Coronavirus deaths in American surpass that of the Vietnam War DUBAI: More countries are exploring ways of easing their lockdown measures, imposed as the potentially lethal coronavirus pandemic started to spread. This is despite the number of people infected rising above three million and still rising. In the US, the Trump administration has been talking with local officials on the reopening businesses, despite indications that the coronavirus has claimed more American lives than the Vietnam War and is still rising. Wednesday, April 29, 2020 (All times in GMT) 18:51 - Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior announced it will allow entry and exit from Qatif governorate, and permission to roam will continue from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., starting from Thursday. The measures come within the framework of the Kingdom’s efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic, and to achieve the recommendations of the health authorities, the ministry said. 16:55 - The number of people who have died from coronavirus infection in France rose by 427 to 24,087, while hospitalizations for the disease and people in ICU units continued to decline, the health ministry said in a statement. The death toll has increased 1.8% compared with Tuesday, a slightly higher rate of increase than over the previous 24 hours. 16:10 - Turkey’s official death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 3,081, the health minister said. In a tweet, Fahrettin Koca said 89 more deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours while there were 2,936 new cases. The total number of reported infections is now 117,589, as Turkey remains the worst hit country in the Middle East. During a press conference earlier on Wednesday, Koca said Turkey was now in the “peak period,” adding: “We see a downward trend” in new cases. 16:08 - Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy climbed by 323 on Wednesday, against 382 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, while the daily tally of new infections stood at 2,086, broadly stable from 2,091 on Tuesday. 16:04 - Britain’s official death toll of people who tested positive for coronavirus jumped to 26,097, as the country began including out-of-hospital deaths for the first time. The change, up from 21,678 on Tuesday, comes as the health officials started accounting for deaths in places such as care homes. 15:52 - The Sudanese Ministry of Health announced the registration of 57 new coronavirus cases, in addition to 3 deaths, bringing the total number of cases since the beginning of the epidemic to 375 cases, including 28 deaths. 15:22 - Canadian hospitals had beds to spare as the country hit 50,373 confirmed coronavirus cases, and several provinces were relaxing public health measures, but health experts were already worrying about a future wave of infections. 13:30 - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says world air traffic suffered a massive drop of more than half in March compared with the same period last year. The 52.9 percent drop when measured by total revenue per passenger kilometres "was the largest decline in recent history, reflecting the impact of government actions to slow the spread of COVID-19." 13:15 - The German economy will suffer the biggest slump in its history this year over the coronavirus crisis, the government warned Wednesday, pushing Europe’s top economy into a painful recession. German gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to shrink by a record 6.3 percent as demand for exports plummets and lockdown restrictions weigh on domestic consumption, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said in Berlin. 12:51 - Tunisia said first sectors to reopen after May 4 will include food industry, construction and half of public service, with clothing shops and malls to reopen after May 11. 12:43 - Saudi Arabia confirmed five new coronavirus fatalities, bringing the total number to 157 deaths. The Ministry of Health also reported 1,325 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 21,402 infected people, with169 new recoveries, bringing the total to 2,953 recovered patients. 11:50 - Qatari authorities said coronavirus has reached the peak and confirmed 109 recoveries, total recovered patients at 1,243. They also reported 643 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 12,564 infected people. 11:35 - Kuwait confirmed 300 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 3,740 infected people. 11:00 - Bahrain confirmed 58 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 2,869 infected people. 10:56 - Lebanon confirmed four new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 721 infected people. 10:30 - Morocco confirmed 37 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 4,289 infected people. 10:20 - Iran’s coronavirus cases increase to 93,657 and fatalities reach 5,957. 08:09 – Israel reported 54 new cases, bringing the country’s caseload to 15,782. 08:01 – Oman confirmed 143 new cases, bringing its caseload to 2,274 patients. 07:50 – Russia reported 5,841 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 99,399 infected people. 07:31 – Singapore’s health ministry confirmed 690 more coronavirus infections on Wednesday, taking total cases there to 15,641. 03:57 – The Jordanian government has relaxed curfew restrictions in the Madaba, Ajloun and Jerash governorates on Wednesday as the kingdom aims to return to normalcy. 03:38 – The Lebanese government’s repatriation efforts are back in full swing with two flights bringing home nationals stranded abroad because of the coronavirus pandemic. 03:24 – Brazil, the South American country worst-hit by the coronavirus pandemic, has registered more than 5,000 deaths from COVID-19, the health ministry said, pushing the toll above that of China. A record 474 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours, with the number of infections rising to 71,886, the ministry said. 03:10 – The US coronavirus death toll climbed above 58,000 on Tuesday, surpassing the loss of American life during the Vietnam War, as Florida’s governor met with President Donald Trump to discuss an easing of economic restraints. READ THE STORY 02:33 – US destroyer USS Kidd, hit by dozens of coronavirus cases, sailed into San Diego for cleaning, making it the second Navy warship temporarily put out of action by the pandemic. With 63 percent of the 300-strong crew tested, 64 sailors aboard the USS Kidd were found positive for COVID-19, the navy said. Tuesday, April 28, 2020 (All times in GMT) 23:13 – Iran’s health ministry confirmed more than 1,100 COVID-19 cases and 71 deaths, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. The COVID-19 death toll surpassed 5,800, the highest in the Middle East, as the total caseload hit 92,600. 22:44 –Iraq’s Ministry of Health confirmed two COVID-19 fatalities, bringing the death toll across the country to 90. They recorded 81 new infections, as the caseload exceeded 1,900. The surge in cases was due to a gathering at a condolence house in the southern city of Basrah, the ministry explained. 16:33 – No new COVID-19 infections were reported in Jordan, Minister of Health Saad Jabir announced, adding that one patient died from the virus at the Queen Alia Hospital in the capital Amman. Accordingly, the Kingdom’s caseload remains at 449, including 89 active cases after six patients were discharged, the minister indicated. 13:43 – The UAE health ministry detected 541 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 11,380. It also announced the death of seven patients due to complications arising from COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths from COVID-19 in the country to 89. 12:00 – Oman registered 82 new cases with COVID-19, bringing the total number to 2,131. 11:43 – Kuwait reported 152 new coronavirus infections over the previous 24 hours, bringing the total of infections to 3,440. One person died, bringing the total number of fatalities to 23.