Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 96 WHO 25 Apr 2020
• 'No evidence' that recovered COVID-19 patients cannot be reinfected, says WHO UN News 25 Apr 2020 -- The UN World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection.
• WHO Says No Evidence People Who Have COVID-19 Antibodies Protected from Second Infection Sputnik 25 Apr 2020 -- As of 25 April, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases globally stands at 2,686,785, with 184,681 deaths, according to the World Health Organisation.
• Recovered Patients With Antibodies Not Immune to Coronavirus, WHO Warns VOA 25 Apr 2020 -- The World Health Organization warned Saturday that there was "no evidence" that recovered COVID-19 patients with antibodies were immune to a second coronavirus infection.

United States

• US Judge Orders Release of Migrant Children Detained During COVID Pandemic VOA 25 Apr 2020 -- A U.S. federal judge has ordered the release of migrant children who have been detained at the Mexico border, after ruling Friday the Trump administration was again violating an agreement to release them within 20 days.
• Connecticut Guard provides mobile COVID-19 testing lab Army News 25 Apr 2020 -- The Connecticut National Guard has turned a vehicle designed to test for environmental chemical, biological, and radiological contamination into a mobile clinical laboratory to expand the Connecticut Department of Public Health's COVID-19 testing capacity.
• La. Guard supports tornado, COVID-19 response in Ouachita Army News 25 Apr 2020 -- Soldiers with the Louisiana National Guard's 527th and 528th Engineer Battalions, 225th Engineer Brigade, are supporting dual missions of COVID-19 response efforts in Monroe and clearing debris in the wake of several tornadoes in northeast Louisiana.
• US Georgia reopens some nonessential businesses despite coronavirus concerns Global Times 25 Apr 2020 -- The southern US state of Georgia on Friday reopened some nonessential businesses despite coronavirus concerns.
• U.S. COVID-19 deaths top 50,000, debates heating up over reopening economy People's Daily 25 Apr 2020 -- More than 50,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the United States while debates are heightening over reopening the country's economy severely battered by the virus.
• How Far-Right Extremists Are Exploiting the COVID Pandemic VOA 25 Apr 2020 -- Far-right extremists have been linked to bombing plots tied to the coronavirus pandemic, spotted holding anti-Semitic signs at protests outside state capitols, and seen trafficking on fringe platforms in all manner of conspiracy theories about the virus.
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 25 Apr 2020

China

• Hubei sends medical supplies to New York Global Times 25 Apr 2020 -- A plane carrying medical supplies took off at 8:34 p.m. Friday and left Wuhan, a central Chinese city once hardest hit by COVID-19, for New York.
• 508 volunteers get coronavirus vaccine shots in phase two trial; unblinded likely in May: expert Global Times 25 Apr 2020 -- A total of 508 volunteers, in the second phase trial of the adenovirus vector vaccine, have been administered with injections and are now under observation. If things proceed as planned, the vaccine will be unblinded in May this year, said Chinese military infectious disease expert Chen Wei, during an event on the occasion of China's 34th children's vaccination day, on Saturday.
• Patients continuing to test COVID-19 positive after disappearance of symptoms have limited infectivity: experts Global Times 25 Apr 2020 -- Some COVID-19 cases in Wuhan have shown unexpectedly long detoxification periods even after their symptoms disappeared, triggering public concerns about their infectivity; experts, however, noted that the infectiousness of these cases is limited and will not be discharged from the hospital until two successive negative test results are obtained.
• China tightens rules for mask exports amid quality concerns Global Times 25 Apr 2020 -- China tightened supervisions and standardizations on urgently needed medical products to ensure quality over the weekend, as part of a move to address quality concerns amid growing exports to help the global fight against COVID-19.

Europe

• Spain has the most coronavirus infections among healthcare workers Global Times 25 Apr 2020 -- Twenty percent of the coronavirus infections reported in Spain have been among healthcare workers, Spanish media El País reported on Saturday.
• Spain's death toll from the coronavirus rises to 22,902 - El Pais SPA 25 Apr 2020 -- Spain's coronavirus death toll rose to 22,902 on Saturday, up from 22,524 the day before, Reuters quoted Spanish media outlets, including El Pais and El Mundo, as reporting.
• UK pushes forward coronavirus vaccine trial amid increasing pandemic death toll Global Times 25 Apr 2020 -- After implementing social distancing measures for weeks, Britain has hit "the peak" of the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the country's Health Secretary Matt Hancock. But medical experts said only a valid vaccine or highly effective drugs can give people assurance that the fight against COVID-19 could be finally won.
• UK govt. warned of coronavirus last year, leaked document reveals Press TV 25 Apr 2020 -- UK ministers were warned about the risk of the coronavirus last year and its potentially catastrophic social and economic consequences, a leaked secret document has revealed.

India

• GoM reviews current status, and actions for management of COVID-19 India PIB 25 Apr 2020 -- Dr. Harsh Vardhan commends the collective efforts of all stakeholders in combating COVID-19
• India Cautiously Reopens Neighborhood Stores Shuttered by COVID VOA 25 Apr 2020 -- A month after imposing a stringent lockdown, India Saturday allowed neighborhood stores in cities and shops in rural areas to reopen in a bid to gradually get its shuttered economy back on track.

Iran

• Iran Health Officials Concerned About Rebound Effect Of Relaxing Lockdown Radio Farda 25 Apr 2020 -- Iran's official COVID-19 cases and deaths have been going down since early April but Iran's health officials are concerned that relaxation of lockdown may reverse the situation.
• Iran witnessing 'declining trend' in coronavirus deaths, infections Press TV 25 Apr 2020 -- Iran's Health Ministry says the country is witnessing a "declining trend" in the number of fatalities and cases of new coronavirus infections as a result of bilateral cooperation between the people and the government.
• Official: COVID19 death toll hits 5,650 in Iran IRNA 25 Apr 2020 -- Head of Iran's Health Ministry's Public Relations Office Kianoush Jahanpour said on Saturday that 68,193 people out of a total of 89,328 infected with the coronavirus have survived while 5,650 have unfortunately succumbed to death.

Saudi Arabia

• Covid-19 Follow up Committee Holds its 66th Meeting, over 600,000 Self Assessments Run SPA 25 Apr 2020 -- Under the chairmanship of the Minister of Health Dr. Taufiq bin Fozan Al-Rabiah, the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Developments' Follow up Committee held its 66th meeting. During the meeting reports relating to the virus were discussed, in addition to review the pandemic situation, all over the world.

Taiwan

• Taiwan confirms 1 new case of COVID-19 in Navy cluster CNA 25 Apr 2020 -- Taiwan confirmed one new case of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Saturday, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 429 since the pandemic began late last year, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• No signs of Navy COVID-19 cluster transmission in community: CECC CNA 25 Apr 2020 -- A recent Taiwan Navy cluster case involving 31 COVID-19 infections has not yet resulted in any community outbreaks, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Saturday in the wake of escalating concerns in the country.

Other Countries

• Turkey confirms 3,122 new COVID-19 cases, 104,912 in total Global Times 25 Apr 2020 -- Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Friday confirmed 3,122 new COVID-19 cases and 109 more deaths in Turkey.
• Philippines extends lockdown in Metro Manila, high-risk COVID-19 areas Global Times 25 Apr 2020 -- The Philippine government on Friday extended the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other high-risk provinces on the main island of Luzon amid the COVID-19 epidemic for two more weeks until May 15.
• Israeli army intelligence agents collect info to prevent unrest amid pandemic: Report Press TV 25 Apr 2020 -- Israeli military intelligence agents have reportedly helped the regime's security council collect information on citizens in order to prevent unrest over the handling of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
• Coronavirus Pandemic Creates A Very Different Ramadan Experience For Muslims RFE/RL 25 Apr 2020 -- Millions of Muslims around the world are now abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset to mark the holy month of Ramadan, which concludes in late May.
• COVID-19: 'Coronavirus Free' Tajikistan Shuts Schools; Belarus Holds Civic-Labor Day RFE/RL 25 Apr 2020 -- The global death toll from the coronavirus is more than 191,000 with over 2.7 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
• Jordan Reports Three New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 25 Apr 2020 -- The Jordanian Health Ministry reported here today three new cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of infections to 444.
• Algeria Reports 129 New COVID-19 Cases SPA 25 Apr 2020 -- Algeria reported today 129 new cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3,256 cases.
• Indonesia reports 396 new coronavirus cases, 31 more deaths SPA 25 Apr 2020 -- Indonesia reported on Saturday 396 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number to 8,607, data provided by health ministry official Achmad Yurianto showed, according to Reuters.
• Number of COVID-19 Cases in Northern Syria 'Highly Likely' Bigger Than Reported - MSF Sputnik 25 Apr 2020 -- The international medical NGO, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), believes that it is "highly likely" that the real number of COVID-19 cases in northern Syria is bigger than officially reported, since there is a lack of testing capacities in the region, MSF emergency manager for Syria, Will Turner, said.
• COVID-19 Frightens Malaria Patients in Cameroon VOA 25 Apr 2020 -- A song urging Cameroonians not to relent in the fight against malaria blasted through speakers Saturday – World Malaria Day – at road junctions and popular neighborhoods, as well as from publicity vans driving through Cameroon's capital, Yaounde.
• Inmates in Argentina Riot Over Coronavirus Fears VOA 25 Apr 2020 -- A riot broke out on Friday at the Villa Devoto prison in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as inmates protested hygiene conditions and other shortcomings there amid the coronavirus outbreak.