26 days Vietnam has no community transmission cases
As of the morning of May 12, Vietnam recorded 288 cases of Covid-19 infection, entering the 26th day without any community transmission, of which 249 patients were announced to have recovered.
The remaining 39 patients are being treated at medical facilities across the country, of which only 20 people have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the remaining 19 patients have tested negative at least once.
Interpol warns of fake vaccines on global market
Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock warned on May 11 that criminal organizations could exploit efforts to develop a cure for Covid-19 to create a global “wave” of counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Speaking to German news agency DPA, Stock said that the illegal trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals will increase when a drug shows promise in treating or alleviating a disease. The same goes for counterfeit medical supplies, including masks or disinfectants.
France leaves open the possibility of re-imposing lockdown
On May 11, French Health Minister Olivier Veran announced that if the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection increases sharply again, the French Government will "once again implement lockdown measures". France currently records 177,423 Covid-19 cases, including 26,643 deaths. The risk of a resurgence of the epidemic is still very high when the Health Department of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France, a region classified as low-risk, has just confirmed two new outbreaks.
UK announces 3-step recovery plan
The British government on May 11 announced a three-step recovery plan after the Covid-19 pandemic, including:
- Phase 1: From 14 May, people will be allowed to leave their homes for exercise or recreation with family members, and an individual can meet one other person outside their home. People in England can drive to outdoor locations regardless of distance. Citizens who cannot work from home can go to work, but preferably not by public transport;
- Phase 2: From 1 June, England will allow non-essential retail businesses to reopen if they adhere to social distancing guidelines. Some schools should prepare to open from 1 June;
- Phase 3: Depending on how the initial easing of restrictions affects infection rates, the UK government could allow more businesses to open in July, but no earlier than 4 July.
As of 6 a.m. on May 12 (Vietnam time), the UK recorded 223,060 Covid-19 infections, including 32,065 deaths.
Spain records lowest death toll in more than 7 weeks
On May 11, Spain recorded 123 deaths from Covid-19, the lowest number since March 19, according to the Spanish Ministry of Health. The mortality rate was 0.7%, also the lowest daily mortality rate in 7 weeks. Thus, the number of deaths so far is 26,744 cases.
Sagrada Família Basilica, Spain
On the same day, Spanish Economy Minister Nadia Clavino said that the country supports a common European response to support the aviation industry, which has been severely damaged by travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the disease. Ms. Clavino emphasized that all major airlines "are not just nationals" but "European carriers". Therefore, European Union (EU) member states need to ensure a "level playing field" for airlines, and rich countries should not provide additional support to national airlines, which could harm airlines of other countries.
So far, European countries have rolled out different support plans for airlines. While the French Air France-KLM alliance received 7 billion euros ($7.6 billion) from the French government and 2.4 billion euros ($2.6 billion) from the Dutch government, International Consolidated Airlines (IAG), the parent company of British Airways (UK) and Iberia (Spain), has only secured a 1 billion euro ($1.08 billion) loan from Spain.
Italy records less than 1,000 new cases for second day
Data from the Italian Civil Protection Agency shows that on May 11, only 744 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded, bringing the total number of SARS-CoV-2 infections to 219,814. This is the lowest number of new cases detected daily since March 4 and the second day recording the number of new cases below 1,000 in Italy.
According to the agency, the number of deaths due to Covid-19 in Italy has now reached 30,739 (an increase of 179 cases), the third highest in the world after the US and the UK. In addition, this Southern European country also recorded 1,401 more patients recovering, bringing the total number of successfully treated cases to 106,587. The number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care in Italy has also dropped to below 1,000, with 999 cases (a decrease of 28 cases).
Russia ranks fourth in the world in the number of Covid-19 cases
With 11,656 new cases of the virus in the past 24 hours, Russia has surpassed Italy to become the fourth country in the world, after the US, Spain and the UK, in terms of Covid-19 cases. May 11 also witnessed the highest number of Covid-19 cases per day in Russia, bringing the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country to 221,344, including 2,009 deaths, as of 6:00 a.m. on May 12 (Vietnam time). More than half of the infections and deaths are concentrated in the capital Moscow, with 6,169 new cases and a total of 115,909 infections.
In a message to the Russian people on the afternoon of May 11, President Vladimir Putin announced that the period of paid leave due to the Covid-19 pandemic will end on May 12. However, quarantine regulations will continue for people over 65 years old. Mr. Putin said that the abolition of quarantine regulations will not be quick and needs to take place step by step, while emphasizing the recovery of the economy and asking the government to submit a national action plan for economic recovery by June 1. According to him, the number of tests to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Russia by mid-May will nearly double, up to 300,000 tests per day.
Many European countries' economic activities are returning to normal.
On May 11, the Austrian government announced a 500 million euro ($541 million) support package for the catering industry to boost consumption and ease the debt burden of restaurant and pub owners. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said catering establishments could reopen on May 15.
Graben Square, Vienna, Austria
On the same day, Bulgarian Health Minister Kiril Ananiev announced the reopening of cultural establishments and the organization of outdoor cultural events. Accordingly, indoor or outdoor museums, libraries and galleries will be allowed to open, but must comply with social distancing and Covid-19 prevention measures. Concerts and other cultural events on outdoor stages will also be allowed, but with the audience only being allowed to occupy 30% of the maximum capacity and applying epidemic prevention measures. Cinemas will also be allowed to open with the audience occupying up to 30% of the theater's capacity.
Meanwhile, in Georgia, the government has lifted most of the restrictions on economic activity imposed to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Specifically, production and trade activities are allowed to resume, except for large shopping centers and clothing retailers. The Georgian capital Tbilisi also lifted the ban on vehicles entering and leaving the city, which had been imposed since mid-April. The Georgian government said the country will open to foreign tourists from July 1 while domestic tourism will resume in mid-June. However, restaurants, cafes and educational institutions remain closed at this time, and public transport has not yet resumed.
Türkiye to lock down major cities for 4 days
On May 11, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that he would order a lockdown of major cities, including Istanbul and Ankara, for four days starting on May 16.
On the same day, shopping malls, barber shops and hair salons in Türkiye were allowed to reopen. The Turkish government hopes that domestic tourism can reopen in June after the Eid holiday, and after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
Türkiye has so far recorded 3,841 deaths from the SARS-CoV-2 virus and nearly 140,000 cases of Covid-19.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic began to break out in the country, Ankara has imposed a 24-hour curfew on weekends in 31 cities nationwide.
New York gradually reopens its economy
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on May 11 that he would allow three rural areas in the north of the state to reopen this weekend. However, for now, only construction, manufacturing and retail will be allowed to operate. This is the first concrete step by New York state officials on the path to finding a roadmap to reopen economic activities in a cautious and safe manner.
New York State has so far recorded 26,000 deaths from Covid-19. On May 11, the state recorded the lowest number of Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, 161. This is also the first time the number of new deaths has been lower than 200 since the outbreak here. On May 11, the US continued to lead the world in both the number of Covid-19 cases, with 1,384,033 (an increase of 16,395 in the past 24 hours) and the number of deaths, 81,703 (an increase of 916).
Park Avenue, New York
Meanwhile, Vice President Mike Pence continues to test negative for SARS-CoV-2 while he is still isolating himself from others after a staff member in the Vice President's office was confirmed to have the disease.
South America has not yet reached the peak of the epidemic.
The number of infections and deaths from Covid-19 in South American countries continued to increase on May 11, showing that the region has not yet reached the peak of the epidemic.
Brazil continues to be the epicenter of the epidemic in South America. As of 6 a.m. on May 12 (Vietnam time), the country recorded 220 more deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 11,343 out of 166,162 infections, with a mortality rate of 6.8%.
On May 11, the Argentine government announced its decision to extend the mandatory social isolation order until at least May 24 to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic. According to official statistics, the Argentine Ministry of Health announced that it had recorded 6,034 cases of Covid-19, including 258 new cases in the past 24 hours and 305 deaths.
For the capital Buenos Aires and its surrounding urban areas, which are home to nearly 13 million people, the mandatory quarantine will be more strictly managed as this is the area with the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the country and any exceptional activities will require the consent of the Argentine Government.
Meanwhile, the Peruvian Ministry of Health announced that the country has so far detected 68,822 cases of infection, including 1,961 deaths. Due to the complicated epidemic situation, a nationwide lockdown and curfew in Peru has been imposed until May 24.
In Chile, health officials confirmed 1,197 new cases and 11 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 30,063 cases and 323 deaths. The Chilean government expects the Covid-19 epidemic to peak this month, so it has extended lockdown measures for at least another week in many areas around the capital Santiago, where 70% of the country's cases have been recorded.
In Ecuador, the number of infections in the past 24 hours increased by 2,127, compared to an increase of 1,717 cases a day earlier, bringing the total to 29,559. Authorities in the Dominican Republic also confirmed a total of 10,634 cases and 393 deaths so far. The average age of those infected is 41, while the average age of those who died is 64.
In Colombia, the world's second-oldest airline, Avianca, announced it had filed for bankruptcy protection due to "the unpredictable effects of the Covid-19 pandemic." According to the announcement, Avianca directly employs 21,000 people across South America. Nearly 90% of the countries where the airline operates are under full or partial lockdown.
India considers lifting lockdown
On May 11, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was considering lifting the nationwide lockdown imposed for the past 7 weeks to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, despite recording a record number of new SARS-CoV-2 infections in the past 24 hours with 4,214 cases, bringing the total number of cases to 67,152, including 2,206 deaths.
Prime Minister Modi is facing growing calls to end the strict lockdown imposed on the nation of 1.3 billion people, as Indians say the containment measures have stripped them of their livelihoods.
Speaking at an online meeting with state chief ministers, Mr. Modi affirmed that the federal government will consider "gradually lifting" the lockdown, which has been extended three times until May 17.
South Korea begins paying emergency aid to citizens
On May 11, the Korean government began paying emergency aid to people to overcome the consequences of the Covid-19 epidemic. Notably, the subsidy is valid until August 31, after which any unused money will automatically disappear. However, the Korean government also limits the form of use of the emergency aid. Specifically, this money cannot be used for online payments or shopping at shopping malls, large supermarkets, large-scale electronics stores, as well as at bars, entertainment centers, public service fees, insurance premiums, vouchers, gold, silver, transportation fees, and telecommunications fees.
On the same day, the Seoul Metropolitan Government also announced new Covid-19 prevention rules. Accordingly, from May 13, residents of the capital will be required to wear masks when using the subway during rush hour. South Korea currently has 10,936 infections and 258 deaths.
China has 5 more cases of infection in Wuhan
The Health Commission of Hubei Province, China, said on May 11 that Wuhan City - the capital of the province and the epicenter of the Covid-19 outbreak in China - recorded 5 new infections out of a total of 17 new infections announced on May 11. Previously, on May 10, Hubei authorities confirmed 1 new infection in Wuhan, the first case there in more than a month.
Wuhan is now planning to conduct nucleic acid testing across the city over a 10-day period.
The epidemic has positive developments in Southeast Asia.
In Southeast Asia, although the situation is improving, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia... still recorded many new infections. In the past 24 hours, Southeast Asia has had 1,087 new infections and 26 deaths, bringing the total number of infections and deaths in the region to 59,748 and 1,909.
People are disinfected before entering a government building in Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines
In the Philippines, the country's Ministry of Health reported 292 new cases, bringing the total to 11,086. The Southeast Asian country recorded 7 more deaths, bringing the total to 726. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health announced 75 more patients recovered and were discharged from the hospital, bringing the total number of discharged cases in the Philippines to 1,999.
In Malaysia, the Ministry of Health said the country confirmed 70 new cases, bringing the total to 6,726. The number of deaths in Malaysia increased by one person to 109. Meanwhile, 88 more people recovered and were discharged from hospital, bringing the total number of cured cases to 5,113, accounting for 76% of the total number of cases.
Singapore's Ministry of Health also announced that the country recorded 486 new cases, bringing the total number of cases in the "lion island" to 23,822. The number of cases in the day was the lowest in a week, mainly due to a slowdown in the testing process as one of Singapore's laboratories was checking equipment after detecting 33 false positives.
Thailand has reported six new cases of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, bringing the total number of Covid-19 patients to 3,015. All of the new cases are in southern Thailand, including four cases on the tourist island of Phuket that were reported by provincial authorities on May 10 but have not yet been included in the national tally. No new deaths from Covid-19 were reported in Thailand on May 11. Thailand has so far successfully treated 2,796 Covid-19 patients, but 56 have died from the disease.
