World Briefs

CHINA Wuhan again reported no new coronavirus cases or deaths yesterday and its hospitals remained empty of virus patients for a second straight day. China’s six new cases were three imported from overseas and three in Heilongjiang province bordering Russia. No new deaths were reported nationwide and just 648 current confirmed cases remained registered.

INDIA The Chinese embassy in India says it was “unfair and irresponsible” to “label” Chinese testing kits procured by India as “faulty.” India canceled orders to procure rapid antibody testing kits from two Chinese companies after quality issues and controversies over its price. Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Rong said, “The quality of medical products exported from China is prioritized.”

AUSTRALIA Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach reopened to swimmers and surfers despite the local area having Australia’s highest concentration of COVID-19 cases. People can only enter during daylight hours, cannot linger on the sand and are counted to ensure social distancing. Hundreds braved cool autumn weather to return to the water soon after the gates opened.

JAPAN said it will approve remdecivir, a closely watched antiviral drug made by Gillead Sciences Inc., for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in the country. The drug is expected to be the first approved COVID-19 drug in Japan. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga that Japan has been part of multinational testing of remdecivir and that it was moving ahead overseas.

SOUTH KOREA has repeated calls for joint efforts with North Korea to fight the coronavirus. A South Korean presidential official said yesterday that Seoul doesn’t expect possible efforts to clash with sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear program. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said earlier that joint anti-virus efforts could provide a “new opportunity” for inter-Korean engagement. But the North has ignored the calls.

GERMANY’s disease control center said the country’s rate of corona virus infections has slightly increased but the number of new infections remains at a manageable level. Lothar Wieler (pictured) says the “R” factor – the number of people infected by every person with COVID-19 – is now 0.96. Authorities have said they want to try to keep it below 1 to keep the pandemic manageable for the health care system.

AUSTRIAN officials say the rate of coronavirus infections has steadied and it can soon enter a phase of relaxing lockdown measures. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober says the country will begin winding down restrictions, starting May 1 through the end of June. Tourism minister Elisabeth Koestinger says restaurants will reopen on May 15.

OLYMPICS The head of Japan’s medical association said it will be difficult to hold the Olympics without coronavirus vaccines. “I hope vaccines and drugs will be developed as soon as possible,” Japan Medical Association President Yoshitake Yokokura told a video news conference in Tokyo. The Tokyo 2020 Games have been rescheduled to July next year.