The young are not invincible, warns WHO

Rome, March 21

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide kicked off the weekend under a coronavirus lockdown as the global death toll accelerated sharply and the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned the young they were “not invincible”.

Global toll 11,737

 The pandemic has completely upended lives across the planet, sharply restricting the movement of huge populations, shutting down schools and businesses and forcing millions to work from home — while many have lost their livelihoods entirely.

While President Donald Trump insisted the US was “winning” the war against the virus, individual states dramatically ramped up restrictions, with New York and Illinois joining California in ordering residents to stay home.

In Italy, 793 deaths were reported on Saturday, which is the highest daily increase since the outbreak. The confirmed cases have now risen to 53,578.

While the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions are the hardest hit by the virus, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that young people were also vulnerable. “Today I have a message for young people: you are not invincible. This virus could put you in hospital for weeks — or even kill you,” Tedros said.

“Even if you don’t get sick, the choices you make about where you go could be the difference between life and death for someone else.” China on Saturday reported no new local infections for a third straight day, and the WHO said Wuhan offered a glimmer of “hope for the rest of the world”. — AFP

homeless to be housed in hotels to self-isolate

London: Hundreds of homeless people in London are being housed in hotels to self-isolate and give them “vital protection” from Covid-19, the city’s mayor Sadiq Khan announced on Saturday. Three hundred rooms have been made available in two hotels for the next 12 weeks. AFP

Senators urge Twitter to ban communist party

Washington: Two influential Republican lawmakers — Senators Ben Sasse and Congressman Mike Gallagher — have urged Twitter in a letter to ban the Chinese Communist Party from using its platform for spreading “propaganda and whitewash” the entire history of its alleged Covid cover-up. PTI

Pakistan court orders release of undertrials

Islamabad: Amid an imminent threat of spread of the novel coronavirus, the Islamabad High Court has ordered the release of under-trial prisoners detained in Rawalpindis overcrowded Adiala jail in minor crimes and directed the police not to make arrest in petty matters. IANS

Police take action on Bondi Beach crowds

Sydney: The police in Sydney on Saturday temporarily closed the famous Bondi Beach after crowds exceeded Australia’s outdoor gathering limit imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The country has banned outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people in a bid to tackle Covid, the BBC reported. IANS

Thousands of Iraqi pilgrims defy curfew

Baghdad: Tens of thousands of Iraqi Shiites turned out to commemorate a revered imam on Saturday, defying curfews imposed to stem Covid spread. They streamed to the golden-domed mausoleum of Imam al-Kadhim in Baghdad, where authorities kept an outer gate open to allow pilgrims into the courtyard. AFP

• Europe accounts for more than half of the world’s fatalities
• Shadow of covid lengthening across Africa and the Middle East
• Gabon confirms sub-Saharan Africa’s second known death
• Cuba, Bolivia shut borders;Colombia to begin mandatory isolation