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Coronavirus - latest summary
Countries pledge 7.4 billion euros towards global fight against COVID-19
Russia hits new daily COVID-19 record as hospitals struggle to cope
Italy eases coronavirus restrictions after two month lockdown
Life after lockdown: Has coronavirus ruined the movie industry?
Confirmed cases in Europe pass 1.5 million while global deaths approach 250,000
Coronavirus statistics: Latest numbers on COVID-19 cases and deaths
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World leaders pledge billions for research into coronavirus vaccine
World leaders, international organisations and companies have pledged €7.4 billion to develop new tools to detect, treat and prevent the novel coronavirus.
Here's our full write-up on the event convened by the EU and several countries:
World leaders pledge billions for research into coronavirus vaccine
euronews"All this money will help kick-start unprecedented global cooperation," said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.That's it for tonight - do join us tomorrow from 0600 CEST for more live updates.
Race for a vaccine: Challenges of producing enough doses for billions of people
The race to produce a vaccine is well underway but there are questions over safety and mass production:
'No evidence' to back Pompeo claims that virus was 'man-made' - WHO
The World Health Organization says it has received no evidence or data from the U.S. government to back up claims by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Donald Trump that they have seen evidence that the coronavirus have originated at a laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
“From our perspective, this remains speculative,” WHO emergencies chief Dr. Michael Ryan said. “But like any evidence-based organization, we would be very willing to receive any information that purports to the origin of the virus.”
Ryan reiterated that the evidence and advice that the U.N. health agency has received suggest that the novel coronavirus is of natural origin. Pompeo and Trump say they have seen evidence suggesting that it could be from the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab.
“If that data and evidence is available, then it will be for the United States government to decide whether and when it can be shared,” Ryan told reporters in Geneva. “But it’s difficult for WHO to operate in an information vacuum in that specific regard.”
On Sunday, Pompeo told ABC’s “This Week” program that there was “a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan.” (AP)
Russia hits new daily COVID-19 record as hospitals struggle to cope
Russia has recorded its highest daily tally of casualties since the beginning of lockdown and almost double the number announced last week.
More than half of the new infections were in Moscow.
Russia hits new daily COVID-19 record as hospitals struggle to cope
euronewsRussia registered a record increase in COVID-19 cases on Sunday. But some say official data is still underestimating the scale of the outbreak.What is Kawasaki disease and its possible link with COVID-19 in children?
A rare syndrome affecting children that could be linked to COVID-19 has been reported in several European countries.
Explained: Kawasaki disease and its possible link to COVID-19
euronewsA warning has been issued over increasing cases of children displaying overlapping symptoms of COVID-19 and Kawasaki disease. Here we explain the possible link and the symptoms to look out for.What is the new app helping the UK trace cases of COVID-19?
The UK has begun the initial stage of rolling out its app to help track and trace the spread of coronavirus. Read more:
What is the new app helping the UK trace cases of COVID-19?
euronewsThe UK has started testing a new app on the Isle of Wight in a bid to try and trace the spread of COVID-19.Euronews Tonight reports on the race to find a vaccine that can be rolled out to billions of people:
Carnival Cruise Lines to begin sailing in August
The cruise industry has been hard hit by the coronavirus crisis following several high-profile cases of ships being forced to act as quarantines after positive cases were confirmed on board.
French Senate rejects government plan for easing lockdown
The upper house of the French parliament, the Senate, has rejected the government's plan for easing the lockdown, due to begin next Monday (May 11).
A total of 89 voted against, to 81 in favour - with 174 abstentions.
French media report that the vote is largely symbolic and will not prevent the measures from being implemented.
The plan unveiled by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe was approved massively by the lower house, the National Assembly, by 368 votes to 100, with 103 abstentions, last Tuesday.
The move to gradually reopen French schools has prompted controversy -- here's what the PM had to say today:
Staying out of school amid coronavirus crisis a 'time bomb': French PM
euronewsFrance clarifies how easing of restrictions will work May 11UK daily death toll lowest since end of March
The UK's Health Secretary Matt Hancock is giving the daily briefing, and says the new "test, track and trace" programme will be launched on the Isle of Wight tomorrow, before being rolled out for everyone in the country later in the week.
The government is urging people to download a new tracing app to "help save lives".
More than 85,000 tests were carried out on Sunday.
Another 284 people died from coronavirus over the last 24 hour period, Hancock said -- the lowest figure since the end of March. He qualified the number by pointing out that figures tend to be lower after the weekend.
The number of cases rose by 3,985. A total of 28,734 people have died of the disease.
Staff of the Villanova care home near Lyon quarantined with residents to prevent COVID-19
They celebrated on Monday as the entire staff and home tested negative for the virus that has killed thousands in care homes, AP reported.
“I said, ‘No. Not mine. My residents still have so much to live for,'" explained Valerie Martin said in an interview with AP about the decision to spend lockdown with residents.
“I don't want this virus to kill them when they have been through so much.”
“We succeeded,” Martin said. “Every day, every hour, was a win.”
Availability of masks in French supermarkets sparks suspicions about shortage
Masks will be available for public sale in supermarkets and pharmacies starting on May 4 despite a shortage that lasted for weeks.
Now, some are asking where these millions of masks are coming from when medical professionals said they did not have enough earlier in the crisis.
"How can we explain that our care workers could not access masks when it has been announced, with a great deal of loud communication, staggering numbers of masks to be sold to the public by certain distribution channels," said the medical orders of pharmacists, midwives, nurses, dentists, and physiotherapists in a joint statement issued April 30.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe rejected the claims that there were stocks of masks, stating: "there were never hidden stocks, there were massive orders."
Read more: https://www.euronews.com/2020/05/04/availability-of-masks-in-french-supermarkets-sparks-suspicions-about-shortage
‘It’s humanity against the virus’, says Boris Johnson
The UK pledged £388 million (€441 million) in funding for research on potential vaccines, tests and treatments for coronavirus as part of an international pledging conference.
"To win this battle, we must work together to build an impregnable shield around all our people, and that can only be achieved by developing and mass producing a vaccine," Johnson said.
Macron: France contributes €500 million towards research for a vaccine
Speaking about easing lockdown restrictions on May 11, the French President said it would be a "new step" and that they would evaluate everyday for the month of May how the epidemic evolves.
He said he understood the worries but said he wanted to "reassure" people.
"The lockdown was effective and worked," Macron added.
'Our economic life must restart,' French PM says
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said the country's "economic life" must restart rapidly as he defended the government's plan to ease lockdown starting May 11.
In particular, Philippe addressed the decision to reopen some schools during a speech before the French Senate.
"COVID-19 is toxic but staying out of school and social life is just as much," said Philippe.
"Five months out of school for thousands, tens of thousands of students is probably a time bomb," he added.
Many have questioned the government's decision to reopen schools as other European countries have kept schools closed even as they phase out lockdown restrictions.
Philippe said that opening schools was a "pedagogic, social, and republican priority" although not everyone will return physically to school.
Michel: ‘It’s time for humanity to shine’
Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, has thrown his support behind the initiative.
“These are dark days,” he said. “But they are also days that reveal our humanity and we’re confident that humanity will step up and shine.”
Ursula von der Leyen said Europe would be mobilising €1 billion towards the €7.5 billion target.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen launches global coronavirus fund
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been launching a bid to raise €7.5 billion for the fight against COVID-19.
She said Europe would be “mobilising” €1 billion of the money.
The cash is aimed at accelerating and scaling-up research, development, access and equitable distribution of the vaccine and other life-saving therapeutics and diagnostics treatments.
EU leads pledging fundraiser for global COVID-19 fight
France clarifies travel rules
Beaches and small shops open in Greece
Spain records 164 deaths and fewer than 400 new cases in 24 hours
The number of confirmed new cases was under 400 for the first time since March 7 with 356 new cases.
A total of 218,011 people have been infected since the start of the epidemic and 25,428 people have died.
Japan extends state of emergency to May 31
Japan extended its state of emergency to May 31 despite a reduction in case numbers, AFP reports.
"The number of new cases has decreased but unfortunately this decline has not reached the expected levels," said Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister advising the government on the epidemic.
The state of emergency is much less restrictive than in many European countries. It allows local authorities to impose restrictions on members of the public.
Japan has had nearly 15,000 cases of coronavirus and nearly 500 deaths.