Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 73 WHO 02 Apr 2020
• Global Coronavirus Cases Hit 1 Million VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- The coronavirus pandemic has hit a grim milestone - 1 million confirmed cases.
• More than 900,000 COVID-19 cases recorded worldwide - Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 02 Apr 2020 - More than 900,000 COVID-19 cases have been recorded worldwide, according to a new tally from Johns Hopkins University on Wednesday.
• New Coronavirus cases exceed 1 million globally, deaths over 51K Press TV 02 Apr 2020 -- Latest updates on the spread of the new coronavirus pandemic around the world show that the number of confirmed cases of the infection has exceeded one million.
• WHO: Children prone to new coronavirus infection too Press TV 02 Apr 2020 -- The World Health Organization refutes claims that children face less risk of infection with the new coronavirus, calling such notion "factually wrong."
• WHO worried by 'rapid escalation' of coronavirus infections +World updates Press TV 02 Apr 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed deep concern about the "rapid escalation" of the new coronavirus pandemic, as the number of infections nears one million across the globe.
• Global Coronavirus Death Toll Tops 50,000 VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- The coronavirus pandemic has hit a grim milestone of 1 million confirmed cases.
• Is Bureaucratic Inertia Hampering the Coronavirus Battle? VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- Only 2,000 frontline medical staff in Britain have been tested for coronavirus – to the frustration of hard-pressed doctors and nurses – and the country is struggling to test about 8,000 patients daily for the potentially deadly virus.
• Global Number of Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Reaches Over 1 Million - Johns Hopkins Sputnik 02 Apr 2020 -- The Johns Hopkins University dashboard revealed Thursday that the global tally of COVID-19 novel coronavirus cases has exceeded 1 million - with the US accounting for nearly a quarter of those reported.

United States

• Statement from the President Regarding the Defense Production Act The White House 02 Apr 2020
• Statement From SECNAV on Relief of CO Aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) NNS 02 Apr 2020 -- Statement from the Acting Secreatry of the Navy Thomas B. Modly, regarding the relief of the Commanding Officer of USS Theodore Roosevelt.
• US aircraft carrier's commander fired after pleading for help for sailors with coronavirus Press TV 02 Apr 2020 -- The US Navy has fired the commander of an aircraft carrier who had warned American sailors aboard the vessel would die unless the coronaviru-hit ship was evacuated.
• Manpower Chief Discusses Personnel Aspects of COVID-19 Response DoD News 02 Apr 2020 -- The Joint Staff's director of manpower and personnel discussed the personnel aspects of the fight against COVID-19 during a freewheeling exchange with Pentagon reporters.
• U.S. carrier Roosevelt sailors to be quarantined on Guam People's Daily 02 Apr 2020 -- Guam Governor Leon Guerrero said Thursday that she decided to allow sailors from the USS Theodore Roosevelt to leave the military base and be quarantined in hotels on the island after the Navy asked for help to deal with the spread of COVID-19 on the aircraft carrier.
• USS Roosevelt Commander Relieved of Duty Over 'Extremely Poor Judgement' - Modly Sputnik 02 Apr 2020 -- The US Navy relieved the captain of the COVID-19-infected aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt of duty after he wrote a letter to US Navy leaders demanding support in quarantining the crew, US officials told Reuters on Thursday.
• Briefing With Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback On COVID-19 Impact on Religious Minorities US Dept. of State 02 Apr 2020
• President Donald J. Trump Approves Virginia Disaster Declaration The White House 02 Apr 2020
• President Donald J. Trump Approves U.S. Virgin Islands Disaster Declaration The White House 02 Apr 2020
• President Donald J. Trump Approves Tennessee Disaster Declaration The White House 02 Apr 2020
• U.S. Confirms Arrival Of Russian Plane With Purchased Virus Supplies RFE/RL 02 Apr 2020 -- The United States has confirmed the arrival of a plane carrying medical supplies that it says were purchased from Russia to help fight the coronavirus outbreak, raising questions over the motives behind the move.
• 250-Patient Army Field Hospital in Seattle Expected to Open Next Week DoD News 02 Apr 2020 -- The Army is assembling a 250-bed field hospital at the CenturyLink Event Center in Seattle that's meant to treat non-COVID-19 patients so area hospitals will be able to free up their own beds to care for those who have contracted the coronavirus disease, the commander of the 627th Hospital Center said.
• USNS Mercy, USNS Comfort Receiving Patients in LA, New York City DoD News 02 Apr 2020 -- To free overwhelmed local hospitals focusing on patients with COVID-19, the Navy hospital ships USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort are docked on both U.S. coasts to provide medical and surgical care to non-COVID-19 patients.
• Wisconsin National Guard Takes on New COVID-19 Missions DoD News 02 Apr 2020 -- The Wisconsin National Guard is helping to staff self-isolation facilities in Milwaukee and Madison and polling locations across the state for the April 7 election due to a shortage of volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Navy, Marine Corps Partner With Industry, FEMA to 3-D Print Face Shields NNS 02 Apr 2020 -- Nine Department of Navy (DON) commands began 3-D printing medical face shields March 28 at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region VIII as part of the effort to combat the Coronavirus outbreak.
• Navy COVID-19 efforts linking to Joint Acquisition Task Force NNS 02 Apr 2020 -- Military and civilian personnel of the research, development and acquisition community received guidance Tuesday from the Navy's acquisition chief to support the Department of Navy's (DON) ongoing fight against COVID-19.
• Before COVID-19, U.S. Naval War College War Game Examined Epidemic Response NNS 02 Apr 2020 -- In September 2019, months before COVID-19 became a household term, the U.S. Naval War College co-sponsored a "war" game that looked at how to battle to a rapidly spreading infectious disease in a major urban area.
• U.S. becomes first nation with more than 200,000 COVID-19 infections -- Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 02 Apr 2020 -- A total of 203,608 confirmed cases have been reported in the United States, with 4,476 deaths.
• More than 5,000 have died of COVID-19 in U.S.: Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 02 Apr 2020 -- More than 5,000 people in the United States have died of COVID-19, according to a new tally from Johns Hopkins University on Wednesday night.
• U.S. state of Florida issues stay-at-home order amid COVID-19 spread People's Daily 02 Apr 2020 -- Governor of the U.S. state of Florida Ron DeSantis issued an order Wednesday directing residents statewide to stay at home so as to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
• Trump resists nationwide lockdown amid recession fears Press TV 02 Apr 2020 -- US President Donald Trump has still resisted declaring a nation-wide stay-at-home order, leaving many concerned over his administration's failure to halt increasingly tragic deaths from the coronavirus outbreak across the country.
• Rush Transcript: Amid Ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Announces State Department of Health Has Approved New Protocol To Allow BiPAP Machines To Be Converted Into Ventilators New York State 02 Apr 2020
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 02 Apr 2020
• New York Governor Cuomo Says State Will Run Out of Ventilators in 6 Days Sputnik 02 Apr 2020 -- On Saturday, Cuomo said that he had not spoken with US President Donald Trump about the possibility of a quarantine amid the rapid spread of the coronavirus.
• Governor: New York State Has Enough Ventilators to Last 6 Days VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- New York's governor said Thursday that his state has enough ventilators to last about a week, as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases there nears 100,000.
• Trump Criticizes Governors for Medical Supply Failures VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- President Donald Trump took aim Thursday at some U.S. state governors who have said they do not have enough medical equipment to treat the thousands of coronavirus victims pouring into hospitals looking for help.
• COVID-19 Challenges US Rural Health Care Providers VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- Late one March morning, cell phones across Illinois activated simultaneously through the state's emergency warning system, buzzing with the urgent text message:
• Trump: Administration Will Help Six US Companies With Building Ventilators Sputnik 02 Apr 2020 -- US President Donald Trump has used his authority granted by the Defense Production Act to order six US companies to repurpose their factories for building ventilators, which mean the difference between life and death for those infected with COVID-19, and of which the US faces a dire shortage.
• Pence blames heath officials for delayed virus response amid criticism over Trump's failure Press TV 02 Apr 2020 -- US Vice President Mike Pence has blamed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) amid mounting criticism over White House's delayed coronavirus response and President Donald Trump's initial failure to understanding the enormity of the pandemic.
• Pentagon providing 100,000 body bags as US coronavirus outbreak worsens Press TV 02 Apr 2020 -- The Pentagon is seeking to provide up to 100,000 body bags as US experts have predicted as many deaths from the coronavirus.
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 02 Apr 2020 -- In an effort to minimize the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 and to prioritize the health and safety of Department of the Air Force personnel, the following modifications have been made:
• US Army Predicted Worst Case Scenario of 150,000 COVID-19-Related Deaths in Early February – Report Sputnik 02 Apr 2020 -- Since emerging in China in late 2019, the new coronavirus has become the worst public health crisis in recent history, causing close to a million infections, 50,000 deaths and bringing the global economy to a standstill.
• Pentagon Seeks 100,000 Military-Grade Body Bags as US COVID-19 Death Toll Surges Sputnik 02 Apr 2020 -- The Pentagon is looking to obtain as many as 100,000 military-style body bags to potentially be used to hold civilian bodies, as the US death toll from the COVID-19 coronavirus is expected to rise in the next few weeks.
• LA Mayor Urges Mask Use as US Coronavirus Toll Tops 5,000 VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- As the United States passed 5,000 coronavirus deaths, the mayor of the Los Angeles urged people in the country's second-largest city to wear masks in public.

Europe

• Number of COVID-19 Deaths in Belgium Exceeds 1,000 SPA 02 Apr 2020 -- Belgium announced today that the number of deaths from the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) exceeded 1,000.
• COVID-19 cases in Italy reach 110,574, death toll at 13,155 People's Daily 02 Apr 2020 -- Italy registered a total of 110,574 coronavirus cases as of Wednesday, with death toll rising to 13,155, according to the country's Civil Protection Department which is managing the national emergency response.
• Rejecting Criticism, Commissioner Says EU Was 'Very Quick' In Helping Neighbors Fight Coronavirus RFE/RL 02 Apr 2020 -- The EU commissioner for neighborhood and enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, has rejected accusations that the bloc has been too slow in providing assistance to its Balkan neighbors and countries of its Eastern Partnership program in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
• COVID-19: US 'Hijacked' Batch of Face Masks Ordered by France From China - Reports Sputnik 02 Apr 2020 -- The first batch of a billion face masks ordered by the French government to fight the Covid-19 pandemic landed near Paris on 29 March, as Olivier Véran, the French health minister said the country required 40 million face masks per week to face the coronavirus outbreak, while lamenting the current weekly production capacity of just 8 million.
• Coronavirus Spreading in Norway's Migrant Areas, Somalis Hit Hardest – Reports Sputnik 02 Apr 2020 -- Almost one in four hospitalised immigrants in Norway is Somali, despite the diaspora there constituting only 0.8 percent of the Norwegian population. This has been attributed to cramped living conditions and their insufficient knowledge of the Norwegian language.
• 569 Deaths in Britain related to Coronavirus SPA 02 Apr 2020 -- The Uk health authorities reported today 569 death cases related to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United Kingdom during the past 24 hours.
• Switzerland Reports 1128 Cases, 54 Deaths from COVID-19 SPA 02 Apr 2020 -- Switzerland announced today that 1128 cases are confirmed for persons infected by the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number to 18,267.

China

• 'Mask diplomacy' hype unhelpful Global Times 02 Apr 2020 -- Chinese officials, companies and analysts on Thursday called on the West to stop politicizing China's goodwill gestures in offering aid to countries devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic as some Western media and officials continue to hype China practicing so-called mask diplomacy and question China's intentions behind its humanitarian assistance to other countries like Italy and the US.
• China transparent in dealing with epidemic: FM Global Times 02 Apr 2020 -- China's Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged some US officials to focus on what they could do for Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic instead of making vicious accusations and attacks on other countries based on wrong and twisted information.
• Attacks on China's efforts to curb global spread of COVID-19 another form of stigmatization People's Daily 02 Apr 2020 -- As China does its best to alleviate the COVID-19 pandemic that struck 202 countries and regions around the globe, it is hit with stigmatization by others with efforts to politicalize the crisis.
• China Cracking Down on Those Critical of COVID-19 Response VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), a coalition of Chinese and international human rights nongovernmental organizations, said as of March 12, there were 5,511 cases related to people being punished for allegedly spreading information about the epidemic. That is also the number used in official Chinese media.
• FM slams US smear on virus info with timeline Global Times 02 Apr 2020 -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry spent almost 9 minutes at a routine press conference on Thursday to question the shameless, ungrounded and repeated rumors by US politicians, including Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, that had falsely accused China of concealing COVID-19 data.
• Wuhan govt weighs whether to test all residents to find silent carriers Global Times 02 Apr 2020 -- Wuhan authorities are studying whether the government should test all residents to find asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers amid public worry over a second outbreak.
• False claims emerge over China's medical supplies Global Times 02 Apr 2020 -- Recently, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, and Slovakia have questioned the quality of China's medical supplies amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Chinese officials have urged foreign nations not to politicize the issues and to tackle concerns in accordance with facts.
• Chinese mainland reports 35 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, all imported cases, and 55 new asymptomatic COVID-19 patients Global Times 02 Apr 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Thursday it received reports of 35 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland on Wednesday, all imported cases.
• Chinese mainland reports zero increase in domestic COVID-19 cases People's Daily 02 Apr 2020 -- No new domestically transmitted cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported on the Chinese mainland on Wednesday, the National Health Commission (NHC) said Thursday.
• Chinese mainland reports 35 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 02 Apr 2020 -- The Chinese mainland reported 35 new imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Wednesday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 841, the National Health Commission said Thursday.
• China's Hubei reports no new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 02 Apr 2020 -- No newly confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported for Wednesday in central China's Hubei Province, the provincial health commission said Thursday. The province saw six new deaths, which were all reported in the provincial capital of Wuhan Wednesday.
• Chinese mainland reports zero increase in domestic COVID-19 cases People's Daily 02 Apr 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Thursday that no new domestically transmitted cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported on the Chinese mainland on Wednesday.
• Central China's Hunan province reports its first imported COVID-19 case People's Daily 02 Apr 2020 -- Central China's Hunan Province, neighboring the former coronavirus epicenter of Hubei Province, reported its first imported case of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Wednesday, the provincial health commission said Thursday.
• China's control measures prevent tens of thousands of infections: spokesperson People's Daily 02 Apr 2020 -- China's prevention and control measures have altered the dangerous course of COVID-19's quick spread and prevented tens of thousands of infections nationwide, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.
• Shanghai reports 6 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 02 Apr 2020 -- Shanghai reported six new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from overseas on Wednesday, the municipal health commission said Thursday.
• Lockdown Imposed in China's Henan Province After Fresh Cases Emerge Radio Free Asia 02 Apr 2020 -- As the ruling Chinese Communist Party increasingly claims victory over the coronavirus epidemic in mainland China, residents of the central province of Henan say there has been a local outbreak of COVID-19 in Jia county.
• Beijing Blasts US 'Politicians Full of Lies' for 'Shameless' Claims About China's COVID-19 Mortality Sputnik 02 Apr 2020 -- On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that the White House had received a classified intelligence briefing which said that China has attempted to hide the seriousness of the COVID-19 outbreak, under-reporting both total cases and fatalities. President Trump has described China's coronavirus numbers as "a little bit on the light side".

Russia

• Address to the Nation President of Russia 02 Apr 2020
• Putin Prolongs Non-Working Period Until April 30 as Part of Russia's COVID-19 Response Sputnik 02 Apr 2020 -- The Russian president made the announcement in a televised address, his second in eight days, as the government introduces additional measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
• Russia's Coronavirus Man Of The Moment? For Now, It Looks Like Moscow's Mayor RFE/RL 02 Apr 2020 -- There he was, riding down the escalator at one of Russia's leading infectious disease hospitals alongside Vladimir Putin as the president toured the facility and its preparations for the coronavirus epidemic.

India

• PM interacts with CMs to bolster efforts to tackle COVID-19 India PIB 02 Apr 2020 -- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today interacted with Chief Ministers of states via video conferencing to discuss measures to combat COVID-19.
• India Identifies 20 Existing and 22 Potential Hotspots for of COVID-19 Transmission Sputnik 02 Apr 2020 -- COVID-19 cases in India have been mounting with 50 deaths and 1,965 positive cases, according to the Health and Family Welfare Ministry. The death toll, as well as infections, spiked after positive cases were reported from Mumbai's slums and after a gathering of Islamic preachers in Delhi.
• Updates on COVID-19 India PIB 02 Apr 2020 -- Various actions have been initiated by Government of India along with the States/UTs for the prevention, containment and management of COVID-19 in the country. These are being regularly monitored at the highest level.
• India: Migrant workers' plight prompts UN call for 'domestic solidarity' in coronavirus battle UN News 02 Apr 2020 -- Pervasive challenges remain for hundreds-of-thousands of migrant workers in India whose lives were upended by the sudden lockdown across the country, in response to the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, said the UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Thursday.

Iran

• Iran's Majlis speaker tests positive for coronavirus IRNA 02 Apr 2020 -- Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani has tested positive for coronavirus and is in quarantine, said Majlis' News Department in a statement late on Thursday.
• Health official rejects rumors on COVID-19 victims in Iran IRNA 02 Apr 2020 -- Head of Iran's Health Ministry Public Relations Office Kianoush Jahanpour on Thursday rejected rumors promoted by the opposition media claiming that over 100,000 people have been killed by the coronavirus in Iran.
• Official: COVID-19 kills 124 more in Iran IRNA 02 Apr 2020 -- Head of Iran's Health Ministry Public Relations Office Kianoush Jahanpour said on Thursday that 16,711 people out of a total of 50,468 infected by the coronavirus have survived while 3,160 have unfortunately succumbed to death.
• Official: Iran screens many Afghan, Pakistani pilgrims at borders IRNA 02 Apr 2020 -- Advisor to Iranian Minister of Health Mohammad Asaei Ardakani referred to safety measures taken at air and land borders, saying many Afghan and Pakistani pilgrims have been screened at the quarantines prepared at borders.
• Iran Says Over 3,000 Dead From Coronavirus VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- Iran says its death toll from the coronavirus has surpassed 3,000. President Hassan Rouhani is also saying that the U.S. missed the opportunity to improve relations with Iran by lifting economic sanctions.

Taiwan

• Taiwan adds 10 new COVID-19 cases, bringing total to 339 CNA 02 Apr 2020 -- Ten new cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus disease were confirmed in Taiwan Thursday, bringing the total in the country to 339 since the pandemic began late last year, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Europe, U.S. leaders thank Taiwan for mask donation pledge CNA 02 Apr 2020 -- Political leaders from Europe and the United States thanked Taiwan Wednesday for pledging to donate 10 million surgical face masks to help countries seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Taiwan, Czech Republic forge partnership over COVID-19 CNA 02 Apr 2020 -- Taiwan and the Czech Republic has forged a partnership to contain the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic, with efforts such as cooperation in the development and production of rapid tests and a possible vaccine, according to a joint statement issued by the two sides Wednesday.
• Taiwan tightens control measures as COVID-19 patients total 329 People's Daily 02 Apr 2020 -- The total number of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Taiwan has increased by seven to 329, the island's epidemic monitoring agency said Wednesday.

NATO

• NATO Foreign Ministers agree measures to help Coronavirus response NATO 02 Apr 2020 -- NATO Foreign Ministers directed NATO's top commander, General Wolters, to coordinate the necessary military support to combat the coronavirus crisis and to start using fast-track paths through Europe's airspace for military flights carrying medical supplies, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday (2 April 2020).
• Coronavirus response: NATO Foreign Ministers to address COVID-19 crisis NATO 02 Apr 2020 -- NATO Foreign Ministers will meet via secure video conference for the first time on Thursday (2 April 2020), with the COVID-19 crisis at the top of the agenda. They will assess further measures NATO and Allies can take to enhance the collective fight against the virus.
• NATO Top Commander To Work On Coronavirus Response RFE/RL 02 Apr 2020 -- NATO foreign ministers have tasked the alliance's top military officer to help boost the 30 allies' response to the coronavirus pandemic.
• German FM Warns NATO of 'Disinformation' During Coronavirus Crisis VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- Germany's foreign minister Thursday warned NATO members against taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to spread "disinformation," "propaganda" and "fake news."

North Korea

• North Korea's Virus-Free Claim 'Impossible,' Top US General Says VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- The top U.S. general in South Korea said he does not accept North Korea's claim that it has no coronavirus cases.
• U.S.-Based Experts Doubt North Korea's Claim of Being Coronavirus Free Radio Free Asia 02 Apr 2020 -- North Korea publicly declared Wednesday that the country was totally free of the coronavirus, a claim that drew skepticism from U.S.-based experts who suggested that Pyongyang had moved to warn off foreign foes and appear strong to its population.
• As Government Orders Public Mask Use, North Koreans Hastily Make Homemade Versions Radio Free Asia 02 Apr 2020 -- North Korea has ordered residents to wear face masks in public to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, but a scarcity of masks is forcing some to make their own merely to comply with the orders, posing the risk that hastily made masks will not stop the pathogen, a health expert told RFA.

Pakistan

• COVID-19: China Sends $3 Million in Medical Aid to Pakistan Sputnik 02 Apr 2020 -- Pakistan has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases, with the nationwide tally of confirmed cases crossing 2,000. The viral infection has claimed 26 lives in the country so far.
• COVID-19 Cases Rise to 2386 in Pakistan SPA 02 Apr 2020 -- The number of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the Pakistan increased to 2,386 with 32 deaths and 107 recoveries.

Brazil

• In Brazil, Fear Surges Along with Coronavirus Burials VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- The fears over the coronavirus are extending to the grave in Brazil, where workers wore protective clothes while burying a person in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, at the largest cemetery in Latin America.
• Brazilian Health Officials Confirm First Indigenous Coronavirus Case Sputnik 02 Apr 2020 -- A 20-year-old woman who lives in a village deep within the Amazon rainforest has become the first indigenous Brazilian individual - out of over 300 tribes in the country - to contract the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.

Philippines

• Philippine's Duterte orders police to 'shoot dead' lockdown violators Press TV 02 Apr 2020 -- The Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the country's security forces to "shoot dead" individuals who defy restrictions in areas under lockdown over the coronavirus epidemic.
• Philippine President Says Those Violating Anti-Virus Measures Could be Shot VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says anyone who violates the government's lockdown measures to combat the coronavirus outbreak could be shot by police.

Kuwait

• 25 New Cases of Novel Coronavirus in Kuwait SPA 02 Apr 2020 -- The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health has reported 25 confirmed cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) during the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases registered in Kuwait to 342.
• Kuwait reports recovery of one coronavirus case SPA 02 Apr 2020 -- Kuwaiti Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Basel Al-Sabah on Thursday announced the recovery of one case from the novel coronavirus, raising the country's total recoveries to 81.

Morocco

• Morocco Reports Latest COVID-19 Death SPA 02 Apr 2020 -- Morocco reported today a new death from the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing to 40 the total number of deaths in Morocco.
• Morocco Reports 22 New Cases of Coronavirus SPA 02 Apr 2020 -- Morocco has reported 22 new cases of the new Coronavirus during the past 24 hours, bringing the total cases to 676 cases, and the total number of deaths to 39.

Other Countries

• Hamas holds Israel fully responsible for COVID-19 outbreak in blockaded Gaza Strip Press TV 02 Apr 2020 -- The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has held the Israeli regime "fully responsible" for the consequences of any COVID-19 outbreak in the besieged Gaza Strip.
• Myanmar Migrant Workers Risk Fines And Jail to Get Home Amid COVID-19 Exodus Radio Free Asia 02 Apr 2020 -- Thai police arrested and later released 300 migrant workers as they headed to the border to return home to Myanmar on Thursday amid the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus, part of an exodus spanning across Southeast Asia as factories in Thailand that rely on foreign labor close down, a labor activist, an embassy official, a labor activist, and a lawmaker said.
• COVID-19: Putin Extends Non-Working Period Amid Spike In Cases; Pakistan Urged To Give Workers Better Protection RFE/RL 02 Apr 2020 -- The global death toll has surpassed 51,000 with over 1 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
• COVID-19 Follow-up Committee Affirms Importance of Adhering to Curfew Order SPA 02 Apr 2020 -- The committee concerned with following up the health situation of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) held here today its 43rd meeting under chairmanship of Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah in the presence of the committee's members representing a number of relevant governmental entities.
• Iraq Reports 44 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 02 Apr 2020 -- The Iraqi Health Ministry announced today that the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Iraq rose to 772 with 44 new cases in several Iraqi cities.
• Zambia records first coronavirus death SPA 02 Apr 2020 -- Zambia has recorded its first death from coronavirus, and the number of confirmed cases has risen by three to 39, Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya said on Thursday, according to Reuters.
• UAE announces 150 new cases of COVID-19, two deaths SPA 02 Apr 2020 -- Ministry of Health and Prevention has announced 150 new cases of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in the United Arab Emirates, bringing the total number of cases to 814.
• Omani Health Ministry Announces 21 New Cases of Coronavirus SPA 02 Apr 2020 -- The Omani Ministry of Health today announced 21 new cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of registered cases in the country to 231.
• Prime Minister Morrison Says Australia Is Slowing COVID-19 Spread Sputnik 02 Apr 2020 -- Australia has more than 4,800 coronavirus infections registered so far, with a total of 20 fatalities, according to the latest count by Johns Hopkins University.
• Next Few Weeks Critical in Africa's COVID-19 Fight, Experts Say VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- As cases rise and more countries order lockdowns, Africa's experience with the coronavirus depends on what happens over the next month, said the director of the continent's Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• DR Congo's Children Already Threatened by Killer Epidemics, Now Comes Coronavirus VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- The U.N. children's fund warns thousands of children in Democratic Republic of Congo are at risk of dying from epidemics other than coronavirus – a situation that will likely worsen as the spread of COVID-19 threatens to divert scarce prevention resources. DRC authorities have confirmed 98 cases, including eight deaths since the start of the coronavirus.
• Peru Steps Up Enforcement of Stay-At-Home Order VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- Thousands of Peru reservists are joining security forces and police in enforcing the mandatory quarantine aimed at stopping the spread of the new coronavirus.
• Syrian UN envoy calls for removing of all US economic sanctions amid COVID-19 pandemic Press TV 02 Apr 2020 -- Syria's Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Ja'afari has reiterated a call by his country for immediate and unconditional lifting of all US economic sanctions, a few days after the coronavirus killed the first patient in the Arab country.
• Burkina Faso crisis and COVID-19 concerns highlight pressure on Sahel food security UN News 02 Apr 2020 -- Food insecurity levels in the Sahel region are "spiralling out of control", the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Thursday, as it expressed concerns about the potential impact on humanitarian supply chains because of restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• UN Warns Mass Hunger Facing West Africa Will Worsen as Coronavirus Takes Hold VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- A new United Nations food assessment of 17 West African countries finds more than 19 million people in the region will go hungry during the upcoming lean season between June and September, when food stocks are depleted. This is a 77 percent increase over last year's number, and it's being complicated further by the coronavirus pandemic.
• Realities Of Coronavirus Economic Impact Shift U.S., Russia's Attention To Low Oil Prices RFE/RL 02 Apr 2020 -- When Vladimir Putin was given a dire forecast of the economy under the cloud of a crippling coronavirus pandemic and a sharp fall in global demand for petroleum, the Russian president was much less bullish about his country's prospects in a price war with oil-producing rival Saudi Arabia.
• UN Seeks $21 Million for Food Security in Zimbabwe amid Lockdown VOA 02 Apr 2020 -- The United Nations says it needs $21 million to ease food insecurity in Zimbabwe as the country deals with measures imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The government says it is going to release funds to help people most affected by the COVID-19 lockdown, such as the old and the unemployed.
• As coronavirus spreads, UN seeks nationwide ceasefire in Yemen Press TV 02 Apr 2020 -- UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths has engaged in talks with the country's warring parties to secure a nationwide ceasefire amid fears of the spread of the new coronavirus in the war-ravaged impoverished Arab nation.