There is still a lot of work to be done to end the Covid-19 pandemic, and any country that thinks the danger has passed would be making an error, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during the closing of the 74th World Health Assembly on Monday.
Malaysia declares total lockdown for two weeks after Covid-19 cases increase
From CNN s Elaine Ly and Jaide Garcia
Malaysia will implement a two-week total lockdown on social and economic sectors, according to a statement from the prime minister s office and reported by state media Bernama News Agency on Friday.
The Malaysian National Security Council will oversee the lockdown, according to the statement. Beginning June 1, all sectors will not be allowed to operate, except for essential economic and service sectors to be listed by MKN.
The statement attributes the decision to the latest rise in Covid-19 cases, saying the country is seeing daily cases exceeding 8,000 and over 70,000 active cases, as well as the presence of a new variant with a high and rapid infection rate.
Italy will ban entry to travelers from Bangladesh
From CNN s Livia Borghese
Italy will ban travelers from Bangladesh, the Italian health ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement said the travel ban would prevent anyone that has stayed in or transitioned through Bangladesh in the past 14 days from entering Italy.
The statement added that due to the worsening coronavirus situation in Bangladesh and India, stricter quarantine measures for people who live in Italy will be imposed, however it did not clarify details.
Some more context: India has now become home to the world’s worst coronavirus outbreak and fears of its spread across the region have prompted some countries in Europe to impose travel restrictions.
First flights carrying emergency Covid-19 assistance for India left US last night
From CNN s Kate Sullivan
The first flights carrying emergency supplies to assist India as it battles a new wave of Covid-19 cases left the US Wednesday night, White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday.
“The first of two assistance flights left the US for India at around 8 p.m. and midnight last night, which was April 28. The planes carried the first tranche of assistance, which includes oxygen cylinders, rapid diagnostic tests and N95 masks to protect frontline workers,” Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Jean-Pierre continued: “Additional flights carrying the remaining assistance, including oxygen generators and concentrators are scheduled to depart in the upcoming days.”