by Summary for Tuesday, 19th May
Hello and a warm welcome back to our continued coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. We’re writing to you from Singapore this morning, and will be joined by our colleagues across Asia and London later on today. Here’s a quick glance at all that’s happened overnight:
He said the WHO "gave us a lot of very bad advice, terrible advice" and were "wrong so much and always on the side of China".
While Trump did not himself attend, the US health secretary joined via video, saying the WHO mishandled the crisis, costing “many lives”.
Trump, who has been criticised for his own handling of the pandemic, has repeatedly accused the WHO for failing to alert the world early enough and for putting too much trust in China. Trump has accused China of covering up the crisis at the beginning of the outbreak.
The US has already suspended its funding of the WHO, pending an investigation of the body's handling of the pandemic.
At the start of the WHO meeting on Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China was "open and transparent" and insisted that any investigation should happen after the pandemic was brought under control.
In her diary entries, Fang Fang wrote about everything from the challenges of daily life to the physiological impact of forced isolation, providing millions in China with a rare glimpse into the city.
She emerged as an alternative voice to state media and many eagerly turned in to read her words, but public opinion turned against her after it was revealed that a US publisher was turning her words into a book.
She was seen instead not as a bearer of truth but a traitor to China, a woman capitalising on her fame - and even possibly a tragedy.
"She's seizing this time of national crisis and taking advantage [of it]," one user on Weibo had said. "Contemptible."
Read more about Fang Fang's story here.
Local television showed police using tear gas and water cannons on protesters in El Bosque, who had earlier been throwing stones and setting fires.
District mayor Sadi Melo told local radio that the neighbourhood was facing a "very complex situation" because of "hunger and lack of work".
President Sebastián Piñera later pledged his government would provide 2.5 million baskets of food and other essentials over the next week or so.
Read more about the situation in Santiago here.
France and Germany have united in calling for €500bn ($545bn; £448bn) to be distributed amongst the EU countries worst affected by Covid-19.
The leaders of both countries Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel agreed that the funds should be provided as grants.
Mr Macron said it was a major step forward and was "what the eurozone needs to remain united".
Merkel said the European Commission would raise money for the fund by borrowing on the markets. This would be repaid gradually from the EU's overall budget.
The move marks a major step forward for Merkel, who had earlier rejected the idea of nations sharing debt.
Find out more about the proposed fund here.
The latest victim is a 93-year-old woman who had been a resident at an aged care home in Sydney, where there's been a super cluster of cases. 19 people have now died at the home.
Australia's figures for deaths and reported cases are still far lower than other Western nations, with about 7,000 confirmed cases.
US President Donald Trump has been promoting, for several weeks, the use of hydroxychloroquine, as a drug that may lessen the symptoms of the coronavirus. The president, who is 73, said he was given the go ahead by the White House doctor to take the drug, even though there is no medical evidence that it helps patients recover from the disease.
Last month the US Food and Drug Administration said hydroxychloroquine had "not been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing Covid-19.” It issued a warning that some people could suffer serious heart rhythm problems as a result of taking it in combination with other drugs.
Trump, who says he hasn’t shown any symptoms of the disease, made his surprise announcement following a meeting with restaurant executives, about the impact of the virus.
The president’s comments stunned even his most ardent supporters. Immediately following Mr Trump's remarks, a presenter on the Fox News network, which is generally politically aligned with the president, issued a stern warning to his viewers. Citing a government study, Neil Cavuto said the drug would kill people with vulnerable conditions such as respiratory problems and heart ailments.
Read our piece by the Reality Check team on what we know for sure about this drug.
Like in much of the rest of the world, Europe's food and agriculture industry is badly affected by the global pandemic.
Half of the fishermen in the Netherlands have stopped going out to sea because the price of fresh fish has plummeted due to a lack of demand.
In France, 150,000 tonnes of high quality cheese went off last week, because farmers can’t sell it.
And many of the warehouses that store fresh food across Europe are now reaching capacity.
In a tweet, Mr Trump published his full letter to Mr Ghebreyesus, in which he criticised the WHO for not doing enough, saying it "consistently ignored credible reports of the virus spreading" late last year in Wuhan.
He also called out the WHO for repeatedly "praising" China, saying the only way forward for it was to "demonstrate independence from China".
He added that if the WHO did not "commit to major substantive improvements", he would "make his temporary freeze of US funding permanent and reconsider our membership".
The full letter can be found here.
Local media are calling the milestone a "grim reminder" of the challenge faced by the world's second-most populous country.
Significantly, the news comes a day after state governments announced considerable relaxations to a lockdown put in place to curb the spread of the virus.
Despite the lockdown being eased, infections in the country are continuing to rise, which some experts have said is cause for concern as more people begin interacting with each other. This is in contrast to a number of European countries who seem to have passed a peak in infections.
Some predictions are that cases in India will peak only by July - the speed at which that happens will likely depend on how successfully social distancing is maintained.
Australia has had success stemming the spread of the virus - and that success has directly boosted the image of its leader Scott Morrison.
Just a few months ago he was deeply unpopular, blasted for his inaction during the bushfires crisis. (He took a secret holiday to Hawaii while the nation was burning).
Voters questioned his judgement; some famously even refused to shake his hand.
However with this health crisis, things have been different. He listened to the science, and made quick, decisive calls. Australia's curve flattened as a result.
How much credit does he deserve? And can he keep up the support?
Read more in my piece here.
The country's death toll stands at 16,853, the sixth-highest toll in the world. Observers fear that the actual numbers of both deaths and infections might be much higher.
Brazil is deeply divided over how to respond to the crisis. While regional governors have implemented lockdown measures, President Jair Bolsonaro argues the lockdown does more harm than the virus itself.
On Monday, residents of one of Sao Paulo's largest favelas staged a rally to demand the government do more to protect them from the pandemic. The city has been under lockdown since March but many in the favelas have no option to stay safely at home.
You can track the global outbreak on a special BBC page where we keep you updated on how the virus spreads, where there are clusters around the world, where the virus is still peaking and where numbers are already on the decline.
If you just want a quick glance at the numbers, you can get that at the Johns Hopkins University where data from around the globe is constantly being updated.
Scientists have said there is no definitive evidence the drug works when used in treatment of patients with Covid-19. There are also risks of serious side effects, including renal and liver damage.
"I'm a scientist. I don't care about your political preferences but please don't take hydroxychloroquine. It's quite harmful and statistically is not likely to help you recover from Covid-19," said one person on Twitter.
Following Mr Trump's reference to the drugs in late March, there was a sharp increase reported in prescriptions in the US for both chloroquine and hydrochloroquine, although demand has since declined.
Some who rely on the medication posted pictures of themselves having to go without the drug, as a result of increased demand:
Moderna said neutralising antibodies were found in the first eight people who took part in their safety trials. It also said the immune response was similar to people infected with the actual virus.
Larger trials to see whether the jab actually protects against infection are expected to start in July.
Work on a coronavirus vaccine has been taking place at unprecedented speed, with around 80 groups around the world working on them.
A vaccine would provide some protection by training people's immune systems to fight the virus so they should not become sick. This would allow lockdowns to be lifted more safely, and social distancing to be relaxed.
Much of the letter centers around the same message that he's been saying for a while - highlighting what he says is the organisation's "alarming lack of independence from China".
Here are some of the claims in the letter:
The WHO has previously said it acted properly in accordance with the information it was given by China, sharing it with medical and scientific experts around the world, including from the US.
Read more from the BBC's Reality Check team who have previously looked into some of the charges President Trump has levelled against the WHO.
But that's exactly what India is gearing up to contend with - millions are being evacuated and relief teams are on the ground as Cyclone Amphan bears down on its eastern coast. Two states - West Bengal and Odisha (formerly Orissa) are expected to be affected.
This has raised fears for the tens of thousands of migrants making their way back to villages from the cities, fleeing a harsh lockdown put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Many made the journey on foot after train and bus services were halted. Although special transport has been arranged in recent weeks, demand is so high many are continuing to walk. Evacuation arrangements are underway, but it is unclear if people currently in affected areas will be able to take shelter in time.
Amphan has intensified in strength over the last few days and is currently expected to make landfall as an "extremely severe" cyclonic storm. It is currently a "super cyclonic storm" but will likely slow down before it makes landfall.
Tourism is a major economic sector in the country but with no international visitors, the industry is suffering badly.
"My message to Kiwis is, come and experience your own backyard and come and experience the cultural and hospitality here in Aotearoa," Ardern said on Tuesday.
New Zealand has over the past weeks eased what was one of the world's toughest lockdowns and the government says the virus is "currently eliminated" in the country.
Manuel - or Manu, as his parents call him - was born on 30 March
When Flavia Lavorino decided to have a baby through surrogacy, she looked Ukraine up on a map and calculated the distance.
Some 12,800km (8,000 miles) separate Buenos Aires, in Argentina, from the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
"This was our last resort. We had stopped trying when we heard from a co-worker about trying for a baby through a gestational carrier in Ukraine, and we jumped at it," says Flavia.
Little could she predict that by the time the baby was born she would be stranded on the other side of the Atlantic due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Her son Manuel is now seven weeks old, but they have yet to meet him.
Read more
But stepping back from the trade matter, Australian observers are also fearing that this move is retribution for virus matters.
Australia has been pushing for a global inquiry into the virus' origin and spread - against China's wishes. The campaign has gained momentum - with the EU now on board too and advocating a review through the World Health Organization.
China has denied that its trade move is linked to that, but there is alarm in Australia. Last week, its four top beef producers had their China imports suspended. And last month, China's ambassador warned of a consumer boycott if Australia continued with the inquiry.
Canberra called this a threat of "economic coercion". It's vowed to stick with its values, and go ahead with the probe.
Some countries, including in Europe, have begun to partially relax their lockdowns but for others, like India and Brazil, the crisis is very much still developing. Debate over responsibility for tackling the pandemic rages on, with the Trump administration launching a fresh attack on the World Health Organization.
Stay with us for news as it breaks, analysis and colour from correspondents, and the latest advice on how to keep safe.
They show unemployment increased by 50,000 to 1.35 million in the three months to March.
"While only covering the first weeks of restrictions, our figures show Covid-19 is having a major impact on the labour market," says Jonathan Athow, from the Office for National Statistics, which released the data.
"In March employment held up well, as furloughed workers still count as employed, but hours worked fell sharply in late March, especially in sectors such as hospitality and construction.
"Through April, though, there were signs of falling employment as real-time tax data show the number of employees on companies' payrolls fell noticeably, and vacancies were sharply down too, with hospitality again falling steepest."
The Pakistani students had been pleading to be evacuated from the city, but the country had refused to do so, saying it had faith in the Chinese government to look after them.
The case caused anger in Pakistan, with many critics saying that the country was capitulating to political pressure from Beijing.
The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis, Zulfiqar Bukhari, had tweeted earlier, calling the students "the bravest soldiers" and welcoming them home.
So depending on which city you live in, what you can and can't do in this period is likely to significantly vary.
In the capital Delhi for instance, taxis, private cars and auto-rickshaws can ply their trade between 07:00 and 19:00, while shops and marketplaces are also open
But in Mumbai, which has nearly 20,000 cases of Covid-19, almost nothing is allowed as most of the city has been put into containment or "red" zones.
Click here to find out more about restrictions in these two cities, as well as Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata.
It comes after President Donald Trump gave WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus a 30-day deadline to make "major changes" - threatening that the US would permanently cut off funding to the organisation.
“For the United States to comprehensively withdraw funding would mean the effectiveness of the WHO - particularly in developing countries, where the virus is yet to have its full impact - would be grossly irresponsible in international humanitarian terms," Mr Rudd told BBC World Service.
"Remember in various of these countries the WHO goes in and advises and/or provides direct material help and the setting up of health systems to deal with the crisis on the ground.”
In a tweet, Mr Trump published his full letter to Dr Tedros, in which he criticised the WHO for not doing enough, saying it "consistently ignored credible reports of the virus spreading" late last year in Wuhan.
BBC newsreader George Alagiah, who is being treated for bowel cancer, revealed last month he had a mild case of coronavirus.
As a cancer patient, he underwent tests after developing a fever – and a few days later his oncologist rang to say he had tested positive for the virus.
A 35-year-old man who returned from Malaysia tested positive on Monday, marking the first Covid-19 case in Myanmar's conflict-torn Rakhine state.
Another migrant worker in Rakhine state has also since been diagnosed with the disease. Both were quarantined at a government facility before being tested.
The situation in Rakhine is already grave. More than 100,000 residents have been displaced as a result of the conflict between the military and rebel group Arakan Army.
The government has intermittently imposed an internet blackout in several townships since last year, and aid groups are warning of the high risk of large-scale community spread of coronavirus.
So far Myanmar has recorded 191 cases and six deaths have officially been linked to the virus.
Mr Trump has said he is taking the medication to ward off coronavirus, even though there is no evidence it can fight the virus, and regulators warn it may cause heart problems.
“I would rather he not be taking something that has not been approved by the scientists," Pelosi told CNN. "Especially in his age group and in his, shall we say, weight group: ‘Morbidly obese,' they say. I don't think that's a good idea."
Mr Trump, 73, weighed 243lb (110kg) last year, with some doctors noting his Body Mass Index fell in excess of 30, which is considered clinically obese. A BMI of 40 or above is considered to be extreme, or "morbid", obesity.
Read more about hydroxychloroquine here.
The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in the UK soared to 2.1 million last month - and Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey says further rises in joblessness are likely.
"We should be prepared for the unemployment rate to increase significantly," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
But she denied that there was a "complete collapse in vacancies" as the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned, saying there were "substantial vacancies" in sectors such as retail and agriculture.
She also rejected claims that young people, who are particularly at risk of losing their jobs, would experience long-term "scarring" to their economic prospects.
"We need to focus exactly on how we can help people as we come out of this emergency," she said.
GPS tracking and video analysis are also being considered, with the Premier League eventually aiming to have an inspector at every training ground.
"That will enable us to give confidence the protocols are being complied with," said Richard Garlick, the league's director of football.
"We are looking at bringing in our own independent audit inspection team that we'll scale up over the next few days which will give us the ability to have inspections at training grounds to start with on a no-notice basis."
The global restrictions have touched everyone in some capacity, and Muslims in the UK have had to deal with both staying away from food and drink for 18 hours and mosques closing their doors.
Our colleague Shamoon Hafez hosted a Zoom call with dual-code New Zealand rugby international Sonny Bill Williams, England cricketer Adil Rashid and footballer Muhamed Besic - on loan at Sheffield United from Everton - to find out how they have been coping.
Jakarta police say they forced nearly 20,000 vehicles to turn back as migrant workers tried to return to their hometowns, defying a ban on that type of travel, known as mudik.
While the ban has been implemented since last month, the government recently reopened domestic transport but with limitations in place.
Eid, which falls on 24 May this year, is a major holiday in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation. Here, mudik travel would typically peak in the week prior to Eid.
Despite the ban, some people have still been finding ways to return to their villages and hometowns by hiding in the baggage store of a bus or under a truck.
In the past 24 days, Jakarta police officers, who have has set up checkpoints around the city, have forced 19,940 vehicles to return to the capital. This is an increase from more than 16,000 vehicles it recorded on May 10. Across Indonesia, more than 48,000 vehicles had been turned back at the borders of various provinces in Sumatra and Java.
Inter-island travel via sea ports is also on the rise. On Sunday night, 861 travellers managed to cross from Sumatra to Java, and they were escorted by authorities to their destinations in Java by buses, for free.
Indonesia had confirmed 18,010 Covid-19 cases and 1,191 virus-linked deaths as of Monday.
But this isn't the first time he's attacked the WHO. Our Reality Check team took a look into some of Trump's previous claims to find out if there was any truth to them:
Read more about Trump's claims here.
Lili Perspolisi's father, Reza Sedghi, was not seen by a doctor on the day he died from coronavirus, at his care home in northern Stockholm.
A nurse told her he'd had a morphine shot in the hours before he passed away, but he was not given oxygen, nor did staff call an ambulance. "No-one was there and he died alone," says Ms Perspolisi. "It's so unfair."
Most of the 3,698 people who have died from coronavirus in Sweden so far have been over 70, despite the fact that the country said shielding risk groups was its top priority.
Sweden did ban visits to care homes on 31 March. But as in many European countries, relatives, staff and union officials have shared concerns that protective clothing arrived too late, and that some staff may have gone to work at the start of the crisis, despite showing symptoms of Covid-19.
Read more here.
That's according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), which represents all of the major car makers in the bloc's market.
Across the first four months of the year, new registrations fell by 38.5%. The ACEA puts the sharp fall down to both manufacturing drawing to a halt and dealerships being closed for weeks.
More than 1.7 million people around the world are known to have recovered from coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University. But the road back to full health is not the same for everyone.
Recovery time will depend on how sick you became in the first place. Some people will shrug off the illness quickly, but for others it could leave lasting problems.
Age, gender and other health issues all increase the risk of becoming more seriously ill from Covid-19.
See here for more on how long Covid-19 recovery can take.
For the first time, people in England are being advised to wear face coverings in some enclosed spaces.
The Scottish government already recommends people wear them when in shops and on public transport.
Wearing a face covering can prevent an infected person passing on the virus, rather than stopping someone contracting it.
The government for England says:
See here for more information on who needs to wear masks, where you should wear them and how to make them.
The diplomatic row between China and the United States over the role of the World Health Organisation continues to escalate.
China’s foreign ministry has accused the Trump administration of attacking the United Nations body as a means of diverting attention from its own mishandling of the coronavirus crisis.
The US president has threatened to withdraw from the WHO if it doesn’t alter its operations within 30 days. Donald Trump said the organisation had shown an “alarming lack of independence” from China.
In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular press briefing that the US was trying to smear China in order to avoid its own responsibilities.
Mr Trump sent a letter to the head of the WHO threatening to pull US funding and outlining a 30-day deadline for the body to commit to "substantive improvements".
In it, Mr Trump says the WHO "consistently ignored reports of the virus spreading in Wuhan in early December 2019 or even earlier, including reports from the Lancet medical journal".
However, editor Richard Horton says The Lancet did not publish any report until 24 January.
In a tweet, he wrote: "Dear President Trump - You cite The Lancet in your attack on WHO. Please let me correct the record. The Lancet did not publish any report in early December, 2019, about a virus spreading in Wuhan. The first reports we published were from Chinese scientists on Jan 24, 2020."
Reality Check
President Trump has said he’s been taking hydroxychloroquine, a drug normally used to treat malaria, as a preventative measure against coronavirus.
Mr Trump first touted anti-malarial drugs in late March, causing a global surge in demand for the treatment most commonly used in developing countries. Prescriptions in the US have also soared.
The WHO says there is no definitive evidence it works against Covid-19 and that it’s concerned by reports of individuals self-medicating and causing themselves serious harm.
The Food and Drug Agency (FDA) warned in April of serious side effects, such as heart problems, and advised against its use outside of a hospital setting or clinical trials.
Many countries are conducting studies on the effectiveness of anti-malarial drugs against the virus.
See here for more on Covid-19 and hydroxychloroquine.
The numbers of deaths in care homes have fallen for the second week in a row, figures from the Office for National Statistics show.
In the week up to 8 May, there were 1,666 Covid-19 registered deaths in care homes in England and Wales. This is down from 2,423 the previous week.
The fall is exaggerated by the pause in death registrations on the Bank Holiday Friday, but is larger than would be caused by a single day of closures.
The number of deaths in care homes in England and Wales also fell from 6,409 to 4,248.
Read more on the care homes figures.
India and Bangladesh are evacuating millions of people from coastal areas ahead of a super cyclone, which is approaching from the Bay of Bengal.
Two Indian states - West Bengal and Odisha - are expected to be hit by Cyclone Amphan, along with parts of Bangladesh. It is forecast to make landfall in an area near the border of the two countries on Wednesday.
While both countries have a lot of experience dealing with cyclones that develop every year in the Bay of Bengal, the coronavirus outbreak is making the challenge of evacuating people harder this time.
Extra shelters have been prepared to allow for social distancing. Masks are also being distributed.
Read more
- The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in the UK soared last month, rising by 856,500 to 2.097m
- Work and pensions secretary tells BBC that Britain 'can cope' with unemployment surge
- Donald Trump renews attack on World Health Organization, calling it a "puppet of China"
- The US, the WHO's biggest donor, has already suspended its funding of the group
- The attack came after the WHO said an independent review would happen as soon as possible
- Mr Trump also says he is taking the unproven virus drug hydroxychloroquine
- France and Germany propose €500bn recovery fund for EU countries
- Police and protesters clash in Chilean capital Santiago, which has been in lockdown
- There have been 4.8m confirmed cases globally, with 320,000 deaths
Hello and a warm welcome back to our continued coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. We’re writing to you from Singapore this morning, and will be joined by our colleagues across Asia and London later on today. Here’s a quick glance at all that’s happened overnight:
- US President Trump has lashed out again at the World Health Organization (WHO), this time calling it a “puppet of China”. Trump has previously accused the WHO of failing to hold Beijing to account.
- Meanwhile the WHO agreed that it would hold a global review of its handling of the pandemic. Its decision making body, the World Health Assembly, is now holding its annual meeting
- And more Trump news coming your way. The US president said he is taking the unproven drug hydroxychloroquine as a preventive treatment for Covid-19, despite medical warnings about the use of the anti-malarial drug
- Over in Europe, France and Germany are proposing a €500bn European recovery fund be distributed to the worst affected EU countries. It’s a big step forward for Ms Merkel, who had previously rejected the idea of nations sharing debt
- Globally, more than 4.79 million people in the world have now been infected with the coronavirus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Total deaths stands at 318,303
Trump slams WHO as 'puppet of China'
US President Donald Trump has accused the World Health Organization of being a “puppet of China”. His comments come as the WHO is holding a two-day virtual meeting focussed on the global pandemic.He said the WHO "gave us a lot of very bad advice, terrible advice" and were "wrong so much and always on the side of China".
While Trump did not himself attend, the US health secretary joined via video, saying the WHO mishandled the crisis, costing “many lives”.
Trump, who has been criticised for his own handling of the pandemic, has repeatedly accused the WHO for failing to alert the world early enough and for putting too much trust in China. Trump has accused China of covering up the crisis at the beginning of the outbreak.
The US has already suspended its funding of the WHO, pending an investigation of the body's handling of the pandemic.
At the start of the WHO meeting on Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China was "open and transparent" and insisted that any investigation should happen after the pandemic was brought under control.
China angered by Wuhan writer's 'virus diary'
A diary written by an award-winning Chinese author documenting her life in the city of Wuhan - where the virus first emerged last year - has now been translated into English.In her diary entries, Fang Fang wrote about everything from the challenges of daily life to the physiological impact of forced isolation, providing millions in China with a rare glimpse into the city.
She emerged as an alternative voice to state media and many eagerly turned in to read her words, but public opinion turned against her after it was revealed that a US publisher was turning her words into a book.
She was seen instead not as a bearer of truth but a traitor to China, a woman capitalising on her fame - and even possibly a tragedy.
"She's seizing this time of national crisis and taking advantage [of it]," one user on Weibo had said. "Contemptible."
Read more about Fang Fang's story here.
Chile protesters clash with police over food
Protesters and police in the Chilean capital of Santiago have clashed amid tension over food shortages in lockdown.Local television showed police using tear gas and water cannons on protesters in El Bosque, who had earlier been throwing stones and setting fires.
District mayor Sadi Melo told local radio that the neighbourhood was facing a "very complex situation" because of "hunger and lack of work".
President Sebastián Piñera later pledged his government would provide 2.5 million baskets of food and other essentials over the next week or so.
Read more about the situation in Santiago here.
Recovery fund to 'unite the eurozone'
Here are some more details on the Europe recovery fund we mentioned.France and Germany have united in calling for €500bn ($545bn; £448bn) to be distributed amongst the EU countries worst affected by Covid-19.
The leaders of both countries Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel agreed that the funds should be provided as grants.
Mr Macron said it was a major step forward and was "what the eurozone needs to remain united".
Merkel said the European Commission would raise money for the fund by borrowing on the markets. This would be repaid gradually from the EU's overall budget.
The move marks a major step forward for Merkel, who had earlier rejected the idea of nations sharing debt.
Find out more about the proposed fund here.
Australia death toll hits 100
Australia has now recorded 100 deaths from the virus, says the national broadcaster ABC.The latest victim is a 93-year-old woman who had been a resident at an aged care home in Sydney, where there's been a super cluster of cases. 19 people have now died at the home.
Australia's figures for deaths and reported cases are still far lower than other Western nations, with about 7,000 confirmed cases.
Trump taking unproven drug against virus
Peter Bowes - North America correspondentUS President Donald Trump has been promoting, for several weeks, the use of hydroxychloroquine, as a drug that may lessen the symptoms of the coronavirus. The president, who is 73, said he was given the go ahead by the White House doctor to take the drug, even though there is no medical evidence that it helps patients recover from the disease.
Last month the US Food and Drug Administration said hydroxychloroquine had "not been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing Covid-19.” It issued a warning that some people could suffer serious heart rhythm problems as a result of taking it in combination with other drugs.
Trump, who says he hasn’t shown any symptoms of the disease, made his surprise announcement following a meeting with restaurant executives, about the impact of the virus.
The president’s comments stunned even his most ardent supporters. Immediately following Mr Trump's remarks, a presenter on the Fox News network, which is generally politically aligned with the president, issued a stern warning to his viewers. Citing a government study, Neil Cavuto said the drug would kill people with vulnerable conditions such as respiratory problems and heart ailments.
Read our piece by the Reality Check team on what we know for sure about this drug.
Mountains of potatoes and rotten cheese
Coronavirus leads to food industry crisis in EuropeLike in much of the rest of the world, Europe's food and agriculture industry is badly affected by the global pandemic.
Half of the fishermen in the Netherlands have stopped going out to sea because the price of fresh fish has plummeted due to a lack of demand.
In France, 150,000 tonnes of high quality cheese went off last week, because farmers can’t sell it.
And many of the warehouses that store fresh food across Europe are now reaching capacity.
Trump gives WHO a 30 day deadline
US President Donald Trump has given the World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus a 30 day deadline to make "major changes" - or the US would permanently cut off funding to the organisation.In a tweet, Mr Trump published his full letter to Mr Ghebreyesus, in which he criticised the WHO for not doing enough, saying it "consistently ignored credible reports of the virus spreading" late last year in Wuhan.
He also called out the WHO for repeatedly "praising" China, saying the only way forward for it was to "demonstrate independence from China".
He added that if the WHO did not "commit to major substantive improvements", he would "make his temporary freeze of US funding permanent and reconsider our membership".
The full letter can be found here.
India infections hit 100,000
Good morning from India, where the population has woken up to the grim news that reported Covid-19 infections in the country have now exceeded 100,000 cases.Local media are calling the milestone a "grim reminder" of the challenge faced by the world's second-most populous country.
Significantly, the news comes a day after state governments announced considerable relaxations to a lockdown put in place to curb the spread of the virus.
Despite the lockdown being eased, infections in the country are continuing to rise, which some experts have said is cause for concern as more people begin interacting with each other. This is in contrast to a number of European countries who seem to have passed a peak in infections.
Some predictions are that cases in India will peak only by July - the speed at which that happens will likely depend on how successfully social distancing is maintained.
How Australia's PM rebuilt his reputation
Frances Mao - SydneyAustralia has had success stemming the spread of the virus - and that success has directly boosted the image of its leader Scott Morrison.
Just a few months ago he was deeply unpopular, blasted for his inaction during the bushfires crisis. (He took a secret holiday to Hawaii while the nation was burning).
Voters questioned his judgement; some famously even refused to shake his hand.
However with this health crisis, things have been different. He listened to the science, and made quick, decisive calls. Australia's curve flattened as a result.
How much credit does he deserve? And can he keep up the support?
Read more in my piece here.
Brazil overtakes UK in virus cases
Brazil has overtaken the UK in numbers of reported virus infections and now has the third-highest toll of cases following the US and Russia. There are more than 255,000 confirmed infections.The country's death toll stands at 16,853, the sixth-highest toll in the world. Observers fear that the actual numbers of both deaths and infections might be much higher.
Brazil is deeply divided over how to respond to the crisis. While regional governors have implemented lockdown measures, President Jair Bolsonaro argues the lockdown does more harm than the virus itself.
On Monday, residents of one of Sao Paulo's largest favelas staged a rally to demand the government do more to protect them from the pandemic. The city has been under lockdown since March but many in the favelas have no option to stay safely at home.
Tracking the global outbreak
There are now close to 4.8 million people worldwide who have been infected with the virus. Just under 1.8 million of those have recovered but 318,465 people have died.You can track the global outbreak on a special BBC page where we keep you updated on how the virus spreads, where there are clusters around the world, where the virus is still peaking and where numbers are already on the decline.
If you just want a quick glance at the numbers, you can get that at the Johns Hopkins University where data from around the globe is constantly being updated.
Shock as Trump reveals hydroxychloroquine use
President Trump's announcement that he has been taking hydroxychloroquine - a malaria drug - to stave off the coronavirus has caused a flurry of shock, surprise and in some instances - horror.Scientists have said there is no definitive evidence the drug works when used in treatment of patients with Covid-19. There are also risks of serious side effects, including renal and liver damage.
"I'm a scientist. I don't care about your political preferences but please don't take hydroxychloroquine. It's quite harmful and statistically is not likely to help you recover from Covid-19," said one person on Twitter.
Following Mr Trump's reference to the drugs in late March, there was a sharp increase reported in prescriptions in the US for both chloroquine and hydrochloroquine, although demand has since declined.
Some who rely on the medication posted pictures of themselves having to go without the drug, as a result of increased demand:
:tweet: :Left Quotes: Lisa Braun Dubbels:
This is what happens when lupus patients have to ration hydroxychloroquine.
Vaccine research: Jab can train immune system
The first hints that a vaccine can train people's immune system to fight coronavirus have been reported by a company in the US.Moderna said neutralising antibodies were found in the first eight people who took part in their safety trials. It also said the immune response was similar to people infected with the actual virus.
Larger trials to see whether the jab actually protects against infection are expected to start in July.
Work on a coronavirus vaccine has been taking place at unprecedented speed, with around 80 groups around the world working on them.
A vaccine would provide some protection by training people's immune systems to fight the virus so they should not become sick. This would allow lockdowns to be lifted more safely, and social distancing to be relaxed.
More from Trump's letter to WHO
President Trump has made some pretty bold claims in the four-page letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) that he put out on Twitter earlier.Much of the letter centers around the same message that he's been saying for a while - highlighting what he says is the organisation's "alarming lack of independence from China".
Here are some of the claims in the letter:
- Trump claims that China's President Xi Jinping reportedly pressured the WHO into not declaring the virus outbreak an emergency. He says the WHO caved into this pressure but was later forced to reverse course
- He says the WHO has been "curiously insistent" on praising China for its transparency throughout the virus outbreak, despite the fact that China until now, refuses to "share accurate and timely data"
- Trump refers to several incidents in China where Africans reportedly faced discrimination after it was revealed that two Nigerians tested positive for the virus. He said the government failed to comment on these "racially discriminatory actions"
The WHO has previously said it acted properly in accordance with the information it was given by China, sharing it with medical and scientific experts around the world, including from the US.
Read more from the BBC's Reality Check team who have previously looked into some of the charges President Trump has levelled against the WHO.
Cyclone Amphan raises fears for India virus migrants
The last thing anyone needs in the middle of a pandemic is a super cyclone.But that's exactly what India is gearing up to contend with - millions are being evacuated and relief teams are on the ground as Cyclone Amphan bears down on its eastern coast. Two states - West Bengal and Odisha (formerly Orissa) are expected to be affected.
This has raised fears for the tens of thousands of migrants making their way back to villages from the cities, fleeing a harsh lockdown put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Many made the journey on foot after train and bus services were halted. Although special transport has been arranged in recent weeks, demand is so high many are continuing to walk. Evacuation arrangements are underway, but it is unclear if people currently in affected areas will be able to take shelter in time.
Amphan has intensified in strength over the last few days and is currently expected to make landfall as an "extremely severe" cyclonic storm. It is currently a "super cyclonic storm" but will likely slow down before it makes landfall.
New Zealand ponders extra holiday to boost tourism
The government of New Zealand is considering giving an additional holiday to boost domestic tourism. According to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, it's one potential idea for how to help the economy.Tourism is a major economic sector in the country but with no international visitors, the industry is suffering badly.
"My message to Kiwis is, come and experience your own backyard and come and experience the cultural and hospitality here in Aotearoa," Ardern said on Tuesday.
New Zealand has over the past weeks eased what was one of the world's toughest lockdowns and the government says the virus is "currently eliminated" in the country.
The couple stranded 8,000km from their baby
Valeria Perasso - Social Affairs correspondent, BBC World Service
Manuel - or Manu, as his parents call him - was born on 30 March
When Flavia Lavorino decided to have a baby through surrogacy, she looked Ukraine up on a map and calculated the distance.
Some 12,800km (8,000 miles) separate Buenos Aires, in Argentina, from the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
"This was our last resort. We had stopped trying when we heard from a co-worker about trying for a baby through a gestational carrier in Ukraine, and we jumped at it," says Flavia.
Little could she predict that by the time the baby was born she would be stranded on the other side of the Atlantic due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Her son Manuel is now seven weeks old, but they have yet to meet him.
Read more
Australia dealt barley trade hit by China
This morning, Australia was dealt another blow from its biggest trading partner, China. Barley exports will now face an 80% tariff from Beijing, their main market. For Canberra, it's the unhappy result of a years-long trade dispute and they may appeal to the World Trade Organization.But stepping back from the trade matter, Australian observers are also fearing that this move is retribution for virus matters.
Australia has been pushing for a global inquiry into the virus' origin and spread - against China's wishes. The campaign has gained momentum - with the EU now on board too and advocating a review through the World Health Organization.
China has denied that its trade move is linked to that, but there is alarm in Australia. Last week, its four top beef producers had their China imports suspended. And last month, China's ambassador warned of a consumer boycott if Australia continued with the inquiry.
Canberra called this a threat of "economic coercion". It's vowed to stick with its values, and go ahead with the probe.
If you are just joining us... welcome
Good morning from the UK team if you are just joining our live updates on the coronavirus pandemic.Some countries, including in Europe, have begun to partially relax their lockdowns but for others, like India and Brazil, the crisis is very much still developing. Debate over responsibility for tackling the pandemic rages on, with the Trump administration launching a fresh attack on the World Health Organization.
Stay with us for news as it breaks, analysis and colour from correspondents, and the latest advice on how to keep safe.
Unemployment figures show 'major impact' of virus in UK
UK unemployment figures for the three months of the year to the end of March - covering the first week of the lockdown - have been published.They show unemployment increased by 50,000 to 1.35 million in the three months to March.
"While only covering the first weeks of restrictions, our figures show Covid-19 is having a major impact on the labour market," says Jonathan Athow, from the Office for National Statistics, which released the data.
"In March employment held up well, as furloughed workers still count as employed, but hours worked fell sharply in late March, especially in sectors such as hospitality and construction.
"Through April, though, there were signs of falling employment as real-time tax data show the number of employees on companies' payrolls fell noticeably, and vacancies were sharply down too, with hospitality again falling steepest."
Pakistan's students finally return from Wuhan
A specially commissioned Pakistan International Airways flight has touched down in Islamabad, ending an ordeal for more than 200 students who were stuck for months in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the pandemic first emerged.The Pakistani students had been pleading to be evacuated from the city, but the country had refused to do so, saying it had faith in the Chinese government to look after them.
The case caused anger in Pakistan, with many critics saying that the country was capitulating to political pressure from Beijing.
The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis, Zulfiqar Bukhari, had tweeted earlier, calling the students "the bravest soldiers" and welcoming them home.
India lockdown 4.0: What is allowed in your city?
With India extending its lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus until 31 May, states have been given more autonomy to ease restrictions.So depending on which city you live in, what you can and can't do in this period is likely to significantly vary.
In the capital Delhi for instance, taxis, private cars and auto-rickshaws can ply their trade between 07:00 and 19:00, while shops and marketplaces are also open
But in Mumbai, which has nearly 20,000 cases of Covid-19, almost nothing is allowed as most of the city has been put into containment or "red" zones.
Click here to find out more about restrictions in these two cities, as well as Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata.
'Grossly irresponsible' for US to cut off WHO funding
It would be "grossly irresponsible" for the US to withdraw funding from the World Health Organization, says former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.It comes after President Donald Trump gave WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus a 30-day deadline to make "major changes" - threatening that the US would permanently cut off funding to the organisation.
“For the United States to comprehensively withdraw funding would mean the effectiveness of the WHO - particularly in developing countries, where the virus is yet to have its full impact - would be grossly irresponsible in international humanitarian terms," Mr Rudd told BBC World Service.
"Remember in various of these countries the WHO goes in and advises and/or provides direct material help and the setting up of health systems to deal with the crisis on the ground.”
In a tweet, Mr Trump published his full letter to Dr Tedros, in which he criticised the WHO for not doing enough, saying it "consistently ignored credible reports of the virus spreading" late last year in Wuhan.
:tweet: :Left Quotes: Donald J. Trump:
BBC's George Alagiah on living with coronavirus and cancer
BBC newsreader George Alagiah, who is being treated for bowel cancer, revealed last month he had a mild case of coronavirus.
As a cancer patient, he underwent tests after developing a fever – and a few days later his oncologist rang to say he had tested positive for the virus.
First virus cases in Myanmar's troubled Rakhine
Nyein Chan Aye - BBC News BurmeseA 35-year-old man who returned from Malaysia tested positive on Monday, marking the first Covid-19 case in Myanmar's conflict-torn Rakhine state.
Another migrant worker in Rakhine state has also since been diagnosed with the disease. Both were quarantined at a government facility before being tested.
The situation in Rakhine is already grave. More than 100,000 residents have been displaced as a result of the conflict between the military and rebel group Arakan Army.
The government has intermittently imposed an internet blackout in several townships since last year, and aid groups are warning of the high risk of large-scale community spread of coronavirus.
So far Myanmar has recorded 191 cases and six deaths have officially been linked to the virus.
Pelosi: 'Morbidly obese' Trump should not take hydroxychloroquine
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she would rather President Donald Trump did not take hydroxychloroquine, labelling him "morbidly obese".Mr Trump has said he is taking the medication to ward off coronavirus, even though there is no evidence it can fight the virus, and regulators warn it may cause heart problems.
“I would rather he not be taking something that has not been approved by the scientists," Pelosi told CNN. "Especially in his age group and in his, shall we say, weight group: ‘Morbidly obese,' they say. I don't think that's a good idea."
Mr Trump, 73, weighed 243lb (110kg) last year, with some doctors noting his Body Mass Index fell in excess of 30, which is considered clinically obese. A BMI of 40 or above is considered to be extreme, or "morbid", obesity.
Read more about hydroxychloroquine here.
Prepare for more UK unemployment increases, minister says
Today Programme - BBC Radio 4The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in the UK soared to 2.1 million last month - and Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey says further rises in joblessness are likely.
"We should be prepared for the unemployment rate to increase significantly," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
But she denied that there was a "complete collapse in vacancies" as the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned, saying there were "substantial vacancies" in sectors such as retail and agriculture.
She also rejected claims that young people, who are particularly at risk of losing their jobs, would experience long-term "scarring" to their economic prospects.
"We need to focus exactly on how we can help people as we come out of this emergency," she said.
Premier League clubs could face surprise inspections
England's Premier League football clubs have been given the green light to begin non-contact training in small groups from today but could face surprise inspections to ensure they adhere to new safety guidance.GPS tracking and video analysis are also being considered, with the Premier League eventually aiming to have an inspector at every training ground.
"That will enable us to give confidence the protocols are being complied with," said Richard Garlick, the league's director of football.
"We are looking at bringing in our own independent audit inspection team that we'll scale up over the next few days which will give us the ability to have inspections at training grounds to start with on a no-notice basis."
How are sports stars dealing with Ramadan during lockdown?
Muslims around the world are observing Ramadan, when they fast during daylight hours - but how are sport's big names getting on with it during lockdown?The global restrictions have touched everyone in some capacity, and Muslims in the UK have had to deal with both staying away from food and drink for 18 hours and mosques closing their doors.
Our colleague Shamoon Hafez hosted a Zoom call with dual-code New Zealand rugby international Sonny Bill Williams, England cricketer Adil Rashid and footballer Muhamed Besic - on loan at Sheffield United from Everton - to find out how they have been coping.
Indonesians find ways to return home despite travel ban
Resty Woro Yuniar - BBC News, JakartaJakarta police say they forced nearly 20,000 vehicles to turn back as migrant workers tried to return to their hometowns, defying a ban on that type of travel, known as mudik.
While the ban has been implemented since last month, the government recently reopened domestic transport but with limitations in place.
Eid, which falls on 24 May this year, is a major holiday in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation. Here, mudik travel would typically peak in the week prior to Eid.
Despite the ban, some people have still been finding ways to return to their villages and hometowns by hiding in the baggage store of a bus or under a truck.
In the past 24 days, Jakarta police officers, who have has set up checkpoints around the city, have forced 19,940 vehicles to return to the capital. This is an increase from more than 16,000 vehicles it recorded on May 10. Across Indonesia, more than 48,000 vehicles had been turned back at the borders of various provinces in Sumatra and Java.
Inter-island travel via sea ports is also on the rise. On Sunday night, 861 travellers managed to cross from Sumatra to Java, and they were escorted by authorities to their destinations in Java by buses, for free.
Indonesia had confirmed 18,010 Covid-19 cases and 1,191 virus-linked deaths as of Monday.
Is Trump right about the WHO?
US President Trump has now levelled some pretty strong charges against the World Health Organization, accusing them in a four-page letter of an "alarming lack of independence from China".But this isn't the first time he's attacked the WHO. Our Reality Check team took a look into some of Trump's previous claims to find out if there was any truth to them:
- "One of the most dangerous decisions... from the WHO was... to oppose travel restrictions. They actually fought us": The US restricted travel from China and other countries from 2 February. But there is no record of the WHO publicly criticising this move. It had, however, on 10 January put out advice recommending no international travel restrictions in response to the virus
- "The WHO [is] largely funded by the US, yet is very China-centric": The US is one of the biggest contributors to the WHO, accounting for just under 15% of its funding last year. But the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is also a major contributor, as are the UK and Germany
Read more about Trump's claims here.
What's going wrong in Sweden's care homes?
Maddy Savage - BBC News, StockholmLili Perspolisi's father, Reza Sedghi, was not seen by a doctor on the day he died from coronavirus, at his care home in northern Stockholm.
A nurse told her he'd had a morphine shot in the hours before he passed away, but he was not given oxygen, nor did staff call an ambulance. "No-one was there and he died alone," says Ms Perspolisi. "It's so unfair."
Most of the 3,698 people who have died from coronavirus in Sweden so far have been over 70, despite the fact that the country said shielding risk groups was its top priority.
Sweden did ban visits to care homes on 31 March. But as in many European countries, relatives, staff and union officials have shared concerns that protective clothing arrived too late, and that some staff may have gone to work at the start of the crisis, despite showing symptoms of Covid-19.
Read more here.
EU car sales collapse by 76%
The coronavirus pandemic has led to a collapse in car sales across the European Union. In April only around 271,000 new cars were registered, 76% fewer than in the same month last year.That's according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), which represents all of the major car makers in the bloc's market.
Across the first four months of the year, new registrations fell by 38.5%. The ACEA puts the sharp fall down to both manufacturing drawing to a halt and dealerships being closed for weeks.
How long does it take to recover?
James Gallagher - Health and science correspondent, BBC NewsMore than 1.7 million people around the world are known to have recovered from coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University. But the road back to full health is not the same for everyone.
Recovery time will depend on how sick you became in the first place. Some people will shrug off the illness quickly, but for others it could leave lasting problems.
Age, gender and other health issues all increase the risk of becoming more seriously ill from Covid-19.
See here for more on how long Covid-19 recovery can take.
Who should wear a face mask or face covering?
Michelle Roberts - Health editor, BBC News onlineFor the first time, people in England are being advised to wear face coverings in some enclosed spaces.
The Scottish government already recommends people wear them when in shops and on public transport.
Wearing a face covering can prevent an infected person passing on the virus, rather than stopping someone contracting it.
The government for England says:
- People should aim to wear face coverings on public transport and in some shops
- Also in other "enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible and they come into contact with others that they do not normally meet"
- "Social distancing" means staying more than two metres away from someone
- Face coverings should be worn and not surgical masks or respirators, which should be left for healthcare staff and other workers who need them
See here for more information on who needs to wear masks, where you should wear them and how to make them.
China accuses US of smear attempt
Stephen McDonell - BBC News, China correspondentThe diplomatic row between China and the United States over the role of the World Health Organisation continues to escalate.
China’s foreign ministry has accused the Trump administration of attacking the United Nations body as a means of diverting attention from its own mishandling of the coronavirus crisis.
The US president has threatened to withdraw from the WHO if it doesn’t alter its operations within 30 days. Donald Trump said the organisation had shown an “alarming lack of independence” from China.
In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular press briefing that the US was trying to smear China in order to avoid its own responsibilities.
Trump letter inaccurate, says medical report editor
A letter from Donald Trump criticising the World Health Organization's response to the coronavirus is inaccurate, says the editor of a medical report cited by the US president.Mr Trump sent a letter to the head of the WHO threatening to pull US funding and outlining a 30-day deadline for the body to commit to "substantive improvements".
In it, Mr Trump says the WHO "consistently ignored reports of the virus spreading in Wuhan in early December 2019 or even earlier, including reports from the Lancet medical journal".
However, editor Richard Horton says The Lancet did not publish any report until 24 January.
In a tweet, he wrote: "Dear President Trump - You cite The Lancet in your attack on WHO. Please let me correct the record. The Lancet did not publish any report in early December, 2019, about a virus spreading in Wuhan. The first reports we published were from Chinese scientists on Jan 24, 2020."
:tweet: :Left Quotes: richard horton:
Dear President Trump - You cite The Lancet in your attack on WHO. Please let me correct the record. The Lancet did not publish any report in early December, 2019, about a virus spreading in Wuhan. The first reports we published were from Chinese scientists on Jan 24, 2020.
Hydroxychloroquine: Is there evidence it works?
Reality CheckPresident Trump has said he’s been taking hydroxychloroquine, a drug normally used to treat malaria, as a preventative measure against coronavirus.
Mr Trump first touted anti-malarial drugs in late March, causing a global surge in demand for the treatment most commonly used in developing countries. Prescriptions in the US have also soared.
The WHO says there is no definitive evidence it works against Covid-19 and that it’s concerned by reports of individuals self-medicating and causing themselves serious harm.
The Food and Drug Agency (FDA) warned in April of serious side effects, such as heart problems, and advised against its use outside of a hospital setting or clinical trials.
Many countries are conducting studies on the effectiveness of anti-malarial drugs against the virus.
See here for more on Covid-19 and hydroxychloroquine.
Deaths in English and Welsh care homes continue to fall
Robert Cuffe - BBC head of statisticsThe numbers of deaths in care homes have fallen for the second week in a row, figures from the Office for National Statistics show.
In the week up to 8 May, there were 1,666 Covid-19 registered deaths in care homes in England and Wales. This is down from 2,423 the previous week.
The fall is exaggerated by the pause in death registrations on the Bank Holiday Friday, but is larger than would be caused by a single day of closures.
The number of deaths in care homes in England and Wales also fell from 6,409 to 4,248.
Read more on the care homes figures.
Preparing for a super cyclone during a pandemic
Yogita Limaye - BBC India correspondentIndia and Bangladesh are evacuating millions of people from coastal areas ahead of a super cyclone, which is approaching from the Bay of Bengal.
Two Indian states - West Bengal and Odisha - are expected to be hit by Cyclone Amphan, along with parts of Bangladesh. It is forecast to make landfall in an area near the border of the two countries on Wednesday.
While both countries have a lot of experience dealing with cyclones that develop every year in the Bay of Bengal, the coronavirus outbreak is making the challenge of evacuating people harder this time.
Extra shelters have been prepared to allow for social distancing. Masks are also being distributed.
Read more
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