World coronavirus death toll tops 350,000

More than 350,000 deaths from the new coronavirus have been recorded worldwide since it first appeared in China in December, according to a tally compiled by AFP from official sources as of this morning.

A total of 350,196 deaths have been reported, from 5,589,389 cases, including 173,713 in Europe from 2,057,414 infections.

The United States has registered the most deaths of any country, 98,929, ahead of Britain with 37,048, Italy with 32,955, France with 28,530 and Spain with 27,117.

The number of diagnosed cases however reflects only a fraction of the actual number of infections as many countries test only serious cases or lack testing capacity.

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Swiss to announce further relaxation of coronavirus rules

Meanwhile, Switzerland will decide today on further relaxations of restrictions brought in to stem the spread of the coronavirus, including how to reopen nightclubs and football stadiums, the Neue Zuercher Zeitung paper reported.

A four-person limit on the number of people who can eat together in restaurants will be scrapped, while the government could relax curbs on the size of public gatherings, the newspaper said, citing sources.

A maximum of five people have been allowed to meet in public under Swiss restrictions introduced in March, but this could now rise to 30 people. Private events of up to 300 people could be allowed again, allowing holiday camps for children to open.

The government is expected to outline its plans to the public after a cabinet meeting.

Health Minister Alain Berset wants to stick the plan to allow theatres, cinemas, zoos, swimming pools and mountain railways to open on 8 June, the paper said.

Other members of the coalition government want a faster opening up, the paper added, although this was unlikely.

From 8 June, nightclubs could also reopen, with an upper limit of 300 people, while football stadiums and theatres could open with no more than 1,000 people, the paper said.

But distancing rules where the government asks people to keep two metres apart will remain in force, the paper said, noting how difficult this could be for restaurants to enforce.

Switzerland has already reopened shops, schools and beauty salons. The country is also testing a mobile phone app to help trace the disease.

The number of new cases of Covid-19 in Switzerland has eased in recent days, rising by 15 new cases yesterday to 30,761, while the death toll has reached 1,648.

Bulgaria to reopen restaurants, bars and cafes on 1 June

Bulgaria will allow restaurants,bars and cafes to reopen at full capacity on Monday as the Balkan country further eased restrictions imposed in mid-March to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Health Minister Kiril Ananiev issued a new order last night, allowing bars and restaurants in tourism-dependent Bulgaria to go fully back to business ahead of the summer season.

Mr Ananiev also allowed the resumption of cultural and entertainment events, including theatres, concerts and stage performances. Dance classes could also resume, using up to 30%of their indoor capacity and up to 50% of the outdoor capacity.

According to the order, however, discos, piano bars and night bars must stay closed as the country remains under a declared epidemic situation because of the Covid-19 disease until 14 June.

Bulgaria has 2,460 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 133 deaths, a relatively low number in Europe.

Mr Ananiev has already given the green light for restaurants,bars and cafes in the Black Sea state to resume operations in their outdoor sections on 5 May.

Bulgaria's government introduced a state of emergency on March 14 that imposed travel bans, closed schools and shopping malls, and prompted many businesses to limit or halt operations due to restrictions and reduced demand.

It started easing the partial lockdown in late April but continued to enforce strict social measures on many of its citizens and businesses, helping prevent widespread community spread of the virus.

Bulgaria, a country with a population of less than seven million, still requires social distancing in public places.

No screams please: Japanese funfairs prepare for virus era

No screaming on the rollercoaster, socially distant spooks in the haunted house and please refrain from high-fiving your favourite superhero: welcome to Japanese amusement parks in the coronavirus era.

As Japan's funfairs slowly reopen, a group of park operators have released joint guidelines on how to operate safely under the threat of the virus.

Among the recommendations, thrill-seekers will be asked to wear masks at all times and "refrain from vocalising loudly" on rollercoasters and other rides.

'Ghosts' lurking in haunted houses should maintain a healthy distance from their 'victims', the guidelines add.

Park staff, including those dressed up as stuffed animal mascots and superheroes, should not shake hands or high-five with young fans but maintain an appropriate distance.

Superheroes engaged in fights to the death with evil villains should also avoid whipping up support from spectators to prevent screams - and potentially coronavirus-laden droplets - from flying through the air.

Virtual reality attractions should not operate unless the special glasses or goggles can be fully sanitised, the guidelines suggest.

And perhaps to parents' relief, vendors will be asked to refrain from putting out toys or food samples for young visitors to touch, play with or eat.

"These guidelines will not bring infections to zero, but will reduce the risk of infection," the operators admit, pledging to continue studying ways to bring down transmission risks.

Japan's best-known theme parks - Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan in the western city of Osaka - remain closed with no date yet set for reopening.

But Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday lifted a nationwide state of emergency after a sharp drop in the number of coronavirus cases in Japan.

Citizens and businesses have been urged to adapt to a "new normal" in the coronavirus era, including mask-wearing and social distancing where possible.

Germany extends distancing rules to end of June

Germany has extended social distancing rules aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus epidemic to 29 June.

Up to 10 people will be allowed to gather in public places but Germans should be in contact with as few people as possible, according to the rules agreed between the federal government and 16 states.

Angela Merkel's government had been embroiled in disagreements with the least-affected states, some of which wanted to ditch the measures and open up entirely.

Germany's virus caseload now tops 179,000 with just over 8,300 deaths - much lower than European counterparts such as Britain, France, Spain and Italy. 

"This success is mainly based on the fact that the rules on distance and hygiene have been implemented and respected," the government and the regions said. 

However, officials warned that further restrictions could be imposed if local outbreaks made them necessary.

Under the agreement, public gatherings of up to 10 people would also be allowed from 6 June, a government spokesman said.

Ms Merkel originally suggested extending the distancing rules, which require people to stay 1.5 metres apart until 5 July, as the conservative leader is worried about a second wave of cases that could require another costly lockdown.

The country's 16 states have been hit to differing degrees by the coronavirus, and Thuringia in the east, which has had fewer cases, voiced its dissent in separate statement.

A government source said the cabinet may also decide to lift a warning against travel to 26 fellow EU countries plus Britain, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein from 15 June, opening the way to separate advice for specific regions.

Markus Soeder, premier of Bavaria, the hardest-hit state, voiced opposition to moving too fast in reopening tourism.

"We have in Italy, Spain and France completely different infection numbers compared to Germany so I ask the federal government to think very carefully about this," he said.

"Nobody should be fooled. Corona remains deadly", Mr Soedersaid, describing Thuringia state's shift towards adopting voluntary, localised measures as a "fatal signal".

In a nod to Bavaria's objections, the cabinet might postpone its decision by a week, but still lift the blanket travel warning from mid-June, media group RND reported.

Iconic sites reopen as world eyes life after lockdown
           
The Church of the Nativity and the ruins of ancient Pompeii reopened to pilgrims and tourists yesterday, as countries further eased coronavirus controls and reopened economies.

Many of the hardest-hit nations, including Italy and Spain, are trying to salvage their summer tourism seasons - the latest tentative steps out of lockdown buoying world markets.

But the virus, apparently brought under control in Asia and much of Europe, is continuing its spread. 

The virus and the associated  economic and social lockdowns have plunged the world economy into a severe slump - and ominous figures and forecasts continue to pile up.

Asian trading hub Singapore warned yesterday its economy could shrink by as much as seven percent this year. EU leaders, meanwhile, will announce an unprecedented trillion-euro recovery package today.

The virus has also had an immense political impact. 

US President Donald Trump weathered a torrent of criticism for playing golf as the death toll in his country neared 100,000 on the weekend. He later accused his critics in the media of being "sick with hatred and dishonesty".

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government lurched into a crisis after his top aide Dominic Cummings refused to apologise for driving his family across the country during lockdown - prompting one junior minister to resign in protest.

But there were also signs of hope at some of the world's best known and symbolic destinations.

In Bethlehem, the Church of the Nativity reopened its doors after more than two months.

The church's opening "gives hope to the world that this pandemic will end", said Rula Maaya, Palestinian Tourism Minister. 

Fear of the virus spreading forced most countries to mothball their tourism industries - Palestinian officials earlier said the Covid-19 disease came to Bethlehem with a group of Greek tourists.

Nevertheless, in Italy - once the global epicentre of infections after it spread to Europe from China -- the site of a previous natural disaster also reopened to visitors.

The ruins of the Roman city of Pompeii, destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 79 AD but preserved in a layer of ash, welcomed visitors for the first time in weeks.

But the site, which attracted four million visitors last year, was largely deserted yesterday as foreign visitors are still banned from travel to Italy until next month.

Italian foreign minister Luigi di Maio said he was working with EU colleagues to agree on 15 June as a co-ordinated day for member states to reopen their borders and tourist regions.

"We should save what we can save of the summer, to aid our entrepreneurs," he said.

The Vatican too has relaxed its lockdown, announcing that Pope Francis will address the faithful once more from his window overlooking Saint Peter's Square on Sunday.

And Russia said it had passed its peak of infections, promising to hold postponed World War II victory celebrations next month.

"The risks for all participants should be minimised, or even better, eliminated," President Vladimir Putin said.

His announcement came as Russia recorded its highest daily coronavirus death toll of 174, with a caseload of  362,342, the third-highest number of infections in the world after the United States and Brazil.

Spain provided further solemn reminders of the toll that the virus has taken, announcing that 10 days of mourning would start today for the almost 27,000 people who have succumbed to the disease in the country.  

With the search for a vaccine potentially still in its infancy, the World Health Organization was left to ponder a very different development yesterday.

Two Dutch workers seem to have caught the disease from minks, which "would be the first known cases of animal-to-human transmission", the UN health agency told AFP.

The agency said pet owners should take precautions but there was "no reason or justification to take measures against companion animals".