Vietnam 0 new cases, 23 days without community transmission
According to the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, in the past 12 hours, Vietnam has had no new cases. The total number of infections nationwide remains at 288, of which 148 are imported cases. As of 6am on May 9, Vietnam has had no cases of community transmission for 23 days.
On May 8, Vietnam had 8 more patients declared cured and discharged from hospital. The total number of cured cases is now 241, accounting for 84% of the total number of patients. Currently, 47 patients are being treated at 6 medical facilities. Most of the patients are in stable health.
Bringing more than 340 Vietnamese citizens from the US back home safely
On May 7-8, Vietnamese authorities, Vietnamese representative agencies in the United States, Vietnam Airlines and US authorities closely coordinated to carry out a flight carrying more than 340 Vietnamese citizens from San Francisco airport back to Vietnam safely.
Passengers on the flight came from many states in the United States, including many children under 18 years old (including a 3-month-old baby), international students without accommodation due to dormitory closures, the elderly, people with underlying medical conditions and other particularly difficult cases. Immediately after landing at Van Don International Airport, the flight participants were medically monitored and quarantined in accordance with regulations.
In the coming time, flights to bring citizens home will continue to be carried out based on domestic and international epidemic developments, citizens' wishes to return home, and quarantine capacity in localities.
Europe continues to restrict entry for another 30 days
On May 8, the European Commission (EC) said the bloc supported continuing entry restrictions for another 30 days, until mid-June, within the framework of applying special measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic, despite causing great damage to trade and tourism.
Spain, the largest epidemic area in Europe, recorded 229 more deaths from Covid-19, bringing the total to 26,299, ranking fourth in the world, after the US, UK and Italy. The number of infections increased by 3,262 cases, bringing the total to 260,117. The government continued to ease restrictions for about half of the population of 47 million, allowing bars, restaurants and religious establishments in some areas to reopen, family and friends gatherings of 10 or fewer people and travel within the province from May 11. But the two largest cities, Madrid and Barcelona, were not relaxed.
From this week Italy began to ease the lockdown imposed since March.
Italy reported 1,327 new cases and 243 new deaths, bringing the total to 217,185 and 30,201, respectively. Both figures were down from the day before. This week, Italy began easing the lockdown 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 services and weddings have not been restored.
The UK government has warned that there will be no significant changes to the national lockdown next week. The UK is now the fourth-most affected country in the world with 211,364 cases, up 4,649, but the second-most deadliest country in the world with 31,241 deaths, up 626 from the previous day.
France confirmed 1,288 more cases and 243 more deaths, bringing the total to 176,079 and 26,230, respectively. France is expected to ease its nearly eight-week nationwide lockdown from May 11.
Germany recorded 1,158 more cases, bringing the total to 170,588, of which 7,510 people died, an increase of 118 cases. The death rate in this country is much lower than other European countries. However, in Germany, just a few days after announcing plans to gradually reopen the economy, some local authorities said they would re-impose lockdown measures after new outbreaks appeared.
For the 6th consecutive day, Russia increased by more than 10,000 cases in 24 hours
Russia is emerging as a new hotspot of the pandemic as on May 8, the country recorded more than 10,000 new Covid-19 cases. This is also the 6th day that the number of new cases per day in Russia has increased by more than 10,000 cases.
A poster encouraging people to stay at home in Moscow
According to AFP, Russian government statistics said the country increased by 10,669 cases in 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Russia to 187,859. There were also 98 more deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,723. The capital Moscow, the epicenter of the epidemic in Russia, recorded 51 more deaths, bringing the total number of deaths here to 951. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin extended the city's lockdown until May 31. Muscovites were also required to wear masks and gloves in all places and on public transport from May 12.
Although some Russian officials are considering easing current anti-epidemic measures, the WHO warns that Russia is experiencing a "delayed epidemic" situation.
The US is still the world's largest epidemic area.
As of May 8, the US had a total of 1,320,272 infections, an increase of 27,649 cases compared to the previous day, and 1,604 more deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 78,532.
The US could see 200,000 new Covid-19 cases a day by June, up from the current level of about 25,000 cases a day, and the number of deaths could double to about 3,000 cases a day, according to a model based on data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The forecast comes as the Trump administration pushes states to reopen their economies. The numbers also underscore the stark reality that significant risks from the pandemic remain.
Brazil records a record 751 deaths in one day
On May 8, the country most affected by the Covid-19 epidemic in South America announced that it had recorded a record daily increase in the number of deaths with 751 people dying. Accordingly, the total number of deaths from Covid-19 in Brazil has reached 9,897 people.
With 10,222 new cases added 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 say these figures do not reflect the true state of the epidemic in Brazil.
Paraguay fears risk of infection from Brazil
In Paraguay, President Mario Abdo expressed concern about the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Brazil, saying it was a "major threat" to the country. In a statement, President Mario Abdo said he had mobilized more personnel, including the army, to the most vulnerable areas on the border with Brazil.
Meanwhile, Paraguayan Health Minister Julio Mazzoleni said he was also concerned about the potential spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from Paraguayans returning from Brazil, who are mostly young and asymptomatic. Mr. Mazzoleni also stressed the importance of good control of border areas.
More than half of Paraguay’s 563 cases of the coronavirus are people who entered the country from Brazil, according to data from the Paraguayan Ministry of Health. Most of those infected with Covid-19 in Paraguay are quarantined in military-run shelters.
Peru extends social distancing order
On May 8, Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra announced that he would extend the social isolation order to fight the Covid-19 epidemic until May 24, as the number of infections in the country has continued to increase in recent times.
This is the fourth time the South American country, which has the second-highest number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Latin America after Brazil, has extended its mandatory social isolation order. According to official data on May 7, Peru recorded 58,526 positive cases of SARS-CoV-2, including 1,627 deaths.
The world is seriously lacking medical supplies to test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Speaking to reporters on May 8, the head of the United Nations Medical Laboratories, Mr. Giovanni Cattoli, said: "Some laboratories in many regions of the world do not have the necessary equipment. They do not have the reagents and procedures needed to quickly diagnose the SARS-CoV-2 virus."
Chemical reagents needed to conduct virus tests are in critical shortage due to increased demand around the world, said Giovanni Cattoli, the UN laboratory. Even the lab is rushing to order reagents and looking for alternatives.
The UN laboratory is jointly run by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Mr. Cattoli said that so far, 119 member states have requested IAEA donations of test kits to provide to more than 200 laboratories. Of these, 18 have received supplies. The cost of each test kit - more than 100,000 euros ($108,000) - is covered by the IAEA.
The countries receiving the test equipment are Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Iran, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Togo.
The disease spread rapidly in Egypt
Egyptian state media reported that the number of Covid-19 infections in the country continued to increase sharply with 495 new infections and 21 deaths recorded despite many preventive measures, bringing the total number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Egypt to 8,476 cases and 503 deaths. In addition, 58 more people have recovered and been discharged from the hospital, bringing the total number of recovered Covid-19 patients to 1,945.
Egypt is moving towards efforts to open up its economy after Ramadan.
Egypt will have to live with Covid-19 starting in June as the North African country continues its efforts to open up its economy after Ramadan, according to cabinet spokesman Nader Saad. The Egyptian government is hoping to “start a new phase” on June 1 and will review and evaluate restrictions related to the disease before the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which begins on May 23.
Iran reopens mosques
Iran remains the largest epidemic area with 104,691 infections, an increase of 1,556 cases within 24 hours. The country also recorded 55 more deaths, bringing the total number of deaths from Covid-19 to 6,541.
May 8 prayers were held in many provinces for the first time in more than two months, but not in the capital Tehran. Iran has only reopened mosques in some regions deemed low-risk, after approving a phased reopening of businesses on April 11.
Southeast Asia continues to record high numbers of new COVID-19 infections
Southeast Asia recorded 1,300 more cases and 24 deaths from Covid-19, bringing the total in the region to more than 55,000 and 1,800, respectively. Singapore is the region's largest epidemic area with 21,707 cases and 20 deaths. Indonesia ranks second in the number of cases but leads the region in the number of deaths, with 13,112 and 943, respectively. The Philippines is the third largest epidemic area, recording 10,463 cases and 696 deaths.
People line up at a supermarket in Manila, Philippines
In Malaysia, on May 8, 68 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were recorded, bringing the total number of cases nationwide to 6,535. Malaysia also said that no new deaths were recorded for 2 consecutive days and the total number of deaths remained at 107.
Meanwhile, in Thailand, the total number of Covid-19 cases as of the afternoon of May 8 increased to 3,000 after 8 new infections were added. In the past 24 hours, the country recorded no new deaths and the total number of deaths remained at 55.
