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Spain began 10 days of mourning on Wednesday in memory of the more than 27,000 people who have lost their lives to the coronavirus. Flags are flying at half-mast until June 5.
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South Korea has seen its highest spike in cases in 49 days with a new cluster now emerging around an online delivery depot west of Seoul.
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A new study is warning that Brazil could be facing a death toll of 125,000 people by early August while the WHO has warned the Americas are the new epicentre.
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More than 5.6 million cases of coronavirus have been confirmed around the world, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. More than 350,000 people have died, while nearly 2.3 million have recovered.
Here are the latest updates:
Wednesday, May 27
12:11 GMT – Pandemic creating ‘lockdown generation’ as one in six youths stop work: UN
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused surging unemployment worldwide, but has hit young workers especially hard, forcing more than one in six people aged under 29 to stop working, the UN said.
“I don’t think it is giving way to hyperbole to talk about the danger of a lockdown generation,” International Labour Organization chief Guy Ryder told a virtual press conference, warning that the impact on young people’s work opportunities could “last a decade or longer.”
11:58 GMT – Putin gets invitation from UK’s Johnson on vaccine summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to take part in a summit on the coronavirus vaccine, but no decision has been made yet on participation, the Kremlin said.
On June 4, the British government will hold the Global Vaccine Summit 2020 to mobilise resources needed to ensure universal availability of the vaccine against the coronavirus.
11:39 GMT – Premier League clubs vote for return to contact training
Premier League clubs voted unanimously to return to contact training, including tackling, as the English top flight moved a step closer to a resumption after the stoppage due to the coronavirus.
A statement, following a meeting of all 20 clubs, said: “Squads are now able to train as a group and engage in tackling while minimising any unnecessary close contact.
“The Premier League’s priority is the health and wellbeing of all participants.”
Clubs last week returned to training in small groups without contact and under strict health protocols.
There have been no Premier League matches since early March because of the pandemic and 92 fixtures remain.
Premier League Shareholders today voted unanimously to resume contact training, marking another step towards restarting the Premier League season, when safe to do so
Full statement: https://t.co/mZmkUHoStp pic.twitter.com/E90KCAIgH4
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 27, 2020
10:35 GMT – Oman to end lockdown of Muscat governorate
Oman will on Friday end a lockdown of its Muscat governorate – which includes the capital – that has been in place since April 10 as the sultanate eases its coronavirus containment measures, the state news agency reported.
It said a state committee had also ordered government entities to ensure at least 50 percent of employees are working from their offices from May 31.
10:29 GMT – British Tour heralds return of elite-level tennis in UK
A series of professional tennis events will take place in Britain from early July as the sport continues to emerge from the shutdown caused by the pandemic.
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) said four British Tour events would be held between July 3-26, subject to confirmation of government requirements.
“Since the coronavirus crisis, we have been working incredibly hard to support all our players, venues, coaches and officials through this very challenging time,” LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd said in a statement.
“I’m delighted to announce today the next stage of elite tennis’s return to competing safely behind closed doors as part of a five-phase plan coordinated by UK Sport with Government.”
10:17 GMT – EU proposes 750bn-euro recovery fund
The European Commission proposed a 750 billion euro recovery fund to reboot the European economy that has been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, a top official said.
Paolo Gentiloni, the EU Economic Affairs Commissioner, in a tweet, hailed the proposal as a “European breakthrough” that would “tackle an unprecedented crisis”.
09:23 GMT – France halts hydroxychloroquine for coronavirus treatment
The French government banned treatment of COVID-19 patients with hydroxychloroquine, a controversial and potentially harmful drug that US President Donald Trump has said he is taking preventively.
The move came after two French advisory bodies and the World Health Organization warned this week that the drug – a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus – had been shown to be potentially dangerous in several studies.
Under the new French rules, the drug can be used only in clinical trials to test its efficacy against the virus.
The WHO warned this week that hydroxychloroquine had been shown to be potentially dangerous in several studies [George Frey/AFP]
09:01 GMT – Indonesia reports 686 new cases, 55 deaths
Indonesia reported 686 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections in the Southeast Asian country to 23,851, a health ministry official said.
Indonesia also confirmed 55 new deaths from the virus, bringing the total fatalities to 1,473, the official, Achmad Yurianto, told reporters.
Meanwhile, 6,057 people have recovered.
.@DrAmirKhanGP shares how you can keep fit and active from home during #coronavirus lockdown. pic.twitter.com/pBZxSFgSVf
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 27, 2020
08:32 GMT – Spain begins 10 days of national mourning
Spain has begun an official 10-day mourning period for the tens of thousands of victims of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
All flags on public buildings across the nation and on Spanish naval vessels will be lowered to half-mast until June 5 to pay tribute to the more than 27,000 people that have so far lost their lives.
Read more here.
08:28 GMT – Philippines reports 18 new deaths, 380 more infections
The Philippines’ health ministry reported 18 new coronavirus deaths and 380 additional infections, the highest single-day increase in cases in more than seven weeks.
In a bulletin, the ministry said total deaths have reached 904, while confirmed cases have risen to 15,049. It said 94 more patients have recovered, bringing total recoveries to 3,506.
Customers wearing protective face masks make their transactions through a plastic barrier as a preventive measure against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in a local grocery in Quezon City [Eloisa Lopez/Reuters]
08:22 GMT – Finland unemployment nearly doubles in April from year ago
Finland’s number of unemployed jobseekers nearly doubled in April to 433,100 from 229,700 a year earlier, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment said.
The number of jobseekers increased by 124,000 in April from the previous month, it said.
The ministry’s numbers, based on registered jobseekers at Finland’s employment offices, includes those who have been temporarily laid off due to the coronavirus outbreak.
07:37 GMT – Russia reports new deaths, cases
Russia said 161 people with the coronavirus had died in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 3,968.
Officials reported 8,338 new cases, pushing Russia’s overall case tally to 370,680.
07:15 GMT – Singapore reports 533 new cases
Singapore’s health ministry reported 533 new coronavirus cases, taking its total to 32,876.
06:57 GMT – UK gov’t says ‘move on’ to public outraged over Cummings conduct
The British government said that it was time to move on after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s senior adviser provoked outrage and widespread scorn by making a 400 km (250 mile) road trip during the coronavirus lockdown.
Dominic Cummings has refused to quit after it was revealed that he had driven from London to northern England in March with his 4-year-old son and his wife, who was sick at the time, to be close to relatives.
Johnson has backed his adviser.
“Now I think is the time for us all to move on,” Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told the BBC.
“That’s not to say this isn’t an important issue or that people don’t care a great deal about it but I think there is a lot more that we need to focus on now, like the virus and the economy.”
Dominic Cummings, special advisor for Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves his house in London, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) [Hannah McKay/Reuters]
06:32 GMT – Bulgaria to reopen restaurants, bars and cafes
Bulgaria will allow restaurants, bars and cafes to reopen at full capacity on June 1 as the Balkan country further eased restrictions imposed in mid-March to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Health Minister Kiril Ananiev approved the decision, and also allowed the resumption of cultural and entertainment events, including theatres, concerts and stage performances. Dance classes could also resume, using up to 30 percent of their indoor capacity and up to 50 percent of the outdoor capacity.
According to the order, however, discos, piano bars and night bars must stay closed as the country remains under a declared epidemic situation until June 14.
06:10 GMT – Dubai eases lockdown restrictions
Cinemans, gyms, educational institutes and entertainment attractions have been allowed to reopen in Dubai, days after an extension on a nationwide curfew was imposed in the United Arab Emirates.
There will be no restrictions on movement or business operations between 6am and 11pm local time, Dubai’s Media office said, adding that social distancing rules must be observed.
Under the directives of @HHShkMohd, @HamdanMohammed announces the gradual reopening of business activities in #Dubai from Wednesday, 27 May. There will be no restrictions on movement between 6.00 am and 11.00 pm. pic.twitter.com/7ZeMKpyKUY
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 25, 2020
Hello, this is Farah Najjar taking over from my colleague Kate Mayberry .
05:30 GMT –
I am handing over this blog to my colleagues in Doha shortly.
A quick update on developments this morning. The global death toll has risen above 350,000, according to Johns Hopkins University, South Korea has seen its highest spike in cases in 49 days with a new cluster now emerging around an online delivery depot, and Japan and the EU are preparing giant new stimulus packages for coronavirus-hit economies.
05:00 GMT – Pakistan government mulls renewed lockdown measures as cases surge
Pakistan’s government is mulling a renewed lockdown after its move to lift many coronavirus restrictions over the past two weeks led to a surge in new cases.
Defacto health minister Zafar Mirza said there had been a “severe rush” to markets and people were behaving as if “the virus had been eradicated” since the curbs were relaxed.
04:45 GMT – Major economies prepare massive new stimulus packages
The European Union and Japan are preparing massive new stimulus packages to get their economies moving after weeks of coronavirus lockdown.
Japan’s measures are due to be finalised at a cabinet meeting later on Wednesday. The $1.1 trillion package includes cash for small and medium-sized enterprises, payouts to healthcare workers as well as funds for vaccine development and medical equipment, and rental subisidies for people or businesses who are struggling.
The 27-nation EU is also due to unveil its latest stimulus plan on Wednesday. The more than one trillion euro initiative involves grants, loans and guarantees. Some of the more fiscally conservative nations have expressed concern about the grants because they would need to be repaid through joint borrowing, which could lead to higher national contributions to the EU budget.
04:20 GMT – South Korea sees spike in cases with new cluster at retail logistics centre
South Korea has seen its biggest surge in new coronavirus cases in 49 days with a new cluster emerging at a retail logistics centre west of Seoul.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) says it confirmed 40 new cases up to midnight on Tuesday.
At least 36 cases have been linked to the Coupang warehouse, which was closed for disinfection on Monday. All 3,600 people who work there are being tested for the virus. Coupang enjoyed a surge of business as South Koreans stayed indoors although some of its workers complained about conditions.
“We are very nervous about community infections and we are keeping a close eye on the situation,” vice minister for health Kim Kang-lip said at a briefing.
Coupang workers in their distinctive royal blue clothing at the logistics centre [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters]
04:15 GMT – ‘I use it as a prophylaxis’: El Salvador’s leader touts hydroxychloroquine
El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele has joined US President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to extol the benefits of hydroxychloroquine.
Bukele said he wasn’t promoting it as a treatment of coronavirus – given medical concern about its use – but as a preventative measure.
“I use it as a prophylaxis, President Trump uses it as a prophylaxis, most of the world’s leaders use it as a prophylaxis,” he claimed.
In case you’re wondering about the drug, read what our resident doctor had to say about it here. There are some pretty nasty side-effects.
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WHO suspends clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 |
04:00 GMT – New Zealand expects safe travel plan with Australia by June
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is expecting a draft blueprint for resuming travel between the two countries will be ready by early June.
“We are working to move on this as quickly as we can can,” Ardern told reporters this morning. “We are both very keen on it … across both sides of the ditch.”
The idea is to create a travel bubble that would allow Australians and New Zealanders to travel to each other’s countries without the need for a 14-day coronavirus quarantine.
03:25 GMT – Singapore sets up vending machines for masks
Singapore has set up vending machines at community centres around the island to dispense free, resuable face masks.
The city-state made face masks compulsory on April 14 and gave out free masks to every household.
02:05 GMT – Australia records youngest coronavirus death
A 30-year-old man with underlying health conditions has died in Queensland, becoming the youngest victim of the coronavirus in Australia.
The authorities are tracing a possible link between the man and the Ruby Princess cruise ship which triggered the biggest cluster of cases in the country after it docked in Sydney in March. His partner is also showing symptoms of the disease.
Some 103 people in Australia have now died from coronavirus.
01:30 GMT – Global death toll exceeds 350,000: Johns Hopkins
Data compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows the confirmed death toll from coronavirus around the world is now 350,417, with roughly 28 percent of those deaths in the United States. The actual toll could be much higher.
- US – 98,902
- United Kingdom – 37,130
- Italy – 32,955
- France – 28,533
- Spain – 27,117
China, where the disease was first recorded late last year, has confirmed 4,638 deaths.
We have been trying to document some of the lives lost over the past few months.
You can read more on some of the victims here. If there is someone you would like to pay tribute to please do get in touch.
00:00 GMT – Spain to begin 10 days of national mourning
Spain, one of the countries worst hit by the coronavirus, will begin 10 days of national mourning on Wednesday to remember the more than 27,000 people who have lost their lives to the disease.
Flags will be flown at half-mast at the thousands of public buildings across the nation, as well as on the ships of the Spanish navy.
At the end of the mourning period on June 5, King Felipe VI will also lead an official ceremony in remembrance of the dead.
23:30 GMT (Tuesday) – Police in Brazil raid home of Bolsonaro rival in coronavirus probe
Brazilian federal police on Tuesday raided the homes of Rio de Janeiro Governor Wilson Witzel as part of a COVID-19 corruption investigation.
Witzel is a political rival of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro.
The federal police said the search warrants were part of an investigation into alleged corruption involving the use of public money earmarked for the coronavirus pandemic. Read more on that story here.
Supporters of Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro who has dismissed the coronavirus as a ‘little flu’ protest against Rio de Janeiro Governor Wilson Witzel’s measures to fight the outbreak. Witzel is now the target of a police probe into the use of coronavirus funds [Lucas Landau/Reuters]
23:00 GMT (Tuesday) – ‘Still accelerating’ – WHO warns on coronavirus in Americas
The WHO’s regional Latin American health authority has warned that the new coronavirus is “still accelerating” in Brazil, Peru, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua, with the Americas becoming the new epicentre of the global pandemic.
Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. I’m Kate Mayberry in Kuala Lumpur. Read all the updates from yesterday (May 26) here.
