Coronavirus

Northern Hai Duong Province, currently Vietnam’s biggest coronavirus hotspot with 684 cases, was the epicenter of a new Covid-19 wave that has swept 13 cities and provinces since Jan. 28. Over a month later, Hai Duong is still detecting new transmissions every day, though the number of infections has markedly dropped since the province entered a 15-day social distancing period starting Feb. 16. Tran Dac Phu, an advisor to Vietnam Public Health Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and former head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health, on Tuesday said while Hai Duong has done its best to fight Covid-19 outbreaks, several challenges have caused infections to persevere in the province. The coronavirus wave in Hai Duong was noticed after a woman from the province entered Japan for work and eventually tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Vietnam was only informed of the case thanks to the initiative of Japanese authorities, meaning isolation and … [Read more...] about What afforded the coronavirus its Hai Duong foothold

NEW YORK: Hopes that the economy-crushing coronavirus pandemic might be easing sent Wall Street climbing sharply on Monday (Apr 6), with all three main indices higher at the close of trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average powered 1,627.46 points higher, a gain of 7.73 per cent, to close at 22,679.99 after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the death rate in the hardest-hit US state was "effectively flat" for the past two days even as he extended a lockdown until the end of the month. The broad-based S&P 500 closed at 2,663.68, a gain of 7.03 per cent, while the tech-rich Nasdaq won 7.33 per cent to finish at 7,913.24. Over the weekend, US Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned that this week "is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans' lives," but President Donald Trump struck a different tone earlier on Monday, tweeting, "LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL!" That seemed to cheer investors, along with news of declining death rates in Italy, Spain, … [Read more...] about Signs of hope on coronavirus buoys Wall Street

LONDON: Liverpool on Monday (Apr 6) scrapped their controversial decision to furlough non-playing staff during the coronavirus pandemic after the Premier League leaders apologised for coming to the "wrong conclusion". The Reds, the world's seventh-richest football club, were widely criticised after announcing at the weekend that they planned to put around 200 staff on enforced leave during the pandemic while the British government pays 80 per cent of their wages. With the Premier League postponed because of the virus, Liverpool's US-based Fenway Sports Group owners came under fire for exploiting the furlough scheme to save money at the same time as they continue to pay huge salaries to star players like Mohamed Salah. Fellow top-flight teams Tottenham, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Norwich have already furloughed staff, but it was Liverpool - who made pre-tax profits of £42 million for the 2018-19 season - that came in for the most criticism, in part due to their reputation as a … [Read more...] about Football: Liverpool won’t apply for UK coronavirus financial aid, says CEO

Authorities in Hanoi have allowed local restaurants and cafés to reopen as the latest wave of COVID-19 infections had subsided, but strict prevention and control measures will have to be taken at these venues. Vice-chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung announced at a meeting on Monday that all eateries and coffee shops with indoor services would be permitted to resume operations from 0:00 on Tuesday. Partitions must be installed or a minimum distance of one meter must be kept between each person. Other COVID-19 prevention and control measures will also have to be taken seriously. The municipal administration also encouraged these venues to focus on takeaway services as the safest option. Discos, bars, karaoke parlors, online game centers, and roadside eateries and cafés will remain shuttered until further notice, according to vice-chairman Dung. Due to the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hanoi authorities previously shut down all … [Read more...] about Hanoi reopens restaurants, coffee shops as coronavirus outbreak subsides

REUTERS: US airlines are extending loyalty programme benefits and status into 2021 for members homebound because of the new coronavirus. Business and leisure travel have virtually ground to a halt worldwide, forcing airlines to drastically reduce flying schedules and ground their jets. Before the pandemic, carriers had been actively courting business or first-class travelers in particular to boost revenue as competition intensified. United Airlines Holdings Inc is extending current members' MileagePlus Premier status through January 2022, reducing thresholds for Premier qualification by 50 per cent, offering more credit card points and making it easier to upgrade seating. Delta Air Lines Inc is extending its SkyMiles Medallion Members' status as well as the expiration dates for upgrade certificates and travel vouchers. American Airlines Group Inc on Monday had no updates on its elite programme, but said it was continuing to assess the situation. Airlines are also offering … [Read more...] about US airlines ease loyalty programmes in coronavirus travel slump