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COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• After Being Delayed by White House for Almost a Year, Transcripts from House Intelligence Committee Russia Investigation Released HPSCI 07 May 2020 -- Transcripts Reaffirm Mueller's Findings That Russia Interfered to Hurt Clinton and Help Trump, the Campaign Invited and Made Full Use of Illicit Russian Help, and Trump Lied to Cover It Up White House Would Not Allow Release of All Transcripts for More Than a Year By Holding Up Declassification Process Until this Week
• US House Intel Releases Trove of Transcripts From Russia Probe Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- The US House Intelligence Committee released a trove of documents related to its investigations of US President Donald Trump potentially having sought help winning elections from outside the US. The tranche includes 57 witness transcripts from the Russiagate and Ukraine scandal probes.
• U.S. Justice Department Dropping Case Against Ex-Trump National-Security Adviser Flynn RFE/RL 07 May 2020 -- The U.S. Justice Department is dropping the criminal charges against former national-security adviser Michael Flynn.
• US Justice Department Drops Criminal Case Against Ex-Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- As a result of the Russia probe, Flynn struck a plea deal with the FBI, confessing to willingly lying to the agency about his contacts with Russian ambassador to the US, Sergei Kislyak, in 2016. Flynn later withdrew his plea and successfully fought attempts to sentence him in 2020.
• Cyberattacks on Democratic Taiwan Set to Rise Ahead of President's Inauguration Radio Free Asia 07 May 2020 -- Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen approaches her second inauguration later this month amid malware attacks on two of the island's major petrochemical companies that are believed to have come from China.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 108 WHO 07 May 2020
• WHO chief calls upon world to now "focus on fighting the fire" People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday said that the "while the fire is raging," he calls upon the world to now "focus on fighting the fire".
• Strong health systems best defense against pandemics: WHO chief People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- Strong and resilient health systems are the best defense against pandemics and the multiple health threats of the world, said World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday.
• COVID-19: UN and partners launch $6.7 billion appeal for vulnerable countries UN News 07 May 2020 -- Humanitarians are seeking nearly $7 billion to protect millions of lives and halt the spread of COVID-19 in more than 60 of the world's most fragile countries.
• Migrants stranded 'all over the world' and at risk from coronavirus UN News 07 May 2020 -- Thousands of migrants have been stranded "all over the world" where they face a heightened risk of COVID-19 infection, the head of UN migration agency, IOM, said on Thursday.
• UN Appeals for Nearly $7 Billion in Coronavirus Aid for Poorest Nations VOA 07 May 2020 -- The United Nations is boosting its appeal for coronavirus aid by billions of dollars, saying more money is necessary to protect millions of lives and help stop the spread of the infection in fragile countries.

United States

• Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper Media Engagement at U.S. Northern Command DoD 07 May 2020 -- Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper
• Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with Governor Abbott of Texas The White House 07 May 2020
• Trump says Coronavirus worse 'attack' than Pearl Harbor, 9/11 Press TV 07 May 2020 -- US President Donald Trump is pressing ahead with its blame game against China over the coronavirus outbreak, saying Beijing should have stopped the disease in its tracks.
• NY governor says states making a mistake by reopening amid rising virus cases Press TV 07 May 2020 -- New York Governor has warned against reopening of economies in some US states amid rising cases of the novel coronavirus, saying the decision is based on politics, not facts and data.
• Rush Transcript: Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Announces Moratorium on COVID-Related Evictions Will Be Extended Until August 20th New York State 07 May 2020
• Trump says U.S. coronavirus task force to continue "indefinitely" with possible personnel changes People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the White House Coronavirus Task Force will continue "indefinitely" with possible personnel changes, one day after officials hinted that the team would wind down.
• White House Defends Decision to Shelve Coronavirus Reopening Plan VOA 07 May 2020 -- The Trump administration is defending its decision not to release a detailed coronavirus reopening plan for the U.S., maintaining they would have been too narrowly-focused for the country's 50 states.
• New Mexico National Guard delivers water by the truckload Army News 07 May 2020 -- Airmen and Soldiers of the New Mexico National Guard Joint Task Force are supplying food and water to New Mexico communities during the COVID-19 response mission.
• DAF ACT contracting executes N95 mask production for DoD US Air Force 07 May 2020 -- The Department of the Air Force's Acquisition COVID-19 Task Force (DAF-ACT) executed a $126 million contract on May 1 for expanded production of N95 masks–26 million per month–starting in October. The contract, awarded to 3M, will increase the supply chain of N95 masks and resupply the Strategic National Stockpile following increased demand due to COVID-19.
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 07 May 2020
• Los Angeles City lays out roadmap for reopening Global Times 07 May 2020 -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Wednesday laid out the city's roadmap for reopening businesses in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, adding some certain types of stores are allowed to reopen with safety precautions.
• US Rejects N95 Masks From 7 China Firms for Failure to Block COVID-19 - Regulator Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- The United States withdrew emergency use authorization for Chinese-made N95 respirator masks made by seven companies because tests show the devices do not protect users from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as advertised, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in a press release.
• US Death Toll From COVID-19 Tops 75,000 - Johns Hopkins Hospital Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- The latest data by Johns Hopkins University reveals that more than 75,000 people in the US have died of COVID-19-related causes.
• Pentagon: COVID-19 Hospital Stay Disqualifies Recruits VOA 07 May 2020 -- A new Pentagon recruitment policy considers hospitalization for COVID-19 an automatic disqualification for acceptance without a medical waiver from the recruit's military service branch.
• Pentagon Confirms Recruits Hospitalised With COVID-19 to Be Disqualified Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- New recruits who have been hospitalized with the coronavirus will be disqualified from the US military service unless they get a waiver, a Pentagon spokesperson stated on Thursday.
• Coronavirus Survivors to Be 'Permanently Disqualified From Joining US Military' Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- According to the Washington Times, over 4,000 US troops have tested positive for COVID-19, while nearly 1,000 crew members of USS Theodore Roosevelt were confirmed to have been infected, as well.
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 07 May 2020

China

• China resists politically driven COVID-19 probes Global Times 07 May 2020 -- Any investigation to define the time and origin of the novel coronavirus should be based on a rigorous scientific study, which can't be interpreted in a political context nor based on presumptions of guilt, Chinese officials and experts said as the World Health Organization (WHO) mulls on a new mission to China to seek the origin of the virus amid growing noises, particularly some ill-intentioned attempts from US politicians in pursuing viral conspiracies as part of a smear campaign against China, posing a serious threat to the global combat against the disease.
• Country backs WHO probe into virus origin People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- The Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that China stands ready to continue close cooperation with the World Health Organization to find the origin of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, but it firmly opposes any political manipulation under the guise of an investigation of its origin.
• Washington's 'blame China initiative' faces setback Global Times 07 May 2020 -- Unable to provide the "enormous evidence" he apparently made up to sustain his conspiracy theory, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday finally conceded that he couldn't be certain that the coronavirus originated from a Wuhan lab.
• Beijing on Probe Into COVID-19 Origins: China Has Always Been Open to Cooperation With WHO Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- The day before, UK Health Minister Matt Hancock said as quoted by Reuters that Britain has not seen any evidence that the new coronavirus is man-made.
• China denounces US for shifting blame over COVID-19 pandemic Press TV 07 May 2020 -- China has lambasted the United States for trying to shift the blame over the COVID-19 disease after President Donald Trump claimed that the global pandemic was a worse "attack" compared to Pearl Harbor or September 11, 2001 attacks.
• China classifies all counties as COVID-19 low-risk areas People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- China classifies all counties as low-risk for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from Thursday, a health official said.
• China's Heilongjiang classified as COVID-19 low-risk area People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- China's Heilongjiang Province has been classified as a low-risk region.
• China's Heilongjiang reports no new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- No new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Wednesday, the provincial health commission said Thursday.
• China's Hubei reports no increase in COVID-19 cases for 33 consecutive days People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- No new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported in central China's Hubei Province for Wednesday, the provincial health commission said Thursday.
• Daily new imported cases less than 10 for a week: Chinese official People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- The daily number of newly confirmed imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the Chinese mainland has been less than ten for a week, said a Chinese health official on Wednesday.
• Heilongjiang's daily capacity of nucleic acid testing exceeds 90,000 People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province has achieved a daily nucleic acid testing capacity for COVID-19 of more than 90,000 samples as of Wednesday, according to the provincial health commission.
• NW China's Ningxia further lowers COVID-19 emergency response level People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region has further downgraded its emergency response toward the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, local authorities said Wednesday.
• Chinese mainland reports 2 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- The Chinese mainland reported two new imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Wednesday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 1,680, the National Health Commission said Thursday.
• 46 COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals on Chinese mainland People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- Forty-six patients of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were discharged Wednesday from hospitals after recovery on the Chinese mainland, the National Health Commission said Thursday.
• Chinese mainland reports no new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 07 May 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.
• Factbox: China's fight against novel coronavirus outbreak People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- Here are the latest developments on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China:
• Xi: Nation cannot afford complacency People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- A key Party meeting on Wednesday stressed the need to reform China's disease prevention and control system and bolster its monitoring and early warning capacities for outbreaks in a bid to close the gaps and strengthen weak areas exposed in the COVID-19 pandemic.
• China reaffirms commitment to expand medical supply exports Global Times 07 May 2020 -- With a commitment to the public health across the world, China is trying hard to meet the international community's growing demand for medical products, while continuing to strengthen quality supervision over export orders in a bid to provide qualified products to help the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, an official said on Thursday.
• Pandemic curbing China-Russia trade Global Times 07 May 2020 -- Trade between China and Russia may drop 50 percent in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, which is spreading in Russia. However, the long-term trade outlook between the two giants is promising, experts and business leaders said.
• Chinese scientists release world's first animal trials report of COVID-19 vaccine candidate, showing positive results People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- One of China's COVID-19 vaccine candidates has proven effective in protecting monkeys from the novel coronavirus, according to a report released on May 6 in Science magazine, in the world's first report on animal trial results for COVID-19 vaccine candidates.

Europe

• EU voices support for Western Balkan in fighting COVID-19 Global Times 07 May 2020 -- The European Union (EU) said that it stood by the Western Balkan partners and remained committed to supporting their efforts to combat the coronavirus outbreak and its impacts on societies and economies, said a statement issued on Wednesday following an EU-Western Balkan Summit.
• PM questioned by lawmakers over COVID-19 strategy as UK prepares to ease lockdown Global Times 07 May 2020 -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday was faced with tough questions in the House of Commons (lower house of parliament) as he is mulling a "comprehensive" plan to ease the COVID-19 lockdown.
• PM questioned by lawmakers over COVID-19 strategy as UK prepares to ease lockdown People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday was faced with tough questions in the House of Commons (lower house of parliament) as he is mulling a "comprehensive" plan to ease the COVID-19 lockdown.
• Scotland's First Minister: Too Soon to Lift Restrictions VOA 07 May 2020 -- Scotland's First Minister says she believes the country needs to extend its COVID 19-related lockdown, despite British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's desire to lift restrictions next week.
• All 400,000 PPE Gowns Sent to UK by Turkey Fail Safety Standards, Reports Suggest Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- London had to purchase as many personal protective equipment units as possible back in April amid severe shortages in the National Healthcare Service, as trade unions warned that medics may refuse to work due to the crisis.
• UK Reportedly Drafts Five-Stage Plan to Ease Lockdown By October Sputnik 07 May 2020 -- Reports of the plan come after the United Kingdom became the first country in Europe to confirm over 30,000 deaths caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic that has plunged most of the world into lockdown.
• Government confirms 400,000 Turkish gowns are useless for NHS Press TV 07 May 2020 -- The UK government has said that the 400,000 surgical gowns flown in from Turkey by the RAF do not meet British safety standards.
• Foreign Secretary's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 7 May 2020 UK FCO 07 May 2020 -- Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab gave the 7 May 2020 daily press briefing on the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Spain's daily coronavirus death toll falls again on Thursday SPA 07 May 2020 -- Spain's coronavirus daily death toll fell on Thursday to 213 down from 244 the day before, the health ministry reported, according to Reuters.
• Pandemic Exposes Spain's Deep Divisions VOA 07 May 2020 -- As its coronavirus death rate ebbs, Spain is at last easing one of the strictest lockdowns in the world. But analysts fear its political polarization will hamper its ability climb back from what is expected to be the deepest economic recession since the 1936-39 civil war.
• In Corsica, COVID-19 Fuels Nationalist Demands for Greater Autonomy VOA 07 May 2020 -- The daily flights and ferries carrying tourists and French retirees seem a distant memory, even as a chunk of the diaspora has returned to ancestral villages.
• Italians Demand Compensation for Coronavirus Deaths VOA 07 May 2020 -- Municipalities and hospitals in northern Italy are bracing for a slew of lawsuits from families of coronavirus victims demanding compensation for alleged treatment errors, negligence and misinformation.
• Greece, Cyprus, Israel move to set up 'corona corridor' for travel VOA 07 May 2020 -- Quarantines and travel don't mix, but Greece is contemplating opening its borders to travelers from at least two other countries whose COVID-19 outbreaks are under control to revive tourism, which has been devastated by the pandemic.

Russia

• Russia to Ease Shutdown Amid Steady Growth of COVID-19 Cases VOA 07 May 2020 -- Russia has announced plans for a gradual easing of coronavirus restrictions after the so-called non-working period ends Monday.
• Russian watchdog proposes lifting COVID-19 restrictions in 3 stages Global Times 07 May 2020 -- Anna Popova, head of Russia's consumer rights and human well-being watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, proposed Wednesday to lift COVID-19 restrictions in three stages.

India

• India reports 52,952 cases of coronavirus, death toll 1,783 SPA 07 May 2020 -- The number of coronavirus infections rose to 52,952 in India, up by 3,561 over the previous day, reported Reuters, citing figures released by the health ministry on Thursday.
• India's AIIMS director says COVID-19 peak likely in June-July Global Times 07 May 2020 -- The director of India's premier health institute - All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Thursday said COVID-19 cases are likely to peak in the month of June and July.
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan reviews preparedness and containment measures taken for COVID-19 management in Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal through Video Conferencing India PIB 07 May 2020 -- Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare held a high level meeting today with Shri Jai Pratap Singh, Health Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Naba Kishore Das, Health Minister of Odisha in presence of Sh. Ashwini Kumar Choubey, MoS (HFW) and senior officials from both Centre and the States to review the situation, actions being taken and preparedness for management of COVID-19 in the three States.
• India Mounts Massive Operation to Evacuate Citizens Stranded Overseas VOA 07 May 2020 -- India has launched the biggest evacuation of its citizens in decades, deploying aircraft and navy ships to bring home thousands of Indians stranded in foreign countries after it shut its borders and stopped all international commercial flights in March due to COVID-19.

Pakistan

• PLA medical expert team fights COVID-19 in Pakistan PLA Daily 07 May 2020 -- An anti-pandemic medical expert team dispatched by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) arrived in Pakistan on April 24 amid the outbreak of COVID-19, and then immediately devoted themselves to local pandemic control and patient.
• Pakistan to Ease Coronavirus Lockdown Saturday VOA 07 May 2020 -- Pakistan has announced it will gradually ease a nationwide coronavirus-related "partial" lockdown starting Saturday, saying the number of COVID-19 infections remain relatively low and under control. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Iran

• COVID-19 Spreading Fast In Iran's Oil Producing Province Radio Farda 07 May 2020 -- Medical officials in Iran's Khuzestan Province say coronavirus is spreading at an alarming rate in the oil-rich southwestern province despite the epidemic having slowed down in some other regions of the country.
• Rouhani urges screening for COVID-19 patients to continue IRNA 07 May 2020 -- President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that screening for COVID-19 should continue by the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education with diagnostic tests for suspected cases to ensure people's health.
• Official: COVID19 kills 68 more in past 24 hours IRNA 07 May 2020 -- Head of Iranian Health Ministry's Public Relations Office Kianoush Jahanpour said on Thursday that some 68 more Iranians died of coronavirus over the past 24 hours and 82,744 people out of a total of 103,135 infected with the coronavirus have survived and recovered while unfortunately, the total number of deaths reached 6,486.
• President Rouhani: Health Ministry must continue coronavirus screening across Iran Press TV 07 May 2020 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urges continuation of the Health Ministry-mandated countrywide screening for the new coronavirus infection, saying the diagnostic procedures should even grow in scale to cover larger population groups.

Saudi Arabia

• COVID-19 Follow-up Committee Holds 78th Meeting SPA 07 May 2020 -- Under the chairmanship of Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, the COVID-19 Follow-up Committee held its 78th meeting today.
• Interior Minister Approves Regulation to Limit Gatherings and Classifies Violations and Penalties SPA 07 May 2020 -- An official source at the Ministry of Interior has stated that in addition to what was previously announced on 12 Ramadan 1441 AH regarding the provisions and penalties against violators of the preventive measures being taken to combat the Coronavirus pandemic and according to the second paragraph of the Royal Order No. (A / 584) dated on 6/9/1441 AH, the Minister of the Interior approved a regulation to limit gatherings that contribute to the spread and transmission of the coronavirus, according to the following text:
• Oil crisis, coronavirus taking toll on Saudi Crown Prince Press TV 07 May 2020 -- The coronavirus pandemic coupled with a dramatic fall in oil prices is taking its toll on the leadership of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), a new analysis shows.

Taiwan

• Taiwan reports 1 new imported case of COVID-19; total now at 440 CNA 07 May 2020 -- Taiwan confirmed one new imported case of the COVID-19 coronavirus on Thursday, bringing the total to 440 since the pandemic began late last year, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Taiwan mulling new rules for return of citizens with COVID-19 CNA 07 May 2020 -- Taiwan is considering changing its current entry regulations for its citizens who contracted the COVID-19 coronavirus abroad, making it mandatory for them to meet certain health criteria, the Central Epidemic Commend Center (CECC) said Thursday.
• Doctors inhibit key COVID-19 complication with blood purification CNA 07 May 2020 -- State-run Taoyuan General Hospital said Thursday it successfully used blood purification techniques to treat a patient suffering from complications of COVID-19, though a government expert cautioned more research is needed to determine the overall efficacy of the treatment.
• 10-minute COVID-19 antibody test kit developed in Taiwan CNA 07 May 2020 -- A rapid antibody test kit for COVID-19 developed by a local biomedical company that can deliver results in just 10 minutes has passed clinical trials and is ready for mass production, a company official said Thursday.

Brazil

• Brazil reports over 600 deaths in one day SPA 07 May 2020 -- Brazil registered on Wednesday a record number of cases and deaths, prompting the health minister to flag the possibility of strict lockdowns in particularly hard-hit areas, Reuters reported.
• Rio de Janeiro Blockades Going Up To Curb Quarantine Violations VOA 07 May 2020 -- Rio de Janeiro Mayor Marcelo Crivella says the city will set up blockades Thursday in sections of the city where people have been ignoring quarantine restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus.

Other Countries

• COVID-19: Moscow Cases 'Likely Three Times Higher' Than Official Toll; Pakistan To Lift Virus Lockdown RFE/RL 07 May 2020 -- The global death toll from the coronavirus has passed 260,000 with more than 3.7 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
• Belarus Strips Russian Reporters Of Accreditation Amid Coronavirus RFE/RL 07 May 2020 -- Belarusian authorities have stripped two Russian journalists of accreditation after their reports about the growing coronavirus outbreak in the country.
• Kuwait Reports 278 New Coronavirus Cases, Two Deaths SPA 07 May 2020 -- Kuwait reported today 278 new coronavirus, COVID-19, infections in the last 24 hours, bringing the total of infections to 6,567.
• Malaysia reports 39 new coronavirus cases; no new deaths SPA 07 May 2020 -- Malaysia reported 39 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Thursday, bringing the cumulative total to 6,467 infections, according to Reuters.
• Indonesia reports 338 new coronavirus cases, 35 deaths SPA 07 May 2020 -- Indonesia reported 338 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number to 12,776, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto told reporters on Thursday. Thirty-five more people who tested positive for the virus have died, taking the total number of deaths to 930, according to Reuters.
• Palestine announces one new COVID-19 cases, total at 547 SPA 07 May 2020 -- One new coronavirus case was confirmed in the West Bank today raising the total in the State of Palestine to 547, Palestine News Agency (WAFA) quoted the Minister of Health Mai Alkaila as saying on Thursday.
• Oman Reports 55 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 07 May 2020 -- The Omani Ministry of Health has reported 55 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Sultanate of Oman to 2958.
• Kenyan Authorities Close 2 Neighborhoods Deemed Coronavirus Hot Spots VOA 07 May 2020 -- Kenya has closed two neighborhoods – one in the capital, Nairobi, and the other in the coastal city of Mombasa – after a surge in confirmed cases of coronavirus. Kenyan authorities have confirmed 607 infections and 29 deaths, with dozens of the infections found in Nairobi's Eastleigh area and Mombasa's Old Town. Many of the neighborhood residents fled as lockdowns were announced.
• Nigeria Eases Lockdown Measures Despite Increases in Coronavirus Cases VOA 07 May 2020 -- Computer specialist Michael Kundun left for work early Monday, as Nigeria's coronavirus lockdown eased at 6 a.m.
• Zimbabwe Seeks Debt Relief to Deal with COVID Economic Impact VOA 07 May 2020 -- Zimbabwe is seeking talks with foreign creditors to clear decades of debt, warning that without more funds the cash-strapped government may not cope with the economic impact from COVID-19. Zimbabwe's struggling economy has further slumped due to the lockdown over the coronavirus. But critics of the request note Zimbabwe's history of corruption and failure to service its debt.
• Botswana to Begin Lifting Lockdown to Reopen Economy, Schools VOA 07 May 2020 -- Botswana will begin a gradual lifting of a five-week lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus on Friday.
• El Salvador Begins More Restrictive Lockdown Thursday VOA 07 May 2020 -- El Salvador begins a more restrictive lockdown Thursday to curtail the spread of the coronavirus, with an emphasis on the densely populated capital region of San Salvador.