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COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Israeli cyber terrorist attack targets Iranian port: Report Press TV 19 May 2020 -- Israel carried out a cyber terrorist attack that caused disruption at an Iranian port this month, the Washington Post reports.
• Israeli Operatives Behind 'Highly Accurate' Cyberattack on Iranian Port Facility, Report Claims Sputnik 19 May 2020 -- On 10 May, the managing director of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization, Mohammad Rastad, confirmed in a televised statement that the county's port of Shahid Rajaee, in the coastal city of Bandar Abbas, was the victim of a cyberattack by an unknown foreign hacker on 9 May, bringing to a halt all shipping traffic in the facility.
• Sudan Found Liable for 1998 Embassy Bombings as Khartoum Seeks Removal From Terrorism List Sputnik 19 May 2020 -- The US Supreme Court has ruled that Sudan must pay damages for the 1998 US embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania by al-Qaeda. The decision comes as Khartoum attempts to get removed from Washington's list of state sponsors of terrorism.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 120 WHO 19 May 2020
• Pandemic Vs. Privacy: New Virus-Tracing Apps Raise Hope And Fear RFE/RL 19 May 2020 -- In many countries, the fight to control the coronavirus has turned to new contact-tracing phone apps. But some forms of the technology -- particularly in Russia, Iran, and China -- are raising concerns of an Orwellian world.
• WHO chief warns of long road to travel as COVID-19 risk remains high People's Daily 19 May 2020 -- The majority of the world's population remains susceptible to COVID-19 and there is a long road to travel as the risk remains high, the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.
• Global coronavirus caseload at 4.8 million and counting Press TV 19 May 2020 -- Latest figures show that the new coronavirus has now infected 4,805,430 people and killed 318,554 others, almost five months since it emerged in China and quickly spread to the entire world, according to Johns Hopkins University.
• WHO countries agree 'equitable and timely access' to coronavirus vaccine, 'comprehensive evaluation' of response UN News 19 May 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) concluded the annual World Health Assembly on Tuesday, adopting a resolution that calls for an independent review of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the agency's own performance.
• COVID-19 Will Be 'Constant Threat' Until Vaccine Found, WHO Envoy Says VOA 19 May 2020 -- The World Health Organization's (WHO) special envoy on COVID-19 said Tuesday that the coronavirus will ''be a constant threat" until a vaccine or reliable treatment is found.
• WHA Adopts Resolution Calling for Universal Access to COVID-19 Drugs VOA 19 May 2020 -- The United States has voted for a World Health Assembly resolution that provides for universal, affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, but with reservations.

United States

• Trump Threatens Permanent Cut to WHO Funding VOA 19 May 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump says his cuts to World Health Organization funding will go from temporary to permanent if the agency "does not commit to major substantive improvements within the next 30 days."
• Trump threatens to quit WHO, calling health body 'puppet of China' Press TV 19 May 2020 -- US President Donald Trump has threatened to pull out of the World Health Organization, calling the UN health body a Chinese "puppet".
• UPDATE: The United States Continues to Lead the Global Response to COVID-19 US Dept. of State 19 May 2020
• Remarks by President Trump in Cabinet Meeting The White House 19 May 2020
• NY Guard distributes 11 million meals, helps test 250,000 Army News 19 May 2020 -- Seventy-two days into the COVID-19 pandemic response, New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have distributed more than 11 million meals, assembled almost 1 million COVID-19 test kits and helped administer a quarter of a million tests.
• Wyoming National Guard helps increase state COVID-19 testing Army News 19 May 2020 -- The Wyoming National Guard's 84th Civil Support Team (CST) is working with the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory (WPHL) to deploy the CST's mobile laboratory to increase COVID-19 testing.
• RING sends humanitarian aid to the Bahamas and Timor-Leste Army News 19 May 2020 -- The Rhode Island National Guard partnered with the University of Rhode Island to send critical medical equipment to the South-Pacific island nation of Timor-Leste and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
• Vermont National Guard helps hospital with emergency care Army News 19 May 2020 -- Twenty-nine members of the National Guard served on a task force with the Emergency Department (ED) at the University of Vermont Medical Center.
• National Guard expanding COVID-19 testing across Wisconsin Army News 19 May 2020 -- Twenty-five specimen collection teams from the Wisconsin National Guard continue to help increase the state's COVID-19 testing capacity. Four teams collected specimens Sunday and 19 were collecting them May 18.
• NY National Guard testing for virus in western New York Army News 19 May 2020 -- With the help of the New York National Guard, more than 10,000 residents of Western New York have been tested for the COVID-19 virus and its antibodies since April 29.
• Manager of Florida's COVID-19 Dashboard Fired Because Refused to Manipulate Data – Reports Sputnik 19 May 2020 -- Rebekah Jones, who managed Florida's dashboard website that displayed the state's latest COVID-19 statistics, claims she was fired because she refused to manipulate data so that it would support the reopening of the economy, USA Today reported.
• Trump Defends Use of Hydroxychloroquine VOA 19 May 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump is defending his promotion and personal use of an anti-malaria drug as a medication against COVID-19.
• New Round of Coronavirus Aid Stalled in US Senate VOA 19 May 2020 -- U.S. lawmakers are split on the next steps needed to handle the unprecedented economic challenges caused by the coronavirus crisis.
• Congress Pushes for Return of Pharmaceutical Supply Chains VOA 19 May 2020 -- In early May, U.S. President Donald Trump was asked during a Fox News virtual town hall when the country would no longer be dependent on foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers for 94% of antibiotics used in this country.
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 19 May 2020
• Pentagon Preparing for 'Real Possibility' of Pandemic Worsening This Winter - Leaked Memo Sputnik 19 May 2020 -- A leaked, internal Pentagon memo has revealed the US military is preparing for the COVID-19 pandemic to worsen this coming winter and for a vaccine not to be available until the summer of 2021. Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper is publicly promising a vaccine by the end of the year.
• Rush Transcript: Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Announces Seventh Region Hits Benchmark to Begin Reopening Tomorrow New York State 19 May 2020
• U.S. COVID-19 cases top 1.5 mln as death toll exceeds 90,000 - Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 19 May 2020 -- The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 1.5 million on Monday, reaching 1,500,753 as of 4:03 p.m. (2003 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
• COVID-19 vaccine trial by Moderna shows positive early results People's Daily 19 May 2020 -- U.S. biotech company Moderna on Monday announced positive interim clinical data of mRNA-1273, its vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
• Biden says time wasted in U.S. response against coronavirus outbreak People's Daily 19 May 2020 -- Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Monday that time had been wasted in the U.S. response against the coronavirus outbreak.
• COVID-19 deadliest in New York's black, Latino neighborhoods Press TV 19 May 2020 -- New data shows New York City's black and Latino neighborhoods have seen death rates from the coronavirus nearly 15 times higher than others, highlighting social disparities in access to health care in the US.
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 19 May 2020

China

• China Rejects Blame for Coronavirus Pandemic VOA 19 May 2020 -- China has lashed out at Australia and the United States for what it calls political manipulation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Trump's latest threats against WHO show US failure to besiege China at WHA Global Times 19 May 2020 -- US President Donald Trump's latest threat to permanently pull funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) and withdraw US membership shows that Washington's attempts to besiege China at the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) have failed, as Trump, after failing to handle the coronavirus crisis domestically, is angry that the global community is close to reaching a consensus on COVID-19 response and evaluation, led by the WHO.
• US smearing WHO to distract from own botched response to outbreak: China Press TV 19 May 2020 -- China says the United States is accusing the World Health Organization (WHO) of being biased toward China in an attempt to distract attention from his administration's botched response to the coronavirus epidemic.
• Designated hospitals, broad testing can 'curtail outbreak in Jilin' Global Times 19 May 2020 -- Health authorities in Northeast China's Jilin city on Tuesday said that they have designated two hospitals with about 1,300 beds in total for COVID-19 patients in the city and Shulan, which is under its administration.
• Wuhan carries out 1 million tests in a week, sees asymptomatic rate dropping Global Times 19 May 2020 -- Hubei province conducted 1.5 million nucleic acid tests between May 11 and 17, with 72 percent, or roughly 1.05 million, done in Wuhan, as the city carries out its plan for universal tests on all residents.
• Health officials rule out COVID-19 for 33 Beijingers with fever symptoms from air conditioning Global Times 19 May 2020 -- A group of 33 people in Beijing's Xicheng district who had shown fever-like symptoms were later diagnosed with bacterial respiratory tract infections caused by a central air conditioning unit, and Beijing's Center for Diseases Prevention and Control has already ruled out the possibility of novel coronavirus infection being the culprit, local health authorities said on Monday.
• China's Jilin reports 2 new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 19 May 2020 -- Northeast China's Jilin Province reported two new confirmed COVID-19 cases Monday, local health authorities said Tuesday.
• Chinese mainland reports 6 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 19 May 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Tuesday that it received reports of six new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Monday, of which three were imported cases reported in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
• China's Heilongjiang reports no new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 19 May 2020 -- No new confirmed COVID-19 cases and asymptomatic cases were reported in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Monday, the provincial health commission said Tuesday.
• China's Hubei reports 1 new COVID-19 case People's Daily 19 May 2020 -- One new confirmed COVID-19 case was reported in central China's Hubei Province on Monday, the provincial health commission said Tuesday.
• China's Inner Mongolia reports 3 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 19 May 2020 -- North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region reported three new imported confirmed COVID-19 cases from 7 a.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday, local health authorities said Tuesday.
• China sets example on boosting int'l cooperation against COVID-19, media expert says People's Daily 19 May 2020 -- The Chinese leadership has taken efficient, science-based and transparent measures to ensure the country's great success in bringing the COVID-19 epidemic under control, Serik Korzhumbayev, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Delovoy Kazakhstan, has told Xinhua in a recent interview.
• China city imposes tougher restrictions for epidemic control People's Daily 19 May 2020 -- Shulan, a county-level city in northeast China's Jilin Province, on Monday imposed complete closed-off management for local residential communities with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases.
• Strengthened COVID-19 control required to avoid cluster infections in Wuhan: State Council liaison group People's Daily 19 May 2020 -- A liaison group sent by China's State Council on Monday ordered strengthened control against the COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province and the city previously hardest hit by the epidemic.
• Chinese mainland reports 3 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 19 May 2020 -- The Chinese mainland reported three new imported COVID-19 cases Monday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 1,707, the National Health Commission said Tuesday.
• Chinese mainland reports 6 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 19 May 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Tuesday that it received reports of six new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Monday, of which three were imported.
• China announces concrete measures to boost global fight against COVID-19 as Xi addresses WHA session PLA Daily 19 May 2020 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday announced concrete measures to boost global fight against COVID-19 including providing international aid and making the country's COVID-19 vaccine a global public good when available.
• China Reports 6 New Coronavirus Cases VS 7 A Day Earlier SPA 19 May 2020 -- China reported six new coronavirus cases for May 18, compared to seven a day earlier, the health authority said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Europe

• Ireland starts easing COVID-19 restrictions as situation improves Global Times 19 May 2020 -- Ireland on Monday entered into what it called Phase-One stage in easing the restrictions which were imposed some 50 days ago following the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
• Germany's Confirmed Coronavirus Cases Rise by 513 to 175,210 SPA 19 May 2020 -- The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany rose by 513 to 175,210, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Tuesday, with new infections accelerating after decelerating the previous four days, Reuters reported.

Russia

• Russian Direct Investment Fund Says It Paid in Full for COVID-19 Aid Sent to US Sputnik 19 May 2020 -- Russia sent an An-124 cargo plane to the United States in April with disinfectants, glasses, respirators and masks, as well as other medical equipment. The cargo was sent as part of aid to help the US fight the deadly virus. President Trump welcomed the aid, calling it a "kind gesture".
• Russian Prime Minister Mishustin Discharged From Hospital After COVID-19 Treatment, Resumes Work Sputnik 19 May 2020 -- Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree annulling Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov's appointment as the acting prime minister.
• Russia Reports 9,263 New Coronavirus Infections, Total Nears 300,000 SPA 19 May 2020 -- Russia said on Tuesday that 9,263 new cases of the novel coronavirus had been reported in the last 24 hours, pushing its nationwide tally to 299,941, Reuters reported.

India

• India Coronavirus Infections Surge Past 100,000, Deaths Top 3,000 SPA 19 May 2020 -- The number of coronavirus cases in India surged past 100,000 on Tuesday, with the rate of growth of new infections showing little sign of slowing despite a strict weeks-long lockdown, Reuters reported.

Pakistan

• Chinese medical donations to Pakistan save lives, help frontline fighters against COVID-19 Global Times 19 May 2020 -- Gilgit Baltistan region in northern Pakistan is a world-recognized Shangri-La for its astonishing mountainous landscape, but the current COVID-19 pandemic does not let it be free from the virus as some 500 people have been infected in the remote area that is short of medical materials.

Iran

• Official: COVID-19 kills 62 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 19 May 2020 -- Head of Iranian Health Ministry's Public Relations Office Kianoush Jahanpour said on Tuesday that some 62 more Iranians died because of coronavirus over the past 24 hours and 97,173 people out of a total of 124,603 infected with the coronavirus have survived and recovered, but, unfortunately, the total number of deaths reached 7,119.
• Eight states demand Iran's coronavirus test kits IRNA 19 May 2020 -- Vice-President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari stated on Tuesday that Iran has received orders from eight states demanding Iranian indigenous coronavirus test kits.
• Experts In Iran Say Coronavirus Symptoms Changing From Respiratory To Gastrointestinal Radio Farda 19 May 2020 -- Iranian epidemiologists say the symptoms associated with COVID-19 in Iran have changed from respiratory to gastrointestinal.

Saudi Arabia

• Dr. Al-Abdulaali: Total Number of COVID19-Recovered Cases is 31634 SPA 19 May 2020 -- Under the chairmanship of Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, the COVID-19 Follow-up Committee held its 90th meeting today, in the presence of the members of the Committee representing a number of the relevant governmental entities.
• Kingdom calls on international community to take bold and immediate measures to reduce loss of lives due to COVID-19 SPA 19 May 2020 -- The Kingdom called on the international community to take bold and immediate measures to reduce the loss of lives, and to accelerate efforts to contain the catastrophic impact of COVID-19 on humanity, and the importance of international cooperation in eradicating the epidemic.

Taiwan

• No new COVID-19 cases in Taiwan for 12 consecutive days CNA 19 May 2020 -- Taiwan confirmed no new cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus for the 12th consecutive day on Tuesday, keeping the total at 440 since the pandemic began late last year, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

Australia

• Australia's Coronavirus Death Toll Reaches 100 SPA 19 May 2020 -- Australia's death toll from the novel coronavirus reached 100 on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally of official data, a fatality rate much lower than in North America and Europe despite the Pacific country's earlier exposure to the pandemic.
• Australia gets 'slap to the face' as global community welcomes China-sponsored resolution on COVID-19 Global Times 19 May 2020 -- China is one of the co-sponsors of the proposed resolution at the 73rd World Health Assembly, which is entirely different from the so-called independent inquiry demanded by Australia, and is in fact a review of the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 response in order to draw lessons from it, instead of specially targeting any country based on a presumption of guilt, a Chinese official said on Tuesday.
• China says Australia's call for virus probe not vindicated by WHA Press TV 19 May 2020 -- China says the World Health Assembly (WHA) has not vindicated Australia by considering a draft resolution that calls for an investigation into the origin of the new coronavirus.
• China imposes punitive duties on Aussie barley, more products could be probed Global Times 19 May 2020 -- More Australian products, including seafood and dairy goods, could run into trouble in China after Beijing slapped an 80-percent tariff on Australian barley after a two-year antidumping and countervailing probe, Chinese experts said Tuesday.
• China Slaps Australia with Huge Barley Tariff Amid Canberra's Push for COVID-19 Origins Probe Sputnik 19 May 2020 -- Beijing's recent decisions come against the backdrop of heightened diplomatic tension between China and Australia, following a push by Prime Minister Scott Morrison for an independent COVID-19 investigation amid allegations the Asian country had downplayed the seriousness of the virus.
• China Imposes Massive Tariffs on Australia Barley Imports, Sparking Fears of Trade War VOA 19 May 2020 -- Australia is considering taking China to the World Trade Organization over Beijing's decision to impose massive tariffs on Australian barley imports.

Other Countries

• COVID-19 spreading rapidly in LatAm amid calls for greater cooperation Global Times 19 May 2020 -- The COVID-19 cases are still on the rise in Latin America, with Peru's tally close to 100,000, as countries in the region advocated for greater global cooperation to stamp out the pandemic.
• Patients Airlifted as COVID Cases Surge in Brazil's Amazon VOA 19 May 2020 -- The novel coronavirus is spreading so rapidly among indigenous people in the outskirts of Brazil's Amazon that doctors are now evacuating critical COVID-19 patients by plane.
• Chile's President Promises Aid as Protesters Demanding Food Aid with Police VOA 19 May 2020 -- Tensions are still running high in a poor community outside Santiago, Chile, a day after dozens of protesters demanding food aid during the coronavirus lockdown clashed with police.
• COVID-19: Son Of Revered Afghan Resistance Hero Tests Positive; Bulgaria To Ease Travel With Greece, Serbia RFE/RL 19 May 2020 -- The global death toll from the coronavirus is almost 319,000 with more than 4.8 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
• Kuwait reports 3 new coronavirus deaths, 1,073 infections SPA 19 May 2020 -- The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health announced 1,073 new coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 16,764, while three deaths were reported as well, bringing the fatalities' toll up to 121, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.
• UAE Announces 873 New Cases of COVID-19, 3 more Deaths SPA 19 May 2020 -- The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced on Tuesday that it had detected 873 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of cases in the UAE to 25,063, according to Emirates News Agency (WAM).
• Malaysia Reports 37 New Coronavirus Cases with One New Death SPA 19 May 2020 -- Malaysian health authorities on Tuesday reported 37 new coronavirus cases, raising the cumulative total to 6,978 cases, Reuters reported.
• Philippines Reports 224 New Coronavirus Infections, Cases near 13,000 SPA 19 May 2020 -- The Philippine health ministry on Tuesday reported six new coronavirus deaths and 224 more infections, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 12,942, according to Reuters.
• Oman announces 292 new COVID-19 cases SPA 19 May 2020 -- Omani Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday 292 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Sultanate of Oman to 5,671.
• Thailand Reports Two New Coronavirus Cases, No Additional Deaths SPA 19 May 2020 -- Thailand on Tuesday confirmed two new coronavirus cases and no additional deaths, bringing its total to 3,033 infections, a senior official said, according to Reuters.
• Mexico Registers 2,414 New Coronavirus Cases, Total Deaths Reach 5,332 SPA 19 May 2020 -- Mexico registered 2,414 new cases of the coronavirus and 155 more deaths on Monday, the health ministry said, raising its overall number of infections since Mexico recorded its first cases in late February to 51,633, Reuters reported.
• Coordination essential to beat coronavirus, keep development goals on track UN News 19 May 2020 -- As the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis continues to wreak havoc across the world – with the most vulnerable suffering the most – the UN chief said on Tuesday that the task of eradicating poverty and achieving the development goals "has never been more challenging, more urgent and more necessary".
• Burundian Vote for New President Wednesday Despite Coronavirus Threat VOA 19 May 2020 -- Voters in Burundi will choose the country's new president, members of parliament and local officials in Wednesday's elections, which are tempered by the challenge of the coronavirus outbreak and allegations of voter suppression.
• Malawi Politicians Ignore COVID-19 Measures for Elections VOA 19 May 2020 -- Health experts in Malawi are concerned the ongoing presidential campaigns could help to spread the coronavirus. Political parties are holding mass rallies where few people are wearing face masks or observing social distancing, and one candidate told his supporters to hug each other when they pass on the street. Health authorities have warned that cases will balloon if the gatherings continue.
• Kenya Evicts 7,000 from Slums Despite Coronavirus Pandemic VOA 19 May 2020 -- Kenyan authorities have forcibly evicted more than 7,000 people from land in Nairobi slums over the last month, defying a court order. Authorities say they demolished homes because they were built on public land, but critics say mass evictions during a pandemic are inhumane and could further spread the coronavirus.