29/04/20 COVID-19 Global News Update

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday said guidelines for reopening businesses after coronavirus lockdowns should be consistent across states, cities and counties, but cautioned that these should not morph into new, enforceable regulations. In a letter to President Donald Trump and selected governors, mayors and county ...

High Street fashion emporiums around the world have closed their doors for lockdowns, but the largely forgotten victims are thousands of miles from the glass and steel-fronted shopping arcades. Sabina Akhter is one of them. She works in a garment factory on the outskirts of Dhaka in Bangladesh making shirts ...

Some of America's biggest companies are offering investors a peek into how they are faring amid coronavirus shutdowns - and for many, the picture isn't pretty. US carmaker Ford lost $2bn (£1.6bn) in the first three months of the year, as sales dropped 15%. Starbucks saw sales fall 10% - ...

Most district councils in England will get £1m to compensate for lost income as part of £1.6bn fund.

Two sign language interpreters at Stormont briefings play a vital role for the deaf community.

Child vaccinations must continue as normal to avoid "other deadly diseases", a top GP warns.

Patients have begun receiving medical cannabis through the post, as the coronavirus pandemic has left them unable to access the drug any other way. Many medical cannabis users suffer from chronic pain and some have had other types of care, including non-emergency surgeries, postponed because of the outbreak. Dr Alan ...

An MP says she is getting reports of people returning to gambling after seeing online ads.

The coronavirus outbreak could lead to court case delays of up to six months and record prisoner numbers once the lockdown has been lifted, according to a leading Whitehall thinktank. Pressure on the criminal justice system from the pandemic combined with an anticipated rise in suspects facing charges could cause ...

In normal times, Pakistanis hungry for entertainment during the fasting month of Ramadan would avidly watch television game shows as contestants, urged on by rowdy studio audiences, compete for lavish prizes. But this is not a normal time.

The Tokyo Olympics are not contingent on the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus, International Olympic Committee member John Coates said on Wednesday.

The Indonesian government will defend its emergency regulation for a massive spending increase to cushion its economy against the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic, an official said on Wednesday, as the Constitutional Court reviewed its legality.

Australia plans to expand screening for the coronavirus after securing 10 million more test kits on Wednesday, a measure officials said is key to sustaining low transmission rates and allowing restrictions on social movement to be eased.

China accused Australia of "petty tricks" on Wednesday in an intensifying dispute over Canberra's push for an international inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak that could affect diplomatic and economic ties between the countries.

Spain has announced a four-phase plan to lift its stringent coronavirus lockdown and return to a "new normality" by the end of June. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said each region would relax restrictions at a different pace, depending on the severity of its outbreak. Four Spanish islands will be first ...