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Vietnam reports 0 new cases, marking 23 days without community transmission.
According to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Vietnam reported no new cases in the past 12 hours. The total number of cases nationwide remains at 288, including 148 imported cases. As of 6:00 AM on May 9th, Vietnam has gone 23 days without any community transmission cases.
On May 8th, Vietnam announced that 8 more patients had recovered and been discharged from the hospital. The total number of recovered cases is now 241, accounting for 84% of the total number of patients. Currently, 47 patients are still receiving treatment at 6 medical facilities. The majority of patients are in stable condition.
Bringing over 340 Vietnamese citizens safely back home from the US.
On May 7-8, Vietnamese authorities, Vietnamese representative offices in the United States, Vietnam National Airlines, and US authorities closely coordinated to safely bring more than 340 Vietnamese citizens from San Francisco airport back to Vietnam.
The passengers on the flight came from various states in the United States, including many children under 18 years old (including a 3-month-old infant), international students without accommodation due to dormitory closures, elderly people, those with underlying health conditions, and other cases of particular hardship. Immediately after landing at Van Don International Airport, those on the flight underwent medical monitoring and centralized quarantine in accordance with regulations.
In the coming period, repatriation flights will continue to be carried out based on the developments of the pandemic domestically and internationally, the desire of citizens to return home, and the quarantine capacity in localities.
Europe extends entry restrictions for another 30 days.
On May 8, the European Commission (EC) announced that the bloc supports extending entry restrictions for another 30 days, until mid-June, as part of special measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, despite the significant damage to trade and tourism.
Spain, Europe's largest outbreak region, recorded an additional 229 deaths from Covid-19, bringing the total to 26,299, ranking fourth globally after the US, UK, and Italy. The number of infections increased by 3,262, raising the total to 260,117. Authorities continued to ease restrictions for about half of the 47 million population, allowing bars, restaurants, and religious establishments in some areas to reopen, family and friend gatherings of 10 or fewer, and travel within provinces from May 11th. However, the two largest cities, Madrid and Barcelona, remained unaffected.
Italy is beginning to ease lockdown measures imposed since March starting this week.
Italy reported 1,327 new infections and 243 deaths, bringing the total to 217,185 and 30,201 respectively. Both figures were down from the previous day. This week, Italy began easing lockdown restrictions imposed in March. People are allowed to travel within regions to visit relatives, but must wear masks. Schools and many other businesses remain closed. Religious activities and weddings have not yet resumed.
The British government has warned there will be no significant changes to the nationwide lockdown next week. The UK is currently the world's fourth-largest epicenter of the pandemic with 211,364 infections, up 4,649, but the world's second-deadliest with 31,241 deaths, up 626 from the previous day.
France confirmed an additional 1,288 infections and 243 deaths, bringing the total to 176,079 and 26,230 respectively. France plans to ease its nationwide lockdown, which has lasted nearly eight weeks, from May 11.
Germany reported 1,158 new cases, bringing the total to 170,588, with 7,510 deaths, an increase of 118. The death rate in the country is significantly lower than in other European nations. However, in Germany, just days after announcing plans to gradually reopen the economy, some local authorities have indicated they will reimpose lockdown measures following the emergence of new outbreaks.
For the sixth consecutive day, Russia has reported more than 10,000 new cases in 24 hours.
Russia is emerging as a new pandemic hotspot, with the country recording over 10,000 new Covid-19 cases on May 8th. This also marks the sixth consecutive day that the daily number of new cases in Russia has exceeded 10,000.
A poster urging people to stay home in the capital Moscow.
According to AFP, Russian government statistics show that the country added 10,669 new cases in 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 187,859. There were also 98 more deaths, raising the total death toll to 1,723. Moscow, the epicenter of the outbreak, recorded 51 additional deaths, bringing the total death toll there to 951. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin extended the city's lockdown until May 31st. Moscow residents were also required to wear masks and gloves in all public places and on public transport starting May 12th.
Although some Russian officials are considering easing current lockdown measures, the WHO warns that Russia is experiencing a situation of "post-epidemic delay."
The US remains the world's largest epicenter of the pandemic.
As of May 8th, the US had a total of 1,320,272 confirmed cases, an increase of 27,649 from the previous day, and an additional 1,604 deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 78,532.
The US could see 200,000 new COVID-19 cases a day in June, many times the current level of around 25,000 per day, and the number of deaths could also double to around 3,000 per day. These figures are based on data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The forecast comes as the Trump administration urges states to reopen their economies. The figures also underscore the grave reality that significant risks from the pandemic remain.
Brazil recorded a record 751 deaths in a single day.
On May 8th, the country most severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in South America announced a record daily death toll of 751. This brought the total number of deaths from Covid-19 in Brazil to 9,897.
With 10,222 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, Brazil now has a total of 145,328 COVID-19 cases. More than 20 officials in President Jair Bolsonaro's administration have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. But even so, experts believe these figures do not accurately reflect the true extent of the pandemic in Brazil.
Paraguay is concerned about the risk of infection from Brazil.
In Paraguay, President Mario Abdo expressed concern about the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Brazil, calling it a "major threat" to the country. In a statement, President Abdo announced that he had deployed additional personnel, including the military, to the most vulnerable areas along the border with Brazil.
Meanwhile, Paraguay's Health Minister Julio Mazzoleni stated that he was also concerned about the potential spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from Paraguayans returning from Brazil, who are mostly young people and do not show obvious symptoms. Mazzoleni also emphasized the importance of effective border control.
According to data from the Paraguayan Ministry of Health, more than half of the 563 SARS-CoV-2 cases in Paraguay were people who had entered the country from Brazil. Most of those infected with Covid-19 in Paraguay are quarantined in military-run shelters.
Peru extends social distancing order.
On May 8th, Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra announced that he would extend the social distancing measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic until May 24th, due to the continued increase in infections in the country.
This is the fourth time the South American nation has extended its mandatory social distancing order, which has the second-highest number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Latin America, after Brazil. According to official data from May 7th, Peru recorded 58,526 positive cases of SARS-CoV-2, including 1,627 deaths.
The world is facing a severe shortage of medical supplies for testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Speaking to reporters on May 8, Giovanni Cattoli, head of the United Nations Medical Laboratory, said: "Several laboratories in many parts of the world lack the necessary equipment. They lack the reagents and procedures needed for rapid diagnosis of the SARS-CoV-2 virus."
Giovanni Cattoli stated that chemical reagents for virus testing are in severe shortage due to increased demand worldwide. Even UN laboratories are scrambling to order reagents and search for alternatives.
The UN laboratory is jointly operated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Cattoli stated that, to date, 119 member states have requested IAEA funding for testing equipment packages to supply more than 200 laboratories. Of these, 18 laboratories have already received supplies. The cost of each testing equipment package – over 100,000 euros (US$108,000) – is covered by the IAEA.
The countries that received the testing equipment are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Iran, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Togo.
The disease is spreading rapidly in Egypt.
Egyptian state media reported that the number of Covid-19 infections in the country continued to surge, with 495 new cases and 21 deaths recorded despite numerous containment measures, bringing the total number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Egypt to 8,476 and 503 deaths. Additionally, 58 more people recovered and were discharged from hospital, raising the total number of Covid-19 recoveries to 1,945.
Egypt is moving toward efforts to reopen its economy after the Ramadan holiday.
According to cabinet spokesman Nader Saad, Egypt will have to live with Covid-19 starting in June as the North African nation continues its efforts to reopen its economy after the Ramadan holiday. The Egyptian government hopes to “begin a new phase” on June 1st, and will review and assess related restrictions before the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, which begins on May 23rd.
Iran reopens mosques.
Iran remains the largest outbreak area with 104,691 infections, an increase of 1,556 cases in the past 24 hours. The country also recorded 55 additional deaths, bringing the total number of deaths from Covid-19 to 6,541.
For the first time in over two months, May Day prayers were held in many provinces but not in the capital Tehran. Iran has only reopened mosques in some low-risk areas, after approving a phased plan to resume business activity starting April 11.
Southeast Asia continues to record a high number of new COVID-19 infections.
Southeast Asia recorded an additional 1,300 infections and 24 deaths due to Covid-19, bringing the region's total to over 55,000 and 1,800 respectively. Singapore is the region's largest outbreak area with 21,707 infections and 20 deaths. Indonesia ranks second in the number of infections but leads the region in the number of deaths, with 13,112 and 943 respectively. The Philippines is the third largest outbreak area, recording 10,463 Covid-19 infections and 696 deaths.
People line up at a supermarket in Manila, Philippines.
In Malaysia, on May 8th, 68 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were recorded, bringing the total number of cases nationwide to 6,535. Malaysia also reported no new deaths for two consecutive days, and the total number of deaths remains at 107.
Meanwhile, in Thailand, the total number of Covid-19 cases rose to 3,000 as of the afternoon of May 8th after eight new infections were reported. No new deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, and the total number of fatalities remains at 55.
