Covid-19: German minister commits suicide after ‘virus crisis worries’

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, March 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thomas Schaefer, the finance minister of Germany’s Hesse state, has committed suicide apparently after becoming “deeply worried” over how to cope with the economic fallout from the coronavirus, state premier Volker Bouffier said. Schaefer, 54, was found dead near a railway track on…

Haiti hospital chief kidnapped amid coronavirus emergency

PORT-AU-PRINCE, March 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The director of one of Haiti’s top hospitals has been kidnapped, prompting staff to refuse to take in new patients as the impoverished country battles coronavirus amid a spike in gang violence. Dr. Jerry Bitar, a surgeon, was kidnapped shortly after leaving his home on…

Covid-19: 4 passengers die on cruise ship grappling with coronavirus off Panama

Cruise ship MS Zaandam PANAMA CITY, March 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four passengers have died on a cruise ship off the Pacific coast of Panama with more than 130 others aboard suffering from influenza-like symptoms, at least two of whom have coronavirus, the vessel’s operator saidr 27). Holland America Line said in a…

Covid-19: Hungary PM imposes lockdown from Saturday, sees coronavirus peak by July

BUDAPEST, March 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hungary is imposing a two-week lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, which is expected to peak in the country in June or July, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said. Citizens will be allowed to go to work, shop and take limited exercise outside…

COVID-19: Death toll in Africa surpasses 83 as confirmed cases climb to 3,243 – Africa CDC

ADDIS ABABA, March 28 (NNN-XINHUA) — The death toll from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the African continent has reached 83 as confirmed positives cases surpassed 3,243 as of Friday, the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, specialized agency of the 55-member African…

Suspension of Libyan oil exports causes loss of over 3.6 bln USD: report

TRIPOLI, March 28 (NNN-XINHUA) — Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) said that the suspension of oil exports after the closure of oil fields and ports has caused a loss of more than 3.6 billion U.S. dollars so far. “The current levels of production are 96,702 barrels a day. Forced restriction…

Covid-19: 150 Tunisians self-isolate in factory to make masks

The factory workers opted to isolate themselves to better guarantee their ability to keep making protective gear  TUNIS, March 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Employees at a Tunisian factory are churning out 50,000 face masks a day and other protective medical gear after opting to go into lockdown at work. The 150 workers, mainly…

Covid-19: ‘Clear we have entered recession’, says IMF chief

WASHINGTON, March 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The coronavirus pandemic has driven the global economy into a downturn that will require massive funding to help developing nations, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said. “It is clear that we have entered a recession” that will be worse than in 2009 following the global financial…

Covid-19: Serbia jails man for three years for breaking self-isolation rule

BELGRADE, March 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three people have been given hefty prison sentences of up to three years in Serbia for breaking self-isolation rules imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Serbia has declared a state of emergency and adopted strict measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which has…

Update: US confirmed coronavirus cases cross 100,000

WASHINGTON, March 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States now has more than 100,000 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, a tracker maintained by Johns Hopkins University showed. There have been 100,717 cases including 1,544 deaths as of 6 pm Eastern time (2200 GMT). The biggest cluster by far is in…