bbc--2020-04-22--Face masks to be compulsory across Germany

All of Germany 's states have announced plans to make face masks compulsory to combat the spread of coronavirus .
Bremen became the final federal region to back the measures , with its senate set to confirm the decision on Friday .
Mask use will be compulsory on public transport throughout Germany , and nearly all states will also make face coverings mandatory when shopping .
Chancellor Angela Merkel strongly recommended their use last week when she eased lockdown rules nationwide .
• Why some countries wear face masks and others don't Different countries have issued different guidance on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them compulsory when shopping at the start of this month , but on Wednesday Switzerland confirmed it would not make its citizens wear masks as it loosened its restrictions .
Germany 's Robert Koch Institute ( RKI ) has confirmed 145,694 cases and recorded 4,879 deaths in total .
Wednesday 's data showed a second consecutive day that new infections rose , with 281 deaths compared with 194 reported on Tuesday .
Johns Hopkins University in the US puts the number of German deaths at 5,117 .
Germany 's federal vaccines institute approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humans on Wednesday .
About 200 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 55 will be tested with variants of the drug , developed by US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German company BioNTech .
Scientists at the University of Oxford are set to start trials on humans on Thursday , the UK government says .
Separate trials are also taking place in the US city of Seattle .
• How close to developing a vaccine are we ?
What are the rules in Germany ?
The new rules come into force in most states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local legislatures .
But where face masks will be required differs from state .
All 16 states will make facial coverings a necessity on public transport .
But in Berlin , it will not be compulsory to wear a mask when shopping .
This is also the case in the northern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania : that state has announced a fine of €25 ( £22 ; $ 27 ) for anyone caught without one on public transport .
Other states have yet to specify punishments .
Rhineland-Palatinate in the south-west says pupils @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slowly start to return to school at the beginning of May , while in Bavaria masks are mandatory for everyone aged seven and over from Monday .
Even the type of mask is not consistently specified .
Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann of Baden-Württemberg has said medical masks should be reserved for health workers , while scarves or cloth covers would be sufficient for people on the street .
Many state leaders had previously questioned the need to impose the measures on residents .
Thuringia 's premier , Bodo Ramelow , said that as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures , his eastern state had decided to follow suit .
Mr Ramelow , however , also said mask usage could create a false sense of security for wearers .
Are masks becoming compulsory elsewhere ?
Since the outbreak began , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) has consistently said only the ill and those caring for the ill need to wear masks .
Research suggests they are not as effective as frequent hand washing with soap and water , and can give users false confidence .
But a number of states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compulsory on public transport and in shops , including Austria , Czech Republic and Slovakia .
Others have begun handing out masks to commuters , such as Spain .
France has promised to produce enough masks for all its residents should they wish to wear one .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

Rhineland-Palatinate in the south-west says pupils will be given reusable masks as they slowly start to return to school at the beginning of May, while in Bavaria masks are mandatory for everyone aged seven and over from Monday.


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus lockdown: Living with my parents under new house rules

What 's life like under lockdown for a university student who has moved back in with her family ?
Hi , my name is Madeleine Hordinski , I 'm 22 , and I 'm living at home with my parents and my 17-year-old sister in Cincinnati , Ohio .
20 March : I went on a social-distancing walk with my boyfriend , Krishna Nelson , in my neighbourhood , Walnut Hills .
We did not get any closer than six feet for the mile-long walk .
The distance between me and my friends and me and my boyfriend right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boyfriend and I have actually been in a long-distance relationship for almost four years now , we go to school three hours apart .
We asked three young Americans to chronicle their very different experiences of the pandemic .
We 'll also hear from Miguel , 21 , who lives in San Francisco , and Ana , an 18-year-old high school student from the Bronx in New York .
And now that I 'm home in Cincinnati where he goes to school , we 're kind of in this weird close-distance relationship where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it 's outside and it 's from a distance .
And so I think it 's been really difficult not knowing when we 're actually going to be able to hang out together again .
29 March : We have new rules in our house because of quarantine .
As soon as I get home from work I wash my clothes and I take a shower and hand sanitise profusely , always .
I 've been freelancing for PBS , and I 'm covering a story that looks at how lower-income families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 've been going to a homeless shelter and have been interacting with families - I have been doing everything I can to be as safe as possible I 'm also still at school at Ohio University attending online classes .
30 March : My sister and I drove to Mt Adams today since it was in the 60s ( around 15C ) - it 's a neighbourhood in Cincinnati with one of the best views of downtown , so we sat with the windows down to enjoy the view .
With regards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has happened recently , too .
Just today , a bunch of employees tested positive for coronavirus at the Cincinnati Children 's Hospital , which is I guess not shocking , but still really scary .
So it 's just getting closer and closer to home .
We have more cases here everyday , obviously , and more people dying as well .
So I 've been pretty much staying at home , spending a lot of time with my sister .
8 April : Sabina and her friend Avery , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high school , Walnut Hills , to do a social distancing workout around the track .
My sister is having a hard time missing out on the milestones of her final year of high school , and trying to stay motivated with all classes moved online .
`` Sometimes it 's hard to not feel so isolated , '' she says .
I 'm feeling a lot more comfortable this week being quarantined .
Not as overwhelmed and exhausted as I 've felt in the past .
But it is obviously really scary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it around the US , because it is a lot different state by state and city by city .
11 April : We ate pizza and salad for dinner before having a movie night .
My sister and my dad set up the screen for the projector before our social distancing movie night with our neighbours .
We watched Monsters , Inc. since we have four young neighbours .
13 April : My dad is a professional musician , he writes and plays guitar for people and he also teaches at the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all that is online .
He also has a recording studio across from our house where he works , and he is still writing music .
14 April : My mom is an outreach coordinator at a local high school in Cincinnati and her job is to coordinate volunteer opportunities with her students .
She 's been working on sewing masks using old curtains , clothes and rags .
She plans to send the masks to family and friends .
A teacher at my mom 's school died suddenly last week .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus and came as a huge shock to my mom 's school community .
Since the teacher 's family could n't hold a funeral because of the pandemic , over 100 people showed up in cars to drive by her house to show their love and support .
My mom made a special poster for the family and put it in her car window .
Her sign said 'Praying for you , our hearts are with you ' .
It was just really cool to see how the community came together .
My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all this started too because I think I 've become more attentive to how much I value my relationship with my sister .
We 've been doing so much together like running , cooking , dancing , so many things .
You know we still annoy each other but yeah it 's been nice spending a lot more time with her .
I think my family dynamics have changed too , everyone 's has .
I think probably subconsciously we 've been really good at giving each other space during the day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work or to spend time alone .
And then at the end of the day we all get together and we eat dinner , sometimes we play a game , hang out with our neighbours from afar or just watch a movie .
It 's been incredible to see how kind people have been to each other , and how inventive people have been , too .
I 've loved seeing how musicians have walked down the street playing songs for everyone , or people have projected movies onto the side of apartment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a movie together from afar .
My little neighbour ( who lives on the left side of the building ) named Matilda turned five years old and had an ocean-themed birthday with her family .
So my boyfriend , who owns a balloon company , brought over ocean-coloured balloons for her .
I think people are really coming together in a way they have n't in a while , and that 's been really cool to see .

And now that I'm home in Cincinnati where he goes to school, we're kind of in this weird close-distance relationship where we see each other more often, but it's outside and it's from a distance. And so I think it's been really difficult not knowing when we're actually going to be able to hang out together again.


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Ukrainian town sealed off after monastery outbreak

Police have stopped people going in and out of the Ukrainian town of Pochayiv after an outbreak at one of the largest Orthodox monasteries in Eastern Europe .
Dozens of people including priests have contracted coronavirus and some have died in the town where the 500-year-old Pochayiv Lavra is situated .
It is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites for Orthodox Christians from the whole region .
Authorities had already sealed off another ancient Orthodox shrine .
Some 150 people contracted the virus at the the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra , one of the best-known Orthodox shrines in Ukraine and Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Pochayiv in western Ukraine on Tuesday and the monastery , which is inside the town but surrounded by an ancient wall , was closed to the public .
Pochayiv Lavra ( monastery ) belongs to the Ukrainian branch of the Russian Orthodox Church .
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visit every year from Poland , Moldova , Russia , Belarus and as far away as Bulgaria .
Monastery authorities had denied there had been an outbreak but as long ago as late March the president of Moldova , Igor Dodon , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contracted Covid-19 .
The town of Pochayiv has a population of 8,000 people and it is thought that priests will have had contact with many of the residents .
Ukraine 's government has not had access to the premises to conduct testing .
But , over time , rumours emerged that an increasing number of monks had become infected and died .
The monastery denied that was the case .
But the situation changed last week when four priests who live in the town tested positive for coronavirus .
Before the Orthodox Easter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to close its doors to public for the holiday , making clear the monastery had infected people living there .
However , hundreds of believers visited in defiance of a police ban .
On 20 April , it was reported that 13 new coronavirus patients were diagnosed in the town , including priests who had visited the monastery .
A 43-year-old woman has died .
`` Regional authorities have made the decision to completely block the town from 22 April , '' Volodymyr Stefanskyi , the head of the council , told BBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had an outbreak but on Tuesday the monastery told worshippers : `` Take away the children , you should all leave Lavra .
Nobody walks through the territory .
If we do not , there will be great trouble . ''
The monastery provides work for many residents in Pochayiv so it is thought authorities have been reluctant to put pressure on its leaders .
More than 80 % of Ukrainians consider themselves Orthodox .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look after your mental health

Lavra leaders denied they had an outbreak but on Tuesday the monastery told worshippers: "Take away the children, you should all leave Lavra. Nobody walks through the territory. If we do not, there will be great trouble."


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Stories of unemployment, fear and hope in the US

Every Thursday morning , the US receives a fresh jolt of economic gloom when the jobless figures are released .
These are the stories and faces behind the numbers and headlines .
The coronavirus outbreak has had a devastating effect on the US economy .
More than 20 million Americans filed for unemployment in the last five weeks , while a $ 349bn loan programme for small businesses ran out of money within two weeks .
The statistics are staggering - but there 's a human story behind each of the numbers , too .
Here are the stories of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves unexpectedly affected by the pandemic .
I was a primate keeper at Brookfield Zoo .
The field is super competitive - you need a four-year based science degree , and typically you have to do at least three unpaid internships before you get a paid position - but it 's definitely worth it .
It 's the first time I 've been laid off .
It came as a shock - zookeeping is generally considered a secure job once you 're in , and our supervisors had told us that keepers were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day to day care .
I was furloughed since I was the least senior person .
My husband was furloughed two weeks before me - he 's in the restaurant industry .
It 's stressful - luckily we got our stimulus cheques , so that helps .
Now I need to decide `` what bills can I pay and what should I try to put off ?
Should I pay off my student loans ? ''
It 's stressful to know I may never go back to the zoo again .
I worry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I worked for Westside Lexus car dealership , doing maintenance , repairs and replacing parts , for 11 years .
We were furloughed in April , and the hair salon my wife owns is shut too .
This is the first time in my life in America that I 've had no job .
I 've been an auto technician for over 30 years .
Two weeks ago , my manager texted me to make sure I was doing OK , which made me feel better - it showed he still remembered us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - the system kept logging out , and it took me several days to input all the information .
I finally received my first payment a few days ago .
We do n't really have enough right now - previously , we had another salon , and then Hurricane Harvey destroyed the area , so we lost a lot of money .
But , praise the Lord , we still have peace .
Now , I help my wife clean the house , and we 're trying to make cotton masks to donate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I both have asthma , so we 're doing it slowly .
I 've owned the salon for over 25 years , and we 've never had to close in such a way before .
Business got really slow the week before we closed - normally we 'd have 30-50 customers a day , but by then we only had five a day .
It 's so scary .
I still have to pay rent for the salon - so things are very tight .
My husband and I got our stimulus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little bit with the bills .
We 're waiting for retail businesses to re-open , but it 's complicated because we ca n't keep a six-feet distance from clients .
We 'll need to wear a mask or face shield , limit the number of clients inside , and sanitise after each client .
I think things wo n't be the same , even after restrictions are lifted .
Rachel Sterner , 35 , stage manager for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , New York I loved my job - it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the show , and it 's a challenging and beautiful show .
On 12 March , we were told all Broadway shows would close for 30 days .
At the time , a shut down of 30 days just seemed unfathomable .
Right now I 'm trying to work on a side hustle - teaching myself Photoshop and doing some online work .
Working in theatre means being laid off is not a foreign concept - but normally , if you lose a job , you can get on another project .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be work for a long time , especially for new projects .
Even if we do a show at half-capacity , who knows how long it 'll be till tourists come back , and people have disposable income for the theatre ?
I 'm lucky that my show is big - but I know so many productions that wo n't be able to weather this , and it 's heart-breaking .
The outbreak totally shut me down .
At first we thought maybe we could make batch cocktails and sell them prepackaged , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For now , I run a weekly online cocktail school to try and create a bit of tip money for the bar staff .
We made a few hundred dollars - not enough to live on , but it 's something .
I just do n't see how we 'll be able to recover - in downtown New Orleans we depend on tourists .
I 'm scared I 'm going to become another mom-and-pop shop that 's closed down .
I live simply , but I have two kids , so it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pay cheque in a month and a half .
I applied for the stimulus cheque but it has n't hit my account - I 'm not sure why .
Once it arrives , I 'll be spending it on surviving - stuff for the kids , gas for the car , and rent .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• LEADING THE WAY : How California kept ahead of the curve • ON FRONTLINE : The young doctors being asked to play god • REASON TO HOPE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this crisis April is normally the busiest month of the year for the shop , Spitfire Coffee , because of all the festivals .
Margins in coffee are n't amazing , and losing your busiest time of year , while heading into the slowest time of year , is pretty frightening .
My wife and I have started claiming unemployment , but we have n't received our federal stimulus cheque yet - they used our 2018 tax information , so the cheque went to a bank account that 's closed .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call , where we can give them the correct information .
We have about $ 300 in savings - but if we had to touch it , it would go really quickly .
My wife and I have been talking about the `` millennial curse '' , where everything you 're working for is always just out of grasp .
My son is four - how do you explain to him that the world we were teaching him to survive in is already changed ?
We 're trying to capitalise on spending quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resigned from a house building company in early January to go it on my own as an estate agent .
I 'd set aside about six months of savings - but it takes time to build up your own businesses - and then the outbreak hit .
It definitely was n't the best timing .
People are n't looking at houses right now .
Two people I was working with got laid off , so they ca n't move forward .
I was also working with some cash investors , but they now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over .
Ordinarily I would n't qualify for unemployment - but they passed the Cares Act which helps the self-employed .
I 've applied , but I 've not received any money or my $ 1,200 stimulus cheque yet .
The phone lines are often busy when you call to get an update .
It 's very frustrating , because you have no control , and no information .
You already have so much anxiety about Covid-19 , you know the economy 's falling apart , and I do n't have much left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left .
Our business has come to a complete halt , apart from maybe 5 % of our revenue , from Zoom business .
We 've been open for three years - and we never missed a rent payment until this month , when we missed rent by $ 1,000 .
We 're kind of watching our dreams and all our hard work fade away - now we 're just burning through our savings .
We 're offering online lessons - but some of our instructors have rudimentary cameras that do n't work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bunch of HD cameras for them .
I think yoga students will be nervous even when things reopen .
We 'll need to keep a six-feet distance between every student , which will cut our ability to generate revenue significantly .
My job was super fun - our theatre had a capacity of 700 and we sold out most weekends .
I liked meeting different people - I did n't realise how much of my social interaction was based on my job until I was stuck at home .
On 13 March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indefinitely .
I was n't really shocked - I was laid off after 9/11 , and after the 2008 financial crisis .
I used to work as an events planner , but turned to bartending after losing my job , and decided to stay because I thought it was reliable and would never go away .
Turns out nothing 's invincible !
I 'm OK for now - the unemployment benefit , and the extra $ 600 per week they 're giving us has been helping tremendously .
I 'm cooking a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaning and painting .
We 've been temporarily laid off - and it was extended along with the state 's stay-at-home order , so we 're essentially floating in purgatory in terms of our job status .
We unionised just before the crisis hit , and the owner recognised us right away - so we negotiated some Covid-19 agreements , including 12 additional sick days and a week 's severance pay .
We 're waiting with bated breath to see when we 'll be rehired - we 're all hoping for the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other in the meantime .
If people want to help independent bookshops - the store is still taking internet orders .
We also have a new poetry subscription box .
Our company tried working from home - but a lot of our work depends on seeing physical garments .
We managed to keep that going for a week , but then all the stores started cancelling orders .
Filing for unemployment was smooth for me , because I was already in the system .
The fashion industry has been up and down since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before .
Much of the benefits will go towards paying for health insurance for me and my wife .
I think being unemployed in a normal job market is freaky enough , so it 's got to be really scary for people unemployed for the first time .
It 's important to stay positive - you WILL get another job .
Or , start your own thing - my wife and I have started a side business making charms .
I 've expanded my job search to include everything now , not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know what the industry will look like on the other side of this .

My wife and I have been talking about the "millennial curse", where everything you're working for is always just out of grasp. My son is four - how do you explain to him that the world we were teaching him to survive in is already changed? We're trying to capitalise on spending quality time with him for now.


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: First US deaths weeks earlier than thought

An autopsy in California has revealed that the first US coronavirus-related death came weeks earlier than previously thought .
The first previously known death in the US was in Seattle on 26 February and the first in California on 4 March .
New information from a Santa Clara county coroner changes that timeline .
Autopsies on two people who died on 6 February and 17 February show they died with Covid-19 .
Samples from the autopsies were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , which confirmed the presence of the virus , California 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement on Tuesday .
The death of a third Santa Clara individual on 6 March has also been confirmed to be coronavirus-related .
`` These three individuals died at home during a time when very limited testing was available only through the CDC , '' the coroner statement said .
At the time , the CDC 's criteria restricted testing only to people with a known travel history and who were showing specific symptoms .
• How California kept ahead of the curve The coroner statement said `` we anticipate additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as more deaths are investigated in Santa Clara county .
The number of confirmed virus cases in the US has reached more than 825,000 .
At least 45,000 people have died , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
Elsewhere in California , health officials from Los Angeles confirmed an additional 1,400 cases of coronavirus in that county , an increase of almost 10 % of the total number .
• The daunting reality of getting US back to normal There are now a total of 15,153 cases in Los Angeles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` backlog '' of almost 1,200 cases from a single laboratory , according to Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer .
“ Over the weekend we received a large backlog of test results from one lab , '' she said .
`` This is a tremendous lag in data reporting to the Department of Public Health and we are working hard to make sure we don ’ t have backlogs moving forward . ''

Samples from the autopsies were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which confirmed the presence of the virus, California's Santa Clara County coroner's office said in a statement on Tuesday.


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Missouri sues Chinese government over virus handling

The US state of Missouri says it is suing the Chinese government over its handling of the coronavirus which it says has led to severe economic losses .
In the lawsuit , Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt alleges China did little to stop the spread of the virus .
Mr Schmitt claims Missouri residents have suffered possibly tens of billions of dollars in economic damages .
China 's foreign ministry denounced the move , saying the `` frivolous lawsuit has no factual or legal basis '' .
A spokesperson said : `` Really absurd .
Based on the principle of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jurisdiction over the Chinese government . ''
Legal experts have also questioned the move and how far it will get .
A legal doctrine called sovereign immunity offers foreign governments broad protection from being sued in US courts .
`` There is an exception for torts committed in the United States by officials acting in an official capacity ; the paradigm would be something like a car accident in an embassy car , '' said Tom Ginsburg , a professor of international law at the University of Chicago .
• Follow our live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit , filed on Tuesday , is against the Chinese government , Chinese Communist Party and other Chinese officials and institutions .
`` In Missouri , the impact of the virus is very real - thousands have been infected and many have died , families have been separated from dying loved ones , small businesses are shuttering their doors , and those living paycheck to paycheck are struggling to put food on their table , '' Mr Schmitt said in a statement .
`` The Chinese government lied to the world about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silenced whistleblowers , and did little to stop the spread of the disease , '' Mr Schmitt said .
`` They must be held accountable for their actions . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health It will also cost the state of Missouri money to sue the Chinese government .
`` Taxpayers fund the attorney general 's office , and any time spent by staff lawyers on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other important matters , '' added Chimène Keitner , an international law professor at the University of California , Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco .
In a list of `` key factual allegations '' the Missouri lawsuit also accuses the Chinese government of making the pandemic worse by `` hoarding '' personal protective equipment ( PPE ) .
China has strongly denied mishandling the crisis .
`` There 's an old joke in American politics that in every state the AG stands for the Attorney General , but it also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stu Loeser , a New York-based media strategist .
Prof Ginsburg believes the Missouri lawsuit has `` publicity value '' and predicts other states will follow suit .
`` In my opinion their governors and attorneys general should spend their efforts trying to keep their populations safe , '' he added .

"In Missouri, the impact of the virus is very real - thousands have been infected and many have died, families have been separated from dying loved ones, small businesses are shuttering their doors, and those living paycheck to paycheck are struggling to put food on their table," Mr Schmitt said in a statement.


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Pet cats test positive in New York

Two pet cats have tested positive for coronavirus in New York state , the first pets in the US to contract the infection , say officials .
The felines , which are based in two different parts of New York state , both had mild respiratory symptoms , but are expected to recover .
Scientists think it unlikely that a pet could transmit coronavirus to a person .
Previously , seven lions and tigers at the Bronx Zoo tested positive for the virus .
The US Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two household cats on Wednesday .
One of the pets was tested when it showed signs of respiratory illness after its owner tested positive .
The other cat 's owners had not been tested for coronavirus .
There have been limited , isolated cases of pets catching coronavirus , but the two New York cats are the first to test positive in the US .
None of the pets that have caught the virus have become seriously ill. Scientists are investigating why .
The CDC has recommended that pet owners should not let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside their household .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• LEADING THE WAY : How California kept ahead of the curve • ON FRONTLINE : The young doctors being asked to play god • REASON TO HOPE : The good that may come out of this crisis

There have been limited, isolated cases of pets catching coronavirus, but the two New York cats are the first to test positive in the US.


bbc--2020-04-22--Canada shooting: Police defend lack of emergency alert

Police say they were preparing an emergency alert when police shot and killed the suspect in the worst mass shooting in Canada 's modern history .
Authorities have been criticised for relying on social media to alert Nova Scotia residents the manhunt for the gunman .
At least 22 people were killed over 13 hours that spanned Saturday night to Sunday morning .
Police are yet to determine a motive for the crime .
Family members of some victims have spoken publicly about whether a province-wide alert sent to all residents of Nova Scotia could have prevented some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police ( RCMP ) Chief Supt Chris Leather said that from the time of the initial calls to emergency services on Saturday evening reporting gunshots in the rural community of Portapique , police officials were processing fast-moving information .
Responders found `` several casualties inside and outside of a home '' but no suspect .
They also discovered `` multiple sites in the immediate area , including structures and vehicles that were on fire '' .
One tweet was sent out at the time warning residents of Portapique , where the rampage began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` firearms complaint '' .
Police set up two parameters to hunt for the suspect .
It was at around 08:00 local time ( 11:00 GMT ) on Sunday morning that police met with a key witness who gave them critical information about the gunman , Chief Supt Leather said .
After that , the RCMP began providing frequent updates on Twitter , which were picked up by media .
Victims were also found in the communities of Wentworth , Debert , Shubenacadie/Milford and Enfield .
The search ended shortly before midday on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police at a service station in Enfield , north of the provincial capital of Halifax .
He was shot and later died .
At around 10:15 that morning provincial officials contacted police to offer an emergency alert , Chief Supt Leathers said .
They were in the process of preparing our emergency notification when the gunman was shot by police .
The investigator said he was `` very satisfied with the messaging '' by police given the complexity of the crime they were working with .
What more do we know about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motivated the suspect , Gabriel Wortman , 51 or why he chose his victims .
Police said on Wednesday that while their investigation revealed the suspected shooter acted alone , `` we are continuing to investigate whether anyone may has assisted him leading up to the incident - that is still part of the active investigation '' .
They are expected to release a more detailed timeline of the course of events in the coming days .
The rampage took place in multiple communities and over 13 hours .
There are 16 crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Police say the hunt for the gunman was hampered by the fact he was driving a vehicle that looked like a police cruiser and was wearing a police uniform .
How he procured both is part of the investigation .
Who were the victims ?
Among the dead were a teacher , a home care nurse working on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic , and an RCMP officer .
A national virtual vigil will be held this week to honour the victims of the shooting , as the province is locked-down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victim whose name was made public was Constable Heidi Stevenson , a 23-year veteran of the force and a mother of two .
The most recent were Alanna Jenkins and Sean McLeod , both managers at correctional facilities .
Another was Heather O'Brien , who was caring for the elderly with the non-profit Victorian Order of Nurses ( VON ) , during the provincial-wide lockdown before she was killed near her hometown of Debert , Nova Scotia .
Another VON employee , Kristen Beaton , was also killed during the shooting .
Lisa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was among the victims .
McCully had been a school teacher at Debert Elementary School , according to the school 's website .
Not all the victims - both men and women , according to police , and one 17-year-old - have been named .

Canada shooting: Police defend lack of emergency alert Published 22 April 2020
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Memorials, including virtual ones, commemorate the victims
Police say they were preparing an emergency alert when police shot and killed the suspect in the worst mass shooting in Canada's modern history.
Authorities have been criticised for relying on social media to alert Nova Scotia residents the manhunt for the gunman.
At least 22 people were killed over 13 hours that spanned Saturday night to Sunday morning.
Police are yet to determine a motive for the crime.
The victims include a 17-year-old, a pregnant healthcare worker and a veteran Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer.
Family members of some victims have spoken publicly about whether a province-wide alert sent to all residents of Nova Scotia could have prevented some of the deaths.
Nova Scotia Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Chief Supt Chris Leather said that from the time of the initial calls to emergency services on Saturday evening reporting gunshots in the rural community of Portapique, police officials were processing fast-moving information.
Responders found "several casualties inside and outside of a home" but no suspect.
They also discovered "multiple sites in the immediate area, including structures and vehicles that were on fire".
One tweet was sent out at the time warning residents of Portapique, where the rampage began, to stay indoors due to a "firearms complaint".
Police set up two parameters to hunt for the suspect.
It was at around 08:00 local time (11:00 GMT) on Sunday morning that police met with a key witness who gave them critical information about the gunman, Chief Supt Leather said.
After that, the RCMP began providing frequent updates on Twitter, which were picked up by media.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images Image caption, Police say they were preparing an emergency alert when the suspected gunman was killed by police
Victims were also found in the communities of Wentworth, Debert, Shubenacadie/Milford and Enfield.
The search ended shortly before midday on Sunday when the suspect was located by police at a service station in Enfield, north of the provincial capital of Halifax. He was shot and later died.
At around 10:15 that morning provincial officials contacted police to offer an emergency alert, Chief Supt Leathers said.
They were in the process of preparing our emergency notification when the gunman was shot by police.
The investigator said he was "very satisfied with the messaging" by police given the complexity of the crime they were working with.
What more do we know about the investigation?
Little is known about what motivated the suspect, Gabriel Wortman, 51 or why he chose his victims.
Police said on Wednesday that while their investigation revealed the suspected shooter acted alone, "we are continuing to investigate whether anyone may has assisted him leading up to the incident - that is still part of the active investigation".
They are expected to release a more detailed timeline of the course of events in the coming days. The rampage took place in multiple communities and over 13 hours.
There are 16 crime scenes being investigated, including multiple fires.
Police say the hunt for the gunman was hampered by the fact he was driving a vehicle that looked like a police cruiser and was wearing a police uniform. How he procured both is part of the investigation.
Who were the victims?
Among the dead were a teacher, a home care nurse working on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic, and an RCMP officer.
A national virtual vigil will be held this week to honour the victims of the shooting, as the province is locked-down due to the virus.
Image source, RCMP in Nova Scotia Image caption, RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson was killed responding to the attack
The first victim whose name was made public was Constable Heidi Stevenson, a 23-year veteran of the force and a mother of two. The most recent were Alanna Jenkins and Sean McLeod, both managers at correctional facilities.
Another was Heather O'Brien, who was caring for the elderly with the non-profit Victorian Order of Nurses (VON), during the provincial-wide lockdown before she was killed near her hometown of Debert, Nova Scotia.
Another VON employee, Kristen Beaton, was also killed during the shooting.
Lisa McCully, a mother of two, was among the victims. McCully had been a school teacher at Debert Elementary School, according to the school's website.


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Harvard says it won't accept relief funds

Harvard University says it has decided not to accept nearly $ 9m ( £7.3m ) in coronavirus relief aid , a move that was criticised by President Donald Trump .
Mr Trump had said he was unhappy that the prestigious US university had received stimulus money .
Harvard is rated the world 's wealthiest university with an endowment fund valued at $ 40bn .
But the elite Ivy League college said it faced `` significant financial challenges '' because of the pandemic .
In a statement , the university said it was concerned that `` the intense focus by politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participation in the relief effort .
`` As a result of this , and the evolving guidance being issued around use of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund , Harvard has decided not to seek or accept the funds allocated to it by statute , '' it said .
• Universities warn of going bust without extra cash The $ 2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security ( Cares ) Act was signed into law by Mr Trump last month .
It reserved $ 12.5bn in federal aid to about 5,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefing on Tuesday , Mr Trump told a journalist that he wanted Harvard to pay back the money that it had been allocated .
`` They have to pay it back , I do n't like it , '' he said .
`` This is meant for workers , this is n't meant for one of the richest institutions .
They got to pay it back . ''
Harvard then issued a statement acknowledging it had been allotted $ 8.6m through the Cares Act , but did not say at that stage it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college tweeted at the time : `` Harvard has committed that 100 % of these emergency higher education funds will be used to provide direct assistance to students facing urgent financial needs due to the Covid-19 pandemic . ''
It said it had already provided financial assistance to students with travel , living expenses and online education amid the pandemic .
In its most recent statement , it said it `` did not apply for this support , nor has it requested , received or accessed these funds '' .
Harvard has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a windfall under the stimulus package .
Princeton , which has a $ 26bn endowment , is getting $ 2.4m , while Yale - endowment $ 30bn - is receiving $ 6.9m .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• LEADING THE WAY : How California kept ahead of the curve • ON FRONTLINE : The young doctors being asked to play god • REASON TO HOPE : The good that may come out of this crisis

"As a result of this, and the evolving guidance being issued around use of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, Harvard has decided not to seek or accept the funds allocated to it by statute," it said.


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: How will the developing world cope?

Hundreds of thousands of people already die every year from preventable diseases in the developing world , where resources are @ @ @ @ @ they cope with a health challenge on a truly global scale ?
The BBC 's @ @ @ @ @ compare how prepared some countries in Asia and Africa are .

Hundreds of thousands of people already die every year from preventable diseases in the developing world, where resources are scarce.
But how will they cope with a health challenge on a truly global scale?
The BBC's Secunder Kermani and Anne Soy compare how prepared some countries in Asia and Africa are.


bbc--2020-04-22--Iran's Revolutionary Guards ‘successfully launch military satellite’

Iran 's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps ( IRGC ) says it has successfully launched a military satellite into orbit for the first time .
The satellite , named Nur ( Light ) , reached an orbit of 425km ( 264 miles ) after being carried by a three-stage Qased launcher , a statement said .
The success of the launch has not been verified independently .
But US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran had violated a UN resolution and needed `` to be held accountable '' .
He spoke shortly after President Donald Trump tweeted that he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea '' .
Mr Trump appeared to be referring to an incident in the Gulf a week ago , in which the US said 11 IRGC Navy vessels repeatedly conducted `` harassing '' approaches of six US Navy and Coast Guard ships .
Iran accused the US of giving a `` Hollywood version of events '' and said the US Navy had blocked the path of an Iranian ship earlier this month .
A spokesman for the Iranian armed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying that `` instead of bullying others '' the US should focus on `` saving the contingent of their [ armed ] forces that has been infected with coronavirus '' .
The countries came close to war in January , when the US killed a top IRGC general in a drone strike in Iraq .
Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles at Iraqi military bases hosting US forces .
What did Iran say about the satellite launch ?
The IRGC said it took place in the remote Central Desert on Wednesday .
Footage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrier inscribed with a verse from the Koran that Muslims often recite when going on a journey : `` Glory be to Him , who has subjected this to us , and we ourselves were not equal to it . ''
IRGC 's commander-in-chief , Maj-Gen Hossein Salami , said the force had taken `` a major step in promoting the scope of [ its ] strategic information capabilities '' .
`` Today , we are looking at the Earth from the sky , and it is the beginning of the formation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quoted by Fars news agency as saying .
IRGC Aerospace Force commander Brig-Gen Amir-Ali Hajizadeh said the Qased `` used a compound of liquid and solid propellants '' and declared : `` Only superpowers have such capability '' .
Iranian Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi congratulated the IRGC on the `` great national achievement '' and stressed that the Aerospace Force 's space programme was defensive .
`` Part of Iran 's peaceful [ space ] programme is civilian which is pursued by the government , while another part is for peaceful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the armed forces , '' he tweeted .
In February , Iran failed to put into orbit the Zafar communications satellite .
There were two other failed satellite launches last year , as well as a mysterious explosion that destroyed a satellite launch vehicle .
Why is the US concerned ?
The Trump administration has warned that the technology used to launch satellites could help Iran develop intercontinental ballistic missiles ( ICBMs ) .
It has asserted that such launches therefore violate a UN Security Council resolution , which calls upon on Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons '' .
Iran has denied violating the resolution and insisted that its space programme is entirely peaceful and that it has no intention to develop nuclear weapons .
The same resolution endorsed a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers that President Trump abandoned two years ago .
He said it was flawed and demanded it be replaced with one that halted the Iranian ballistic missile programme .
How did it react on Wednesday ?
Secretary of State Pompeo said every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the United Nations and evaluate whether this missile launch was consistent with that Security Council resolution '' .
`` I do n't think it remotely is .
And I need I think Iran needs to be held accountable for what they 've done , '' he told reporters in Washington .
`` They 've now had a military organisation that the United States has designated a terrorist [ organization ] attempt to launch a satellite . ''
Mr Pompeo also said President Trump 's order to fire on Iranian gunboats harassing US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should take whatever action was needed to defend American lives and assets .
Senior US military officials called it an important warning and a `` very useful thing '' , but did not indicate that it was a change of military policy on Iran .

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bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: South Africa deploys 70,000 troops to enforce lockdown

More than 70,000 extra troops will be deployed in South Africa to help enforce a lockdown intended to stop the spread of coronavirus , President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced .
South Africa has had 3,465 confirmed coronavirus cases - second only to Egypt in Africa - and 58 deaths .
The country has some of the most stringent coronavirus lockdown restrictions in the world .
But security forces have struggled to enforce them .
Since 27 March only essential service providers , such as health workers , financial services providers , journalists and retail workers , are allowed to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential services have been applying for a special permit from the government that allows their members of staff to go outside .
The restrictions include no jogging outside , no sales of alcohol or cigarettes , no dog-walking , no leaving home except for essential trips and prison or heavy fines for law-breaking .
The initial army deployment came as no surprise - 2,280 troops were deployed at the beginning of the lockdown 27 days ago .
But this latest deployment has shocked many - it is the country 's biggest military deployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democracy in 1994 .
Many believe the deployment , which is expected to conclude at the end of June , means that the enforcement will be strengthened and that the country could face yet another lockdown extension .
Some have raised concerns , saying the country will resemble a military state .
They note that more than a dozen soldiers are already under investigation for brutality after allegedly killing a man in Alexandra township , in northern Johannesburg .
Critics adding that the middle class , which has n't suffered any harassment by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poor people are literally dying at the hands of the soldiers .
The president 's supporters say it was a tough call to make , that the country 's police need help to control people and the army deployment will ensure that citizens respect the government measures which have been put in place to save the lives of South Africans .
After the ban on alcohol was imposed , there was a wave of looting of liquor shops .
Some police officers have allegedly been involved in the illegal sale of alcohol - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for buying alcohol and escorting pick-up trucks full of alcohol .
Evidence from the first fortnight of South Africa ’ s lockdown appeared to show that it was able to cut and then stabilise the number of cases abruptly , although the numbers are still increasing .
President Ramaphosa said he had decided to deploy an extra 73,180 soldiers in a letter addressed to parliament on Tuesday .
The lockdown restrictions currently apply until Thursday 30 April .
He also announced an economic relief package worth $ 26bn ( £21bn ) intended to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic .
In a televised address , he said the assistance amounted to 10 % of South Africa 's entire GDP .
Mr Ramaphosa said the measures included tax relief , wage support through the unemployment insurance fund and funding to small businesses .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• STRESS : How to look after your mental health

The president's supporters say it was a tough call to make, that the country's police need help to control people and the army deployment will ensure that citizens respect the government measures which have been put in place to save the lives of South Africans.


bbc--2020-04-22--UK social restrictions 'to remain for rest of year'

The UK will have to live with some disruptive social measures for at least the rest of the year , the government 's chief medical adviser has said .
Prof Chris Whitty said it was `` wholly unrealistic '' to expect life would suddenly return to normal soon .
He said `` in the long run '' the ideal way out would be via a `` highly effective vaccine '' or drugs to treat the disease .
But he warned that the chance of having those within the next calendar year was `` incredibly small '' .
`` This disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is not going to disappear , '' he said , at the government 's daily coronavirus briefing .
`` So we have to accept that we are working with a disease that we are going to be with globally ... for the foreseeable future . ''
The latest figures show a further 759 people have died with the virus in UK hospitals , bringing the total number of deaths to 18,100 .
• Raab vows to hit 100k test target in eight days Prof Whitty said the public should not expect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away '' suddenly after the peak .
`` In the long run , the exit from this is going to be one of two things , ideally , '' he said .
`` A vaccine , and there are a variety of ways they can be deployed ... or highly effective drugs so that people stop dying of this disease even if they catch it , or which can prevent this disease in vulnerable people . ''
Prof Whitty warned there were multiple different ways in which the coronavirus epidemic would result in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as those dying from Covid-19 , he said others may die indirectly because the NHS has had to be `` reoriented towards Covid '' , leading to fewer elective procedures and screening .
He also said if the interventions in place `` extend deprivation among people '' that would increase the risk to their long-term health .
`` So what we have to do is think very seriously about this : what is the best balance of measures that gives us the best public health outcome ? ''
He said there was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to consider .
The government 's chief medical adviser and other experts have often said the only secure long term route out of the coronavirus epidemic is the discovery of either a vaccine or effective drugs .
So Prof Whitty 's latest comments are not a total surprise , however they throw cold water on any idea that lockdown restrictions will be fully lifted in the summer or even the autumn .
A vaccine and drugs are unlikely to materialise until next year and until then some form of social distancing will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But that certainly does n't mean all the current restrictions remain in place until then .
Schools , some businesses and public transport might well be reopened in the not too distant future .
Pubs and restaurants , under this scenario , will probably be nearer the bottom of the list .
Prof Whitty of course is an adviser and it 's up to the politicians to decide .
They will have to weigh up the impact on the economy and society but also , as they often say , be guided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the briefing , Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said easing social distancing measures too soon would risk a second spike of coronavirus cases .
He said this could trigger a second lockdown that would `` prolong the economic pain '' across the country .
Mr Raab , who is deputising for Prime Minister Boris Johnson , acknowledged the mental , physical and economic strain social distancing measures were having on people throughout the UK , but said they `` must remain in place for the time being '' .
Gen Sir Nick Carter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also joined Wednesday 's press conference and described the military response to coronavirus as the `` single greatest logistical feat '' of his 40 years of service • A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • WHAT WE DO N'T KNOW How to understand the death toll • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?
Gen Carter said the military has worked in support of healthcare workers on the front line , and has been involved with planning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Office with repatriation efforts .
He added that the military was also preparing mobile pop-up testing centres in a bid to roll-out more Covid-19 testing .
Earlier , the government insisted it would meet its target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of April - an increase of 82,000 on Monday 's levels .
Sir Keir Starmer , who was making his debut in Prime Minister 's Questions as Labour leader , said the UK had been `` very slow and way behind other European countries '' on testing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ go from 18,000 tests a day to 100,000 in just eight days .
Mr Raab said the UK currently had testing capacity of 40,000 a day and , with new laboratories coming on stream , the government would reach its target .
• Coronavirus is likely to result in a high mortality rate in care homes , Prof Whitty says • E-commerce giant eBay has built a new pilot e-portal for NHS staff to order personal protective equipment ( PPE ) which it says is in the final stage of testing • Downing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Office permanent secretary to retract his testimony to MPs that a `` political decision '' was taken not to join EU schemes to source medical equipment • An RAF plane carrying a delayed delivery of protective equipment has arrived in the UK as the government remains under pressure about NHS supplies • The last Britons to remain on a cruise ship during the pandemic will finally disembark the Costa Deliziosa in Genoa , Italy , on Wednesday , the Foreign Office says • A group of 25 doctors has written to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's current advice on self-isolation for coronavirus • Delays in diagnosing and treating cancer could lead to more years of lost life than with Covid-19 , a leading cancer expert says

Prof Whitty of course is an adviser and it's up to the politicians to decide. They will have to weigh up the impact on the economy and society but also, as they often say, be guided by the science.


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Lifting lockdowns could see virus 'reignite', WHO warns

The head of the World Health Organization ( WHO ) has warned against complacency in the fight against the coronavirus , saying the disease `` will be with us for a long time '' .
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also warned of upward trends in Covid-19 cases in Africa , Eastern Europe , Central America and South America .
He said that lifting lockdowns could cause infections to `` reignite '' .
Dr Tedros also defended the WHO 's handling of the pandemic .
He said he believed the UN agency had warned the world of Covid-19 early enough .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the emergency at the right time and when the world had enough time to respond , '' he told a daily briefing in Geneva .
The WHO declared Covid-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January and said it had become a pandemic on 11 March .
• Why the WHO got caught between China and Trump • The Ethiopian at the heart of the coronavirus fight Although many governments have praised the agency for its work , Dr Tedros has faced some calls to resign over the crisis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When asked about calls for his resignation , Dr Tedros said he would keep working `` day and night '' to save lives .
There have been more than 2.6 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 globally and more than 181,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University in the US .
What did the WHO say ?
Addressing the news briefing , Dr Tedros said that while most of the epidemics in Western Europe appeared to be stable or in decline , for many countries the disease was just getting started .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were affected early in the pandemic are now starting to see a resurgence in cases , '' he said .
`` Make no mistake - we have a long way to go .
This virus will be with us for a long time . ''
He added : `` There is no question that stay-at-home orders and other physical distancing measures have successfully suppressed transmission in many countries .
But this virus remains extremely dangerous .
`` Early evidence suggests most of the world 's population remains susceptible .
That means epidemics can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greatest dangers we face now is complacency . ''
Speaking alongside him , executive director Dr Mike Ryan said that for large events such as sports fixtures to resume there would have to be a `` new social contract '' between the public and governments .
He said people would have to accept `` there is no such thing as zero risk '' .
Earlier the UK government 's chief medical adviser warned that the UK would have to live with some disruptive social measures for at least the rest of the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` wholly unrealistic '' to expect life would suddenly return to normal soon .
What criticism has the WHO faced ?
Last week , US President Donald Trump said the US would halt its funding to the agency , accusing it of mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus after it emerged in China at the end of last year .
• BBC Reality Check - Is Trump right to criticise the WHO ?
It was not the first time that the WHO 's response to the outbreak had come under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was accused of being unduly influenced by China after a senior official refused to discuss Taiwan 's response to the outbreak .
Some health experts also say that the WHO 's guidance on face masks has led to public confusion .
On Tuesday , US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated criticism of China and the WHO .
`` We strongly believe the Chinese Communist Party did not report the outbreak of the new coronavirus in a timely fashion to the World Health Organization , '' he told reporters .
`` The WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , '' he added .
`` Transparency and getting it right is critical to saving lives . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

Speaking alongside him, executive director Dr Mike Ryan said that for large events such as sports fixtures to resume there would have to be a "new social contract" between the public and governments. He said people would have to accept "there is no such thing as zero risk".


bbc--2020-04-22--Tsunami risk identified near future Indonesian capital

Scientists have identified a potential tsunami risk in the region chosen by Indonesia for its new capital .
The researchers mapped evidence of multiple ancient underwater landslides in the Makassar Strait between the islands of Borneo and Sulawesi .
If the largest of these were repeated today , it would generate tsunami capable of inundating Balikpapan Bay - an area close to the proposed capital .
But the international team cautions against an overreaction .
`` We still have a lot more work to do to properly assess the situation .
That said , this is something that Indonesian governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somewhere - even if we 're only talking about 'low frequency , high impact ' events , '' said Dr Uisdean Nicholson from Heriot-Watt University , UK .
His British-Indonesian research team used seismic data to investigate the sediments and their structure on the Makassar seafloor .
The survey revealed 19 distinct zones along the strait where mud , sand and silt have tumbled downslope into deeper waters .
Some of these slides involved hundreds of cubic kilometres of material - volumes that are more than capable of disturbing the water column , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sea surface .
• When your capital is sinking ... Start again ?
`` These landslides - or mass transport deposits ( MTDs ) as we call them - are quite easy to spot in the seismic data , '' explained Aberdeen University 's Dr Rachel Brackenridge , the lead author on the paper describing the research .
`` They 're lens-shaped and the sediments within them are chaotic ; they 're not the flat , ordered , tramline-like layers you expect to find .
I mapped 19 events , but that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There will be other , smaller events I just could n't see , '' she told BBC News .
All of the MTDs are on the western side of the deep ( 3,000m ) channel that runs through the Makassar Strait .
And they 're also predominantly to the south of the outlet delta for Borneo island '' s Mahakam River , which is discharging something in the order of 8 million cubic metres of sediment every year .
The team thinks this material is picked up by currents in the strait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the seafloor fall away into the deep .
The steep piles of sediment sculpted over time ultimately collapse downslope , triggered perhaps by the shaking from a local earthquake .
This is Indonesia after all .
What the team can not say right now is when the submarine landslides occurred .
The researchers ' best estimate is within the current geological period - so , within the last 2.6 million years .
Cores extracted from the MTDs could better constrain their age and the frequency of slope failure - and funding is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The team plans also to visit the coastal areas of Borneo to look for physical evidence of ancient tsunami and to model the type of waves that could hit the coastline .
Ben Sapiie , from the Bandung Institute of Technology in Indonesia , said : `` This research enriches the Indonesian geological and geophysical communities ' knowledge about sedimentation and landslide hazards in the Makassar Strait .
The future of earth sciences research is using an integrated , multi-scientific approach with international collaborators . ''
Prof Dan Parsons is director of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His group also studies submarine landslides around the world .
He told BBC News : `` What is interesting here is how these sediments are being re-worked and piled up over time in the Makassar Straight by oceanic currents .
`` This sediment builds up and then fails when it gets unstable .
What is then key is identifying the tipping point , or the trigger , that results in the failure .
We have been doing similar work in fjords , exploring the multiple triggers and the magnitude and frequency of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The biggest failures and the largest tsunami will likely occur when sediment delivery rate is very high but the triggers are infrequent , such that when the failures occur they are very large . ''
Indonesia experienced two landslide-driven tsunami events in 2018 - when the side of the Anak Krakatau volcano collapsed and separately when a quake triggered slope failures in Sulawesi 's Palu Bay .
So awareness is certainly growing that tsunami can come from sources other than a seafloor megathrust earthquake like the one off Sumatra in 2004 which wreaked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Joko Widodo announced last year that Indonesia would move its capital from Jakarta to Borneo .
The new administrative centre is to be built across two regencies - Kutai Kartanegara and North Penajam Paser - in East Kalimantan province , close to the existing cities of Balikpapan and Samarinda .
The seafloor study has been published by the Geological Society of London .
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET @ bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter : @ BBCAmos

"This sediment builds up and then fails when it gets unstable. What is then key is identifying the tipping point, or the trigger, that results in the failure. We have been doing similar work in fjords, exploring the multiple triggers and the magnitude and frequency of the failures that can occur.


bbc--2020-04-22--Australia lorry crash: Four police officers killed in Melbourne

Four Australian police officers have been killed in a crash involving a lorry in the city of Melbourne .
The police chief for the state of Victoria said it was the worst loss of life in the history of the state 's police force .
Officers had pulled over a car for speeding on a motorway when the lorry ploughed into them , officials said .
The driver of the car - a Porsche 911 sports car - fled the scene and is being sought by police .
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said the lorry driver was under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for alcohol and drugs .
He said the incident happened after two of the officers pulled over the Porsche on to the hard shoulder of Melbourne 's Eastern Freeway near Kew on Tuesday at about 17:40 local time ( 08:40 GMT ) .
They decided to have the car impounded and called for other officers to assist them .
Two more officers then joined them and all were standing out of their cars when the refrigerated lorry drove into them and the Porsche , Mr Ashton told reporters .
The car driver , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injured , fled the scene on foot .
Mr Ashton said the lorry driver was not yet able to answer questions .
`` When it 's possible for him to be interviewed he will be interviewed , '' he added .
Dan Andrews , the Premier of Victoria , hailed the officers as `` heroes '' who had lost their lives in the line of duty .
`` Tonight , somewhere in our city , four families ' hearts are breaking .
Our hearts are breaking with them , '' he said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the state 's Police Association , said the tragedy was `` a brutally sad reminder '' of the dangers faced by police `` every minute of every shift '' , ABC News reported .

Two more officers then joined them and all were standing out of their cars when the refrigerated lorry drove into them and the Porsche, Mr Ashton told reporters. The car driver, who was not believed to have been injured, fled the scene on foot.


bbc--2020-04-22--Kenya hunts those filmed fleeing coronavirus quarantine centre

Kenyans filmed escaping from a coronavirus quarantine centre will be hunted down and sent back there , President Uhuru Kenyatta has said .
`` We know you and we will find you , '' he said , adding that the escapees were putting the lives of others at risk .
The warning came after a video clip went viral showing several people scaling a wall to flee a quarantine centre in the capital , Nairobi .
Those in forced quarantine have been complaining about poor conditions .
They say some centres are not much better than prisons , with poor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impossible because of overcrowding .
Others are angered about having to pay for their confinement , which costs between 20 ( £16 ) and $ 100 a night - depending on the centre .
• ' I fear forced quarantine as much as coronavirus' Hostels at schools and universities as well as hotels have been used to hold those put into quarantine for an initial 14-day period - though this has been extended twice at some centres .
More than 400 people are currently in quarantine .
They include people who arrived in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the virus before it closed its borders and those found to have been in contact with a coronavirus patient .
It is not clear how many individuals escaped from quarantine at the Kenya Medical Training College ( KMTC ) but some reports put the number at 50 .
The breakout took place on Tuesday as a meal was being served .
The centre 's residents had a chance to escape when it started to rain and the guards took cover , Kenya 's Citizen TV station reports .
The Daily Nation newspaper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jumping over a wall : According to the paper , the KMTC centre has more than 200 people in quarantine - held as a consequence of contact tracing or after being arrested for flouting the curfew and social distancing rules .
The country has not gone into lockdown , but has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew and a ban on travel to or from Nairobi and several other areas considered hotspots for transmission .
During a radio interview in Swahili on Wednesday morning , President Kenyatta urged Kenyans to take the restrictions seriously .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have had contact with a coronavirus patient • No travel to or from the capital Nairobi and parts of the city 's neighbouring counties .
Such measures also apply to some coastal counties • Everyone required to wear face masks in public and face arrest for not doing so Read : Weddings , births and deaths in the age of Covid-19 '' For the safety of your family , and your loved ones , do what is necessary to protect them .
Stay away .
Do not put people at risk because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he is quoted as saying .
He said that by the weekend , as many as 2,000 people a day would be tested for coronavirus , the Daily Nations reports .
The president also ruled out relaxing the curfew during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan , which begins at the end of the week and when there are usually gatherings after dusk to break fast .
`` We told Christians during Easter that you can not mark this day ... We respect all religions but we have said that let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days in our homes , on radio and on television , '' the Daily Nations quoted Mr Kenyatta as saying .
`` I ask our Muslim brothers and sisters to mark the holy month of Ramadhan like they have not done before because these are extraordinary times . ''
Kenya has recorded 296 cases of Covid-19 , the respiratory disease caused by coronavirus , including 14 deaths .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• STRESS : How to look after your mental health

"For the safety of your family, and your loved ones, do what is necessary to protect them. Stay away. Do not put people at risk because you do not think it is serious," he is quoted as saying.


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Mexican wrestlers sew Lucha Libre face masks

Unable to compete due to coronavirus , Mexico 's Lucha Libre wrestlers have taken up sewing face masks .
Social distancing means the iconic sport is on hold for now , so fighters need to find other ways to make money .
The tradition of wearing elaborate wrestling costumes and masks means they are well-placed to use their skills and materials to make protective masks .
It is feared coronavirus is spreading quickly in Mexico , with more than 9,500 confirmed cases .
In many parts of the country , including Mexico City , it is now compulsory to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some countries wear face masks and others don't Lucha Libre is a unique form of professional wrestling in Mexico dating back over a century , and competitors wear colourful masks and spandex costumes .
Fighters cultivate big personas but hide their true identities behind their masks , so they become identified by only their mask design .
One of the greatest wrestlers in history , El Santo , is even said to have been buried in his mask when he died in 1984 .
Now as social distancing measures have largely put an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , fighters like El Hjio de Soberano find themselves unable to work .
`` Last week we had a very difficult time and my wife says to me : 'Why do n't we make face masks ? '
`` So we made some , but using the material we had for the costumes .
We use the lycra and the fabrics that are used in the wrestling suit makings .
They have double stitching , fabric reinforcement , '' the fighter , who is part of a wrestling dynasty , told sports website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associated with legendary Lucha Libre stars , including El Santo and Blue Demon , and sell for 150 Mexican pesos ( £5 ) each .
They are receiving orders from all over Mexico , El Hijo de Sobrerano says .
In more normal times he and his family ship wrestling costumes across Central America and the US .
In Puebla , retired wrestler Isaías Huerta had to shut his wrestler costume workshop when the government declared all non-essential businesses must close to control the coronavirus outbreak on 30 March .
Also known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at first he made protective masks just for his family , but later decided to scale-up and make masks with the designs of legendary wrestlers including Dr Wagner , La Parka , and Black Taurus .
He sells them for around 50 Mexican pesos ( £1.50 ) each , and also takes special commissions from Lucha Libre superfans .
`` I 've always loved talking about wrestling , so much so that I started sewing costumes for my teammates , and now it led me to come up with the idea of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency EFE .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

"So we made some, but using the material we had for the costumes. We use the lycra and the fabrics that are used in the wrestling suit makings. They have double stitching, fabric reinforcement," the fighter, who is part of a wrestling dynasty, told sports website ESPN.


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Grandmas' top tips to get through lockdown

The elderly are some of the most vulnerable to the risks associated with coronavirus , but in times of such @ @ @ @ @ best advice and words of encouragement .
So the BBC 's Victoria Derbyshire programme spoke @ @ @ @ @ of 90 from around the world to get their tips on how to stay positive @ @ @ @ @

The elderly are some of the most vulnerable to the risks associated with coronavirus, but in times of such uncertainty they often have the best advice and words of encouragement.
So the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme spoke to people over the age of 90 from around the world to get their tips on how to stay positive and get through lockdown.
Watch more personal stories during the coronavirus outbreak: Your Coronavirus Stories


bbc--2020-04-22--Book recommendations from today's top selling authors

According to research by the Reading Agency charity , a third of the nation are reading more during the lockdown @ @ @ @ @ , the BBC arts editor Will Gompertz spoke to best-selling authors Margaret Atwood , Adam @ @ @ @ @ Bernardine Evaristo and Matt Haig , to find out what their lockdown reading list is @

According to research by the Reading Agency charity, a third of the nation are reading more during the lockdown.
Inspired by the statistics, the BBC arts editor Will Gompertz spoke to best-selling authors Margaret Atwood, Adam Kay, Maggie O'Farrell, Bernardine Evaristo and Matt Haig, to find out what their lockdown reading list is.


bbc--2020-04-10--Coronavirus: Berkshire pensioner helping Sikhs in isolation

Rajinder Singh is gaining a following on social media as the skipping Sikh .
The 73-year-old says Sikh temples , @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus outbreak means many Sikhs are suffering in isolation .
Rajinder , from @ @ @ @ @ now making exercise videos for those in his community missing their daily exercise , food @ @ @

Rajinder Singh is gaining a following on social media as the skipping Sikh.
The 73-year-old says Sikh temples, or Gurdwaras, closing due to the coronavirus outbreak means many Sikhs are suffering in isolation.
Rajinder, from Slough in Berkshire, is now making exercise videos for those in his community missing their daily exercise, food and prayer.
Video journalists Minreet Kaur and Ben Moore


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Health claims debunked

Coronavirus: Health claims debunked

5G does not spread Covid-19 , steam inhalation is not a cure and skin colour ca n't protect from catching @ @ @ @ @ 's Chris Morris tackles the latest false claims about coronavirus circulating online .

5G does not spread Covid-19, steam inhalation is not a cure and skin colour can't protect from catching the virus. Reality Check's Chris Morris tackles the latest false claims about coronavirus circulating online.
Motion graphics by Jacqueline Galvin
Filmed by Myles Burke


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Five of the countries most at risk from famine in 2020

As deaths caused by coronavirus around the world continue to rise , the World Food Programme ( WFP ) has warned that the world faces a possible `` hunger pandemic '' as the number of people most in need of food could almost double this year .
At the end of 2019 , 135 million people were living with `` acute hunger '' .
But with many countries around the world enforcing quarantine , that number is likely to rise to 265 million , the WFP says .
`` Before the coronavirus even became an issue , I was saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humanitarian crisis since World War Two for a number of reasons , '' WFP executive director David Beasley said on Tuesday .
The organisation , which received $ 8.3bn ( £6.7bn ) in 2019 , now needs between $ 10-12bn to sustain its operations for this year .
So which countries are most at risk ?
Even before the war in Yemen began , the country was the poorest in the Arab world .
But since a Saudi-led coalition intervened in the conflict against Yemen 's Houthi rebels in 2015 , the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` As conflicts become longer , more and more people become vulnerable '' , the WFP 's Chief Economist and Director of Research , Assessment and Monitoring Division , Arif Husain , told the BBC .
`` In 2016 in Yemen , we were maybe assisting three or four million people .
Today that number is 12 million . ''
To make matters worse , the WFP said earlier this month it would halve aid to Houthi-controlled areas , over concerns voiced by some countries that the rebels were obstructing aid deliveries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus earlier this month , with aid agencies warning that the disease could quickly overwhelm the country 's weakened health systems .
After more than a quarter of a century of armed conflict in parts of the country , the DRC is the world 's second-largest hunger crisis , according to the WFP .
More than 15 % of the country 's population are classed as `` severely food insecure '' - meaning that they are among 30 million people in war zones around the world who are almost completely dependent on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to secure the food supply for these populations in next three months alone , Mr Husain said .
`` Those were the worst-affected people and now they 're in even more trouble , '' he said .
The DRC also has 5 million internally displaced people and over half a million refugees from neighbouring countries .
In addition to the heightened risk faced by anyone living in war zones , displaced people are even more vulnerable during the coronavirus outbreak because they often lack basic hygiene facilities needed to help stop the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman for the UN 's refugee agency , UNHCR , warned that ongoing violence in the DRC was threatening efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus there , which has so far mainly affected the capital Kinshasa .
Unlike the other countries on the list , Venezuela 's hunger has not been caused by conflict or environmental factors , but rather by economic hardship .
Although Venezuela has the world 's largest oil reserves , hyperinflation in the country reached 200 % in January last year , leaving a third of its people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been compounded by a mass exodus of health workers , according to WFP .
And the problems do n't end there - around 4.8 million people ( or 15 % of the population ) have left Venezuela in recent years , and hundreds of thousands of these migrants are facing food insecurity in neighbouring countries .
The world 's youngest country only gained independence from its northern neighbour , Sudan , in 2011 .
The move was meant to mark the end of a long-running civil war , but the country descended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The WFP warns that hunger and malnutrition in South Sudan are at the most extreme levels since 2011 , with almost 60 % of the population struggling to find food every day .
Making the situation worse , swarms of locusts which had destroyed crops across East Africa arrived in South Sudan earlier this year .
`` If Covid [ -19 ] was not a story right now , desert locusts would be the biggest story , '' according to Mr Husain .
And as one of the most oil-dependent countries in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be hit hard by falling oil prices .
The country has now recorded four cases of coronavirus , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Another country ravaged by conflict , Afghanistan had suffered almost two decades of war when the US invaded in 2001 .
Eighteen years later , more than half of the population lives below the poverty line , and over 11 million people are classed as severely food insecure by the WFP .
According to Afghan government figures there have been over 1,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has limited access to testing and the health system has suffered under decades of conflict .
There are also fears that the virus could have spread after more than 150,000 Afghans returned from virus-stricken Iran during March , while tens of thousands of others returned from Pakistan .
... and the new 130 million In addition to areas affected by war , environmental issues or economic crises , many more low- and middle-income countries are likely to be affected by job losses and other economic difficulties caused by the spread of coronavirus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be made worse by similar economic pressures in countries across the world , meaning that remittances , or money being sent back from relatives abroad , will fall in these countries .
`` The most important thing is an affordable treatment which must be available to everyone across the world , '' Mr Husain said .
`` But until we get to that point , we need to make sure we do everything in our power to save lives and protect livelihoods . ''

More than 15% of the country's population are classed as "severely food insecure" - meaning that they are among 30 million people in war zones around the world who are almost completely dependent on aid. Almost $2bn is needed to secure the food supply for these populations in next three months alone, Mr Husain said.