Hong Kong denies mass Chinese coronavirus tests are bid to harvest DNA
HONG KONG denied plans to harvest residents’ DNA as part of a China-backed coronavirus-testing blitz, as deep political mistrust further complicates the city’s efforts to contain its worst outbreak ever.
Singapore to require all incoming travelers to wear electronic tags to enforce coronavirus quarantine
SINGAPORE — Singapore will make some incoming travellers wear an electronic monitoring device to ensure that they comply with coronavirus quarantines as the city-state gradually reopens its borders, authorities said on Monday.
Indonesia stocks, rupiah fall amid fears over tougher virus lockdown
Monday’s plunge in Indonesian and Philippine stocks shows how quickly investor sentiment can turn when there’s a delay in economic reopening or stay-at-home orders are reinstated.
Australia’s Victoria declares state of disaster as coronavirus cases spike
AUSTRALIA’s Victoria state tightened restrictions and declared a state of disaster after its outbreak showed no signs of abating three weeks after capital Melbourne was put under lockdown.
Japan’s Suga sees difficult balance between virus fight, economy
Japan is trying to both contain a resurgence of the coronavirus outbreak and support the economy, especially the tourism sector, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.
No ‘zero risk’ in international travel, WHO says
Countries should gradually lift international travel measures based on a thorough risk assessment and must prioritize essential travel for emergencies, the World Health Organization...
Children carry COVID-19 virus, small study finds
Children younger than five carried major amounts of coronavirus in their upper respiratory tract, a small study published on Thursday showed, raising new questions...
As pandemic rages on, world economic recovery looks ever more shaky
BENGALURU — The world economic outlook has dimmed again, with still-rising coronavirus infections and the risk of renewed lockdowns increasing the chances that any...
US records a coronavirus death every minute as total surpasses 150,000
One person in the United States died about every minute from COVID-19 on Wednesday as the national death toll surpassed 150,000, the highest in the world.
Hong Kong police arrest 4 under new security law
HONG KONG — Hong Kong police have arrested four people aged 16-21 for suspected offenses under the city’s new national security law, the first such detentions outside of street protests since the legislation took effect a month ago.
Herd immunity seems to be developing in Mumbai’s poorest areas
AROUND SIX in 10 people living in some of India’s biggest slums have antibodies for the novel coronavirus indicating they’ve recovered from infection, in what appears to be one of the highest population immunity levels known worldwide.
China’s Sinopharm to test potential COVID-19 vaccine in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO — Chinese drug company Sinopharm and Parana state have agreed to launch the fourth major COVID-19 vaccine trial in Brazil and will seek regulatory approval in the next two weeks, the Brazilian partners said on Wednesday.