US crowds flock to beaches; toll nears 1 lakh

St Petersburg, May 25

The Memorial Day weekend, marking the unofficial start of summer in the US, meant big crowds at beaches and warnings from the authorities about people disregarding the social distancing rules and risking a resurgence of the scourge that has killed nearly 100,000 Americans.

On the Navajo Nation, which sprawls across the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, the number of Covid cases rose by 56 on Sunday to 4,689, according to the local health department.

Japan moved further towards reopening Monday, with Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura saying experts on a government-commissioned panel approved a plan to end the state of emergency in Tokyo and surrounding areas.

Millions of Australian children returned to school as the number of Covid patients across the country continues to fall. The states of New South Wales and Queensland joined less populous Western Australia and South Australia states and the Northern Territory in resuming face-to-face learning, instead of studying from home online. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Monday that students and teachers had to observe one key message: Stay home if sick. “Each week, we keep our fingers crossed that Queenslanders will continue to flatten that curve,” Palaszczuk said. — AP

Revellers pay no heed to authorities’ warnings

The US authorities warned beach-goers to heed social-distancing rules to avoid a resurgence of the virus that has infected 5.4 million people worldwide and killed over 345,000, including nearly 100,000 Americans, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Japan lifts emergency in all remaining areas

Japan lifts Covid emergency in all remaining areas. The country, with about 16,600 confirmed coronavirus cases and about 850 deaths, has so far avoided a large outbreak like those experienced in the US and Europe despite its softer restrictions

I may move the Republican National Convention from North Carolina set for August if the event faces state social distancing restrictions as a result of Covid. — Donald Trump