Corona cases surge to 42,32,582

Ag Agencies

MOSCOW/LONDON: Coronavirus cases surged to 4,232,582 with 54,430 new cases while 285,763 deaths with 2030 news deaths reported across the world on Monday. On the other hand 1,517,557 patients recovered from the pandemic, the Worldometrer stated.

President Vladimir Putin on Monday said stay-at-home orders for most workers in Russia would end this week even as the country registered a record increase in new coronavirus infections. With more than 220,000 confirmed cases and a steady surge of more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases every day, Russia now ranks fourth in a global tally of total infections after the United States, Spain and Britain.

Despite virus figures that suggest the pandemic in Russia shows no sign of slowing, Putin announced that the country´s "non-working" period to slow the pandemic would end on Tuesday.

The move brought uncertainty to the economy already grappling with low oil prices, with business owners struggling to pay full salaries to employees while shutting their doors to customers. "Starting from tomorrow, May 12, the national period of non-working days will be over for all sectors of the economy," Putin said during a meeting with officials responsible for the country´s virus response.

The president said that Russia´s regions, which were given leeway to introduce different anti-virus measures, will be able to keep in place any restrictions necessary to contain the pandemic. The president´s announcement, which was broadcast on state-run television, comes after Russia registered a record number of daily cases with more than 11,000 people testing positive over the last 24 hours. Health officials Monday said Russia has a total of 221,344 coronavirus infections, with around half of the total cases in the capital.

Putin on Monday said that Russia had used the self-isolation period to prepare its healthcare system, increasing the amount of hospital beds and saving "many thousands of lives". This "allows us to begin a gradual lifting of restrictions", he said.

Meanwhile, Lower skilled workers in parts of Britain appear at greater risk of dying from coronavirus than white collar employees, according to an analysis of official figures published Monday.

Meanwhile, China reported a new cluster of coronavirus cases in the city of Wuhan. Five new infections were confirmed in one district of Wuhan, the city believed to be ground zero for the global pandemic. The city in central Hubei province only emerged from lockdown roughly four weeks ago, after weeks of dwindling cases.

Production of the world´s longest-running cartoon and a mainstay of the Japanese weekend has been interrupted by the coronavirus, forcing the broadcast of re-runs for the first time in decades.

"Sazae-san", which first aired in 1969, revolves around the life of Mrs Sazae, a cheerful but klutzy full-time housewife who lives with her parents, husband, son, brother and sister. The 30-minute episodes aired Sunday nights are very popular, and for many in Japan have come to denote the end of the weekend.

But the cartoon, recognised as the longest-running animated TV series by Guinness World Records, has been hampered by the outbreak of the virus, with animation dubbing halted to keep staff safe, broadcaster Fuji Television Network said. "We will halt broadcast of new episodes of ´Sazae-san´ for the time being from May 17 and instead air re-runs," it announced on Sunday. The network said upcoming broadcasts would be episodes from two years ago, adding it would announce a date for the resumption of new episodes as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, New Zealand will phase out its coronavirus lockdown over the next 10 days after successfully containing the virus, although some restrictions will remain, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Monday.

Ardern said that from Thursday shopping malls, restaurants, cinemas and playgrounds will reopen -- with the country moving to Level Two on its four-tier system. The 39-year-old leader warned "none of us can assume COVID is not with us" but said New Zealand currently had only 90 active cases after a seven-week lockdown. "Your efforts New Zealand have got us to this place ahead of most of the world and without the carnage that COVID has inflicted in many other places," she said in a televised address.

"But there are risks ahead, so please be vigilant." New Zealand, with a population of five million has recorded 1,147 coronavirus cases, including 21 deaths.

The number of new cases has been in single digits since mid-April, with three new infections recorded on Monday.

Bars will not be back in business until May 21, giving them extra time to ensure they can keep patrons properly separated. Ardern said the move to Level Two would be reassessed after two weeks, with further easing possible depending on developments.

Meanwhile, the United States recorded 776 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 79,522, according to the real-time tally by Johns Hopkins University at 8:30 pm Sunday (0030 GMT Monday).

The figure was the lowest daily tally since March, with 24-hour totals in recent weeks ranging from 1,000 to 2,500. The country -- hardest hit by the pandemic in terms of the number of fatalities -- has now confirmed a total of 1,329,072 cases, the Baltimore-based school reported.

Meanwhile, Iran on Monday warned of a setback in its efforts to contain the novel coronavirus unless health protocols are observed more closely, as it reported 45 new COVID-19 deaths.

Meanwhile, India's federal health ministry Monday morning said 97 new deaths due to COVID-19, besides fresh 4,213 positive cases, were reported since Sunday in the country, taking the number of deaths to 2,206 and total cases to 67,152. "As on 8:00 am (local time) Monday, 2,206 deaths related to novel coronavirus have been recorded in the country," reads information released by the ministry.

Meanwhile, Israel on early Monday confirmed five additional fatalities due to the novel coronavirus, bringing the country's death toll to 252. According to a statement by the Health Ministry, total cases in the country reached 16,477 after healthcare staff diagnosed an additional 23 patients.