DUBAI: Governments across the Middle East stepped up COVID-19 testing in a push to curb the virus. Coronavirus infections rose by 412 in the UAE on Tuesday after the ministry of health announced it had tested over 32,000 people. Meanwhile Kuwait said trucks entering the country would be sanitized, while Jordan stated that non-Jordanian trucks will be allowed entry after testing. April 15, 2020 Wednesday (GMT time) 16:02 - Canada"s confirmed coronavirus cases rise to 27,540 from 27,063 on april 14; 954 deaths, up from 903 - public health agency data said. 16:00 - Jordan"s PM Razzaz says will ease tight #Coronavirus lockdown in the country by allowing more businesses to go back to work. 15:30 - The US decision to freeze funding ro the World Health Organization over what President Donald Trump said was its "mismanaging" of the global coronavirus pandemic triggered anger and concern on Wednesday. "We regret the decision of the president of the United States to order a halt in funding to the World Health Organization" -- WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a virtual news conference. "There is no time to waste. WHO"s singular focus is on working to serve all people to save lives and stop the COVID-19 pandemic" he said earlier on Twitter. 14:45 - Today"s instalment of Coronanomics from Cornelia Meyer looks at the IMF"s global outlook for economies in 2020 and why it makes for grim reading. READ FULL INSTALMENT HERE. 14:00 - Saudi Arabia says there have been 6 new deaths due to the coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 79 and a total number of 5,862 infections. 13:15 - Emirates Airlines says it will carry out quick coronavirus tests for passengers before take off on its flights. 12:40 - Saudi Arabia"s King Salman has approved a new package of initiatives to support the private sector amid the Kingdom"s fight against the COVID-19 virus, including paying $2.39 billion to cover 60% of the salaries for nationals working in the private sector and dedicating an additional $12.5 billion as needed to the health sector. 12:00 - The IMF said on Wednesday that debt levels, unemployment and budget deficits will spike in the Middle East as the region faces the coronavirus crisis 11:30 – Qatar confirmed 283 new coronavirus cases, bringing its caseload to 3,711. 10:45 – Moscow said Wednesday it will review a new electronic permit system to regulate its coronavirus lockdown after large crowds formed in metros as police checked passes. READ THE STORY 10:42 – Greece transferred a dozen unaccompanied children from overcrowded migrant camps to Luxembourg, the first of more than 1,000 relocations that are being expedited amid concerns over the impact of coronavirus on vulnerable groups. 10:13 – Lebanon confirmed 17 new cases, bringing the total to 658 coronavirus infections, and 21 deaths and 81 recoveries. 10:03 – Iran’s new coronavirus death toll rose to 4,777 on Wednesday, health ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said in a statement on state TV. 09:49 – Malaysia on Wednesday reported 85 new cases of coronavirus, the lowest daily rise since the government imposed curbs to limit the virus’ spread on March 18. 09:16 – Morocco confirmed 100 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 1,988 people infected. 09:13 – Spain’s daily coronavirus toll fell again as the country confirmed 523 fatalities, bringing the total to 18,579. 09:12 – Japan urged its citizens on Wednesday to stay home, as media reports warned that as many as 400,000 of them could die of the coronavirus without urgent action. 08:47 – Palestine said there were three new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 332 people infected. 08:13 – The Philippines’ health ministry on Wednesday reported 14 new coronavirus deaths and 230 additional infections. 08:02 – Global oil demand will fall by a record amount this year as lockdown measures introduced to curb the coronavirus outbreak bring the economy to a virtual halt, the International Energy Agency. 08:00 – Finland will lift the lockdown of its capital region Helsinki on April 15 as first act of easing its coronavirus related restrictions. 07:50 – Kuwait confirmed the recovery of 30 coronavirus patients, bringing the total number of those recovered in the country to 206. 07:36 –Russia reported 3,388 new cases of the coronavirus, a record daily rise, bringing its overall nationwide tally to 24,490. 07:30 – Israel announced the number of people who died of coronavirus in the country has reached 124. 07:26 – India will allow industries located in the countryside to reopen next week, as well as resuming farm activities to reduce the pain for millions of people hit by a lengthy shutdown in its coronavirus battle. READ THE STORY 06:58 – Oman confirmed 97 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 910 infected people. 06:14 – Coronavirus infections rose by 412 in the UAE on Tuesday after the ministry of health announced it had tested over 32,000 people. 04:55 – Thailand reported 30 new coronavirus cases and two deaths. 04:51 – Germany’s confirmed coronavirus cases have risen by 2,486 to 127,584, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed