VI
EN
Argentinian newspaper calls Vietnam's "fight against the pandemic" a "model".
Under the title "The fight against SARS-CoV-2: The Vietnamese model - A global example," the Argentinian website OJODIGITAL recently published an article about Vietnam's successes in containing Covid-19.
According to the article, over the past nearly three months, initial complacency has cost many countries dearly, resulting in unprecedented numbers of cases and deaths. In this context, however, there are still bright spots around the world regarding the prevention and containment of the pandemic, serving as models for the global community. This is the case of Vietnam – a country located close to the world's first major outbreak, with a population of over 95 million, yet to date only 257 positive cases of SARS-CoV-2, of which 144 have recovered and there have been no deaths.
According to OJODIGITAL, the difficult times caused by the pandemic have also shown that the Vietnamese people support the policies implemented by the Government, including the social distancing measures.
South Korea continues to report fewer than 30 new cases.
On April 13, according to the South Korean CDC, the country recorded 25 new infections and 3 new deaths, bringing the total number of infections and deaths in the country to 10,537 and 217 respectively.
This is the second time since the end of February that South Korea has reported fewer than 30 new cases of the virus. However, authorities remain highly vigilant regarding outbreaks at churches and hospitals, as well as cases imported from abroad.
With a sharp increase in infections, Indonesia is tightening transportation restrictions.
Indonesia announced 399 new cases of the novel coronavirus on April 12. This is the highest single-day increase in the country to date.
Indonesian authorities say the country has imposed stricter measures on public transportation ahead of an annual "migration" that raises concerns about the potential spread of Covid-19.
Specifically, Indonesians are expected to flock back to their villages to mark the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, so around 75 million people there typically return to their hometowns during this time. This year, Indonesia's Ramadan will end at the end of May.
According to the plan, Indonesia will only allow buses, subways, boats, and airplanes to carry half their total seating capacity. Similarly, private cars will only be allowed to carry half their seating capacity, and motorcycles will only be permitted to carry one person.
Indonesia currently has 4,241 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 373 deaths.
The Malaysian Ministry of Health also announced 153 new cases of coronavirus infection on the same day, bringing the country's total to 4,683. Malaysia continues to have the highest number of infections in Southeast Asia.
India and Venezuela extend lockdowns.
With a surge in infections, the Indian state of Maharashtra has extended its lockdown until “at least” April 30. Maharashtra is the hardest-hit state by Covid-19 in India, and is the third state to extend its lockdown until the end of April, after Punjab and Odisha.
In other developments, the Venezuelan government also announced it would extend the lockdown for another 30 days. Therefore, instead of the lockdown ending on April 13th, Venezuela will continue its national state of emergency and lockdown until May 13th.
The US has declared a national disaster due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the first time in history, the United States has had to declare a national disaster. The declaration, issued by US President Donald Trump, applies to all 50 states on April 12th.
According to the latest update from worldometers.info, the US currently has 560,443 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 22,115 deaths. The area most severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in the US is New York City with 6,898 deaths.
The US currently leads the world in both the number of infections and deaths.
The number of infections in Russia has increased to a record high.
On April 12, Russia announced 2,186 new cases of Covid-19, the highest number recorded in a single day in the country. Russia now has a total of 15,770 infections, with 130 deaths from the disease.
In France, as of early morning on April 13th, the epidemic had claimed the lives of 14,393 patients (an increase of 561 cases in the past 24 hours). The total number of coronavirus cases in France is 132,591, the third highest in Europe, including 2,937 new cases.
In addition to the 27,186 people who have recovered and been discharged from hospital, France estimates that tens of thousands of other virus cases are self-isolating and receiving treatment at home.
Spain eases lockdown.
Spain's number of new coronavirus infections on April 12 continued to fall to a record low since the outbreak began. The death toll stood at 619, and the number of new infections increased by only 2.6% to 3,804 cases.
Spain's total death toll from the pandemic is 17,209 and the total number of infections is 166,831.
These figures are seen as evidence that the lockdown, implemented since March 14th, has been effective. Many factories and construction sites are preparing to resume work today.
Further positive signals from several other European countries.
The number of new deaths in Italy announced on April 12th was only 431, a sharp decrease from the 619 cases of the previous day and the lowest level since March 19th.
The number of new infections on April 12 also decreased to 4,092 cases, nearly 600 fewer than the previous day, bringing the total number of infections to 156,363, including 34,211 who have recovered.
In Germany, this is the first time since the pandemic broke out in late February that the number of recovered patients has exceeded the total number of active cases. Specifically, as of the morning of April 13th, the total number of Covid-19 patients was 127,574, of which 60,300 had recovered.
On the evening of April 12th, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was discharged from St Thomas' Hospital after nearly a week of treatment. However, according to an announcement from the Prime Minister's Office, Johnson will not return to work immediately.
Pope Francis gives his blessing via video camera.
Pope Francis broke with centuries-old tradition for the first time, live-streaming Easter Mass on April 12th, Vatican time, to 1.3 billion believers worldwide.
From St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, Pope Francis delivered a message emphasizing that this is a time of greater urgency than ever before, when the world needs to unite in responding to the pandemic; politicians and governments need to cooperate for the benefit of the people. Pope Francis also thanked doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers, those on the front lines of the fight against the pandemic.
On the occasion of Easter, Pope Francis also called for an end to conflict and the arms trade.
