himmel, said Deitch died Samuel L Jackson; and soccer workers and action for char- unexpectedly during the night star Megan Rapine. ities on a local level. from Thursday to Friday in his A two-hour primetime Global Citizen is also urging apartment in Prague’s Little event rife with A-listers philanthropists, companies and Quarter neighbourhood. No including Billie Eilis, Elton John, governments to support the further details were given. Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, WHO in its coronavirus Deitch’s movie “Munro” Paul McCartney and Stevie response efforts, saying its won the Academy Award for Wonder is set to follow. already raised $35m for local Best Animated Short Film in A Global Citizen publicist organisations and the interna- 1960. He was also nominated confirmed that all four Stones tional health body’s COVID-19 for the same award twice in — Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Solidarity Response Fund. 1964 for “Here’s Nudnik” and Charlie Watts and Ronnie “Music provides this “How to Avoid Friendship.” Wood — would perform, and moment for us to pause to Earlier, he had created the the group said they would be reflect to unite as one “Tom Terrific” series, while the participating “from our homes humanity,” Global Citizen’s “Sidney’s Family Tree,” which in isolation.” CEO Hugh Evans said ahead of he co-produced was nominated Street concert Lady Gaga told a WHO the event. “And to come back for an Academy Award in 1958. briefing ahead of the event it together and say you know Two musicians play a concert for the citizens at home, while driving on the back of a truck through Born on August 8, 1924, in was intended to continue the what, we truly — it’s not just the district of Marzahn-Hellersdorf, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Berlin yesterday. Chicago, Deitch arrived in “love letter to the world” that hyperbole — we truly are all in Prague in 1959 intending to is the “fearless global effort” this together.” stay for 10 days, but fell in love with his future wife, Zdenka, and stayed in the Czechoslo- vakian capital. Screen time before bed will make your kids sleepless: Study Working from behind the Iron Curtain, he directed 13 IANS — NEW DELHI percent) of the 163 students used in the hour before bed. percent) who reported less than explained that the foundations episodes of “Tom and Jerry” interviewed by University of According to the seven hours of sleep, including for good health are based on and also some of the “Popeye Dear parents, if you want your Otago researchers achieved researchers, students who used a small number reporting not proper nutrition, regular the Sailor” series. children to have proper sleep, recommended guidelines of an devices before going to sleep sleeping at all, according to the exercise and good sleep quality. He captured life in com- read this carefully. Joining a average 9 to 11 hours sleep were also more likely to report study, Sleep quality is often over- munist Czechoslovakia and growing list of studies that tell nightly over one week. that they felt sleepy the fol- “Therefore, while the looked as a contributory factor later in the Czech Republic after parents to shun devices at “But that also means that lowing morning. Watching tel- average across the week of 72 to poor health. the 1989 anti-communist Velvet bed-time, researchers say that almost one in four students did evision before bed had no sig- percent of students reporting “The study findings suggest Revolution in his memoirs “For children who use devices and not achieve sleep within these nificant effect on sleep length. adequate sleep is reassuring, it the need for parental guidance the Love of Prague.” In 2004, decide what time they go to guidelines, which highlights an There were also some inter- is far from the goal of every around bedtimings and mod- he received the Winsor McCay sleep, achieve less sleep and feel area for improvement,” said esting observations over the child achieving sleep within the eration of the use and availa- Award for his lifelong contri- more sleepier the following day study researcher Kate Ford. weekends where students went recommended guidelines,” Ford bility of electronic devices bution to animation. than their peers. However, consistent with to bed later but woke later said. before bed,” Kelly said. Deitch is survived by his The study of children in this previous research in 15 to achieving similar sleep length Dr. Paul Kelly, head of the “Respect and protect your wife and by three sons from his age-group (aged 11 to 13 years), 17-year-old New Zealanders, to the school days, the Sleep Health Service at Can- sleep, as good daytime func- first marriage, all of whom are published in the New Zealand the study results show less sleep researchers said. terbury District Health Board, tioning is reliant on adequate cartoonists and illustrators. Medical Journal, found most (72 on the nights where devices are A small group of students (6 supervised the study and sleep,” Kelly added.