Spain Has Fewest Deaths in Month; Russia Case Rise: Virus Update

Conte’s cabinet is focusing on a reopening plan that will be applied consistently across the country, with an emphasis on guaranteeing safe conditions at workplaces and on public transportation, according to his statement.

German Minister Wants Clarity From China (4:15 p.m. HK)

German Development Minister Gerd Mueller has urged China to clarify how the coronavirus originated following U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the nation may have deliberately caused the outbreak.

“The Chinese must show complete openness during this global crisis, especially when it comes to origin of the virus, otherwise a lot of trust will disappear,” Mueller said in an interview with the Funke media group published Sunday.

Mueller, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc, criticized Trump’s decision to halt funding for the World Health Organization, calling it “absolutely wrong” and praising the WHO’s “important role” in fighting the virus.

Too Soon to Ease U.K. Restrictions: Gove (3:32 p.m. HK)

The U.K. shouldn’t be thinking about lifting restrictions yet, as that could put the National Health Service at risk, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told Sky News. Some restrictions will still be needed after the lockdown is eased, he said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is “recovering well” a week after he was treated in the hospital for Covid-19, Gove said. He said the government’s first priority is to protect NHS staff and the greatest shortage in protective equipment is currently gowns. More than 15,000 people have died in the outbreak in the U.K., including 888 announced Saturday.

India Virus Cases Surge in Fourth Week of Lockdown (3:08 p.m. HK)

India recorded its largest daily spike in coronavirus cases, adding 1,400 new infections to its tally of more than 16,000 amid a nationwide lockdown that’s about to enter its fourth week.

The South Asian nation’s cases have been surging over the last week as it gradually scales up its testing capacity. Confirmed infections are up 78% to 16,365 on Sunday, from 9,200 on April 12, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

States in Myanmar Impose Night Curfews to Curb Spread (2:35 p.m. HK)

Some states in Myanmar, including its capital Naypyidaw, imposed night curfews, bringing the country into a semi-lockdown as authorities implement tighter measures to curb the spread.

People aren’t allowed to go out from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. in cities such as Yangon, Mandalay and Sagaing, with the new rule taking effect indefinitely from Saturday evening. Authorities didn’t elaborate on enforcement actions.

German Cases Rise by Least in 4 Days Before Curbs Eased (2:13 p.m. HK)

The number of coronavirus cases in Germany increased by the least in four days as the nation prepares for a cautious loosening of some restrictions on public life.

There were 2,327 new infections in the 24 hours through Sunday, taking the total to 143,724, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The number of fatalities rose by 186, the fewest in five days, to 4,538, while 85,400 people have recovered, more than in any other country, including China where the outbreak originated.

Germany Needs as Many as 12 Billion Masks Annually (2 p.m. HK)

Germany will need between 8 billion and 12 billion medical face masks a year and the government is moving ahead with steps to boost domestic production, according to Economy Minister Peter Altmaier.

“Our goal is to be able to produce millions of surgical masks in Germany by the second half of the summer,” Altmaier said in an interview with Bild am Sonntag newspaper. The government can’t force companies to make masks but will look to spur production with subsidies and purchase guarantees, Altmaier said.

Some of Germany’s 16 states have already decided masks should be mandatory in public places and others are expected to follow.

Malaysia’s Sabah State Shuts Some Palm Estates (1:37 p.m. HK)

Malaysia has suspended some palm oil operations in its top-producing state of Sabah as authorities intensify lockdown restrictions after infections spiked in farming villages, Bernama news agency reported.

China Coal Miners Call for 10% Production Cut Amid Glut (12:19 p.m. HK)

A dozen Chinese anthracite coal miners have called on the industry to slash production by 10% from current levels amid weak demand caused by the virus outbreak.

While anthracite coal output is now back at last year’s levels, demand recovery has lagged, leading to a “severe mismatch” in market fundamentals, according to a statement published Saturday on the website of the China Coal Transport & Distribution Association.

World’s Biggest Container Port Reopens in China (10:16 a.m. HK)

The world’s biggest automated container terminal resumed full operations, according to a video posted on Xinhua News Agency’s official Twitter account. The Shanghai Yangshan port was on partial lockdown during the worst of the pandemic outbreak in China.

More than 260 cargo ships entered and departed from the port between April 1 and April 13, a slight increase from the same period last year, according to Xinhua.

Australian Cases Rise Less Than 1% for 7th Day (9:58 a.m. HK)

The rate of increase in new cases of the coronavirus in Australia has stayed below 1% over the past seven days, as the nation holds tight on restrictive measures.

There were 53 new cases recorded in Australia in the 24 hours since 6 a.m. Saturday. Of the 6,586 confirmed cases, 69 have died and 4,163 have been reported as recovered. More than 411,000 tests have been conducted nationally.

South Korea Reports Fewest Cases Since Surge Started (9:21 a.m. HK)

South Korea posted the fewest number of new coronavirus cases since an outbreak at a religious sect in late February spiked daily infections to nearly 1,000 and set off a massive testing and tracing regime credited with curbing the virus’s spread.

South Korea’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it confirmed eight new cases in a 24-hour period, the lowest since Feb. 20 when the number of infections began rising exponentially after a parishioner of the 212,000-member Shincheongji church was confirmed with the virus. Prior to what has been labeled “patient no. 31,” South Korea had been averaging about three new cases a day.

Maduro Says Elections in Venezuela Not a Priority (9:10 a.m. HK)

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said it would be “irresponsible” to call for National Assembly elections amid the coronavirus outbreak.

“At this point I really don’t know if there will be elections this year,” he said in an interview on state television. “Because we have this priority and it would be irresponsible of me to say that there must be elections either way.”

Legislative elections are due to be held in 2020 by law, but High Court deliberations could rule them out.

China Praises WHO, Willing to Boost Support (9 a.m. HK)

China is willing to increase support to the World Health Organization as the world needs the group to eliminate Covid-19, a top Chinese diplomat said in a phone call with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

China’s government is in “firm support” of the WHO and criticisms are “groundless,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Ghebreyesus in a phone call on Saturday.

Trump Suggests Consequences for China (7:15 a.m. HK)

President Donald Trump raised the prospect that China deliberately caused the Covid-19 outbreak and said there should be consequences if the country is found to be “knowingly responsible.”

“Let’s see what happens with their investigation. But we’re doing investigations also,” Trump said. “If it was a mistake, a mistake is a mistake. But if they were knowingly responsible, yeah, then there should be consequences.”

Trump’s campaign sent a fundraising email last week that accused China of “lying” about the outbreak. But the president hasn’t been as harsh, and praised China for its handling of the pandemic.

Read the full story.

Liner Heads to Genoa to End Journey (6 a.m. HK)

Carnival Corp. will dock one of its last remaining ships at sea in Genoa, Italy, next week, allowing almost 2,000 travelers to return home and ending a dramatic series of weeks for the cruise line.

Once the Costa Deliziosa reaches port, only one other ship is seeking a port to unload passengers. Carnival has struggled to find places to dock after suspending sailing in mid-March amid the outbreak.

The cruise liner set sail in early January from Venice with 1,814 guests and 898 crew members on an around-the-world journey. There are no Covid-19 cases reported on the ship, Carnival said in a statement.

Trump Cites Positive Trends (5:15 p.m. NY)

Trump said signs keep showing the coronavirus has passed its peak, noting the U.S. has “produced better health outcomes” than most other counties.

The president said the mortality rate is lower than for much of Western Europe except for Germany. He said Spain — which has more than 20,000 fatalities — has a mortality rate four times higher than the U.S., which has more than 37,000 deaths.

Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas and Vermont have taken “concrete steps” to reopen their economies, the president said at his daily White House briefing.

U.K. Draws Up Schools Plan (5:10 p.m. NY)

Senior U.K. government ministers have drawn up a three-phase plan that would allow schools to reopen as early as May 11, the Sunday Times reported.

The proposal, to be presented to Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he returns to work, also envisages reopening clothing stores and garden centers, and the resumption of full bus and rail services.

A second phase, beginning in late May or early June, would see more businesses reopen, while pubs and stadium events wouldn’t be allowed until at least July.

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