The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.
TOP OF THE HOUR
—Pentagon: Military coronavirus cases surge to nearly 2,000.
— WHO leader dodges questions on Trump’s criticism.
—US, UK warn of cyberattacks using virus as lure.
— British official says PM Boris Johnson improving.
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ROME — Pressure on Italy’s intensive care units continued to ease, with 99 fewer beds occupied over the last 24 hours while the greatest number of people were counted as recovered since the pandemic hit Italy: 2,099.
It is the first time that the number of people who have been dismissed from the hospital has topped 2,000, and marks an increase of one-third over the number sent home a day earlier. Italy also saw the number of people who died with the coronavirus hit the lowest number in nearly a month, with 542 deaths since Tuesday, while the new cases crept up slightly to 3,836.
Ranieri Guerra, a representative of the World Health Organization, told reporters the improvements were a result of actions taken two or three weeks ago, which reinforces the necessity to continuing the containment measures.
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CAPE TOWN, South Africa — A South African hospital says 47 of its health workers and staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Four patients have died from the virus at the St. Augustine’s Hospital in the east coast city of Durban since the outbreak started.
South Africa reported a total of 1,749 coronavirus cases and 13 deaths in its latest count on Tuesday night, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were 94 new cases reported across the entire country in that latest count so Wednesday’s announcement from the hospital attracted attention. Of the 47 workers that had contracted the virus, 33 were in self-isolation and the remaining 14 were being treated at St. Augustine’s, the company that runs the hospital says.
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GENEVA — The World Health Organization chief sought to rise above sharp criticism and threats of funding cuts from U.S. President Donald Trump over the health agency’s response to the coronavirus, quipping: “Why would I care about being attacked when people are dying?”
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus admittedly dodged questions about Trump’s comments a day earlier, but said the agency was made up of humans “who make mistakes,” and said his key focus was saving lives, not playing politics.
“Please quarantine politicizing COVID,” he said, alluding to the COVID-19 disease linked to coronavirus infections. He made a heartfelt appeal with personal narrative and story-recounting to make his point.
“Without unity, we can assure you, every country will be in trouble,” said Tedros. “Unity at national level — no need to use COVID to score political points. You have many other ways to prove yourself.”
Trump on Tuesday accused WHO of being “China-centric” and criticized its alleged missteps, notably faulting WHO recommendations against travel bans to help stop the spread.
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CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich. — A nursing home resident in western Michigan who died from COVID-19 complications repeatedly asked her Amazon Echo for help with pain, a TV station reported.
“Alexa, help me. … I am in pain. I have to find a way to relieve it,” LouAnn Dagen said in recordings found by her sister, Penny Dagen, and shared with WOOD-TV.
LouAnn Dagen, 66, died Saturday after arriving at Mercy Health St. Mary’s hospital in Grand Rapids.
She lived at Metron of Cedar Springs, which disclosed last week that 31 residents and five staff members had tested positive for the coronavirus and were quarantined.
Penny Dagen said her sister was getting medicine to help with pain. She said LouAnn, who had diabetes and hypertension, was taken to the hospital when her oxygen and blood pressure dropped.
“The hospital called me right away and said that they put her on a respirator,” Penny Dagen said. “They asked me about giving her CPR if her heart stopped and I said, ‘No, she didn’t want that.’ And then her heart stopped and that was it.”
Metron said LouAnn, a resident for more than 10 years, was “getting excellent care” and was taken to the hospital when her health changed.
“Alexa was LouAnn’s primary communication tool with her sister who was unable to get to our facility. … It was a very positive part of her life which we supported fully,” said operations director Paul Pruitt.
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LONDON — Britain’s Treasury chief says Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s condition is improving in the intensive care unit of a London hospital.
Rishi Sunak says Johnson has been sitting up in bed and engaging with his doctors at St. Thomas’ Hospital.
Johnson was admitted to the hospital on Sunday, 10 days after being diagnosed with COVID-19. He was transferred to the ICU on Monday when his condition deteriorated.
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LONDON — The British government imposed a lockdown on March 23, initially for three weeks. That period ends next week, and while the government says there will be a review, there is little chance of the measures being eased.
The number of cases and deaths is still rising, and the U.K. reported its biggest daily increase Wednesday to take the death toll to more than 7,000.
“We need to start seeing the numbers coming down,” Health Minister Edward Argar told the BBC. “That’s when you have a sense, when that’s sustained over a period of time, that you can see it coming out of that. ”
Mark Drakeford, the leader of Wales, said it was clear “these restrictions will not end” next week.
“We will not throw away the gains we have made and the lives we have saved by abandoning our efforts just as they begin to bear fruit,” he said.
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WASHINGTON — The Navy says the number of sailors on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt testing positive for the coronavirus had increased to 286.
The number has been steadily growing since the ship docked in Guam after an outbreak of the virus was discovered.
The Navy said nearly all of the crew has been tested for the virus. But they are still awaiting the results of some of the tests. Crew members who test negative are being sent ashore for quarantine.
WASHINGTON — Melania Trump released a brief video message of appreciation directed to the medical personnel and other front-line responders fighting the virus in the United States.
“It is because of you that the people of America are receiving the care and treatment they need,” the first lady says in the video, which was recorded as she stood outside on a White House balcony.
“We stand united with you and we salute your courageous and compassionate efforts. Our prayers are with all who are fighting this invisible enemy, COVID-19.”
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WASHINGTON — Scientific advisers are telling the White House there’s no good evidence yet that the warmer temperatures and higher humidity of spring and summer will really help tamp down the new coronavirus without continued public health measures.
Researchers convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine analyzed studies done so far to test virus survival under different laboratory conditions as well as tracking where and how COVID-19 has spread.
“Given that countries currently in ‘summer’ climates, such as Australia and Iran, are experiencing rapid virus spread, a decrease in cases with increases in humidity and temperature elsewhere should not be assumed,” the researchers wrote in response to questions from the White House Office of Science and Technology.
They noted that during 10 previous flu pandemics, regardless of what season they started, all had a peak second wave about six months after the virus first emerged.
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TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend a cabinet meeting in person on Wednesday after spending weeks in self isolation after his wife tested positive for the new coronavirus.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau announced on March 28 that she recovered from the virus but the prime minister continued to self-isolate at home on the advice of health officials.
Trudeau’s office announced on March 13 that she had tested positive after she fell ill upon returning from a trip to London.
Justin Trudeau has been giving daily news conferences outside his residence. His wife took their three children to the prime minister’s summer residence after she recovered.
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BRUSSELS — The European Union is calling for the extension of travel restrictions to 30 European countries for tourism or non-essential business purposes.
The EU’s executive commission says it is recommending an extension of the measures blocking most arrivals in Europe until May 15 to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The restrictions apply to people, including U.S. nationals, who might want to travel to Europe’s 26-nation ID check-free area plus Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania.
They were introduced last month for an initial period of 30 days.
The commission says action at the EU’s external borders can only be effective if all countries concerned take the same measures.
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ATHENS, Greece — Greek authorities are tightening lockdown enforcement ahead of Orthodox Easter, when Greeks traditionally flock to rural family homes.
The government says police have set up roadblocks on all national highways, roads out of major cities and secondary roads to check that all motorists observe travel restrictions. It will impose 300-euro ($326) fines for people trying to reach country homes.
Easter celebrations will be scaled down, with church services held behind closed doors on Easter Day, April 19.
Tougher restrictions also apply to island ferry travel, and the measures will be enforced until April 27.
Health officials recorded 52 infections Wednesday, bringing the total to 1,884 and 83 deaths.
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon says the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the military has surged to nearly 2,000.
Last weekend the number topped 1,000, and one week ago it stood at 771.
Among the services, the active duty Navy has the most cases, with more than 500. The Army has 470.
GENEVA — Switzerland plans to lift some restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus crisis by the end of the month.
Switzerland, like other European countries, has closed nonessential shops and schools and banned events. President Simonetta Sommaruga says the existing restrictions will remain in place until April 26.
But she says officials are planning a gradual reopening, and the government will consider a strategy on April 16.
Sommaruga didn’t specify what measures might be relaxed first.
Switzerland has recorded more than 22,000 infections, including 858 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
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SKOPJE, North Macedonia — North Macedonia’s government has tightened movement restrictions and extended curfew hours, with authorities expecting infections to peak by the end of the month.
The new curfew will extend from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m. during working days. A complete lockdown will be in effect on weekends, from 4 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. on Monday.
Health Minister Venko Filipce says infections are expected to peak at 2,000-2,500 by the end of April.
Authorities have recorded 617 infections and 29 deaths. About 10% of infected people are doctors, nurses and medical technicians.
North Macedonia has already closed borders, schools, malls, bars, restaurants and casinos, and declared a state of emergency.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico’s governor is asking federal officials to ban all flights from U.S. cities with a high number of coronavirus cases to help prevent the spread in the U.S. territory.
The petition by Gov. Wanda Vázquez to the Federal Aviation Administration comes as officials accuse some visitors of taking medicine to lower their fevers to avoid being placed in quarantine. National Guard members screen people at the island’s main international airport.
The National Guard has said at least two passengers from New York who lowered their fever with medication are now hospitalized in the island with COVID-19.
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LONDON — Transit unions and grieving relatives are demanding more protection for bus and subway workers after 14 London transport staff died from the new coronavirus.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan says eight were bus drivers.
London’s subways and buses have continued to run a reduced service to transport key workers since the U.K. went into lockdown March 23. Subway travel is down 95% and bus travel down 82% from the same period last year.
Khan says steps are being taken to protect transit staff. He says they include cleaning buses with antiviral disinfectant, blocking off seats nearest the driver and and using protective screens between driver and passengers.
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The World Trade Organization estimates global trade will fall between 13% and 32% this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Geneva-based body, which oversees the rules of trade, says in a report the drop would be worse than during the global financial crisis of 2008-2009.
The wide range in its forecast is due to the unpredictable nature of the pandemic, as it remains uncertain when business will return toward more normal levels. Governments around the world have locked down on business and travel to contain the outbreak, disrupting supply chains.
WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo says, “The unavoidable declines in trade and output will have painful consequences for households and businesses, on top of the human suffering caused by the disease itself.
“These numbers are ugly – there is no getting around that. But a rapid, vigorous rebound is possible.”
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ZAGREB, Croatia — Croatian authorities plan to reopen open air markets, signaling easing of strict measures designed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic says the crisis team dealing with the virus outbreak has signed permission to gradually reopen the markets in the coming days.
Authorities say this means buyers and merchants at the markets selling fruit and vegetables will need to respect protection measures such as social distance, protective gear and sanitizers to stay open.
Croatia has reported 1,343 cases of infection and 19 deaths.
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WASHINGTON — U.S. and U.K. security agencies have issued a joint security warning about cyberattacks using the coronavirus outbreak as a lure.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Britain’s National Cyber Security Center says criminals and what they call “persistent threat” groups are attempting to transmit ransomware and malware that are tied to the COVID-19 outbreak. One example includes emails that purport to come from the World Health Organization. Others are phishing attempts that appear to come from Microsoft or other tech companies whose remote tools are often used by people working from home.
The statement says they have not detected an overall increase in cybercrime. But they have noted a growing use of malicious threats involving COVID-19 related themes.
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MOSCOW — Russian president Vladimir Putin announced new measures to help businesses and people cope with economic shocks from the coronavirus outbreak.
Speaking in a conference call with top officials, Putin says the government will allow small- and medium-business to reduce social insurance payments and reschedule debts, among other measures. He also announced new payments for families with children and people who lost jobs because of the outbreak.
Putin previously ordered most Russians except those working in essential industries to stay off work until the end of the month as part of a partial economic shutdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. He urged provincial governors to be flexible and ensure key industries keep running while strictly observing sanitary norms.
Russia has registered 8,672 cases and 63 deaths.
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NEW DELHI, India — The number of confirmed cases in India has crossed the 5,000 mark, with 149 deaths.
Although the cases are spread over roughly 40% of India’s districts, they are concentrated in India’s densely populated urban centers. Mumbai, previously known as Bombay, is the worst impacted.
India’s strategy is focused around identifying “containment zones” where efforts would be targeted on restricting the virus “within a defined geographic area” to break the chain of transmission. But officials say the next week would be pivotal. India has only conducted 121,271 tests, but is likely to scale up testing in the coming days.
India has put its entire population, one-fifth of the worlds’ population, under lockdown until April 14.
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MINSK, Belarus —The number of coronavirus cases in Belarus, one of the few European countries that hasn’t gone into lockdown, has surpassed 1,000.
The country’s health officials reported 205 new cases on Wednesday, which brought the total to 1,066, with 13 deaths.
Belarus’ neighbors have imposed restrictions on public life to halt the virus’ spread. Its main ally, Russia, has closed the border. But factories, stores and restaurants conduct business as usual in Belarus, stands at sports events are filled with spectators and masks are a rare sight in the capital of Minsk.
Alexander Lukashenko, the longtime president of Belarus, dismissed concerns around the pandemic as “mass psychosis” last week and appeared more worried about the economic impact of a lockdown on the country’s struggling economy.
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THE HAGUE, Netherlands —The Dutch public health institute has reported 147 new deaths in the coronavirus outbreak, bringing the country’s toll to 2,248.
The increase Wednesday was smaller than a day earlier when the toll rose by 234 victims. The totals Tuesday are the highest of each week of the crisis, with health authorities reporting cases from the weekend.
The number of people who tested positive rose by 969 to 20,549, although the number of infections is likely higher because not everyone with symptoms is tested. The government has announced plans to ramp up testing and explore the use of cellphone apps to track infected people and their contacts.
The chairman of the Dutch association for intensive care, Diederik Gommers, told lawmakers the country is seeing “an unbelievably quick reduction in the net increase in IC patients.”
However, he warned that any relaxation of social distancing and other measures could give the outbreak new speed.
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VILNIUS, Lithuania — Lithuania says it will restrict public movement and impose lockdown on major cities during Easter weekend to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the predominantly Catholic nation.
Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis says Lithuanian cities and towns will be closed for non-residents from Friday night until Monday night.
The only exceptions apply to medical, emergency services staff and the military.
Citizens will be allowed out for funerals, sudden medical situations and if they live and work in different municipalities.
The Baltic country of 3 million has reported 15 deaths and 912 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
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WASHINGTON — A leader of the White House’s coronavirus response team is warning there could be another wave of U.S. infections if people don’t stick with the health guidelines recommending they stay indoors and avoid social interactions.
Dr. Deborah Birx says “if people start going out again, socially interacting, we could see a very acute second wave very early.”
Birx told NBC’s “Today” show she’s “hopeful” the United States will have fewer than the projected 100,000 to 240,000 deaths. She says people have been following the 30-day recommendations to stay at least 6 feet away from others, wash their hands regularly with soap and water, use hand sanitizer and avoid gatherings of more than 10 people.
But she says what’s “really important” is people “don’t turn these early signs of hope into releasing from the 30 days to stop the spread.”
There have been about 400,000 U.S. cases and about 13,000 deaths.
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LONDON — Boris Johnson’s spokesman says the British prime minister is stable and responding to treatment for the coronavirus in the intensive care unit of a London hospital.
James Slack says Johnson continues to receive “standard oxygen treatment” and is breathing without any other assistance.
Johnson has spent two nights in the ICU of St. Thomas’ Hospital since being admitted Sunday. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 26 and still had a cough and fever 10 days later.
His spokesman declined to provide further details of Johnson’s treatment, saying Wednesday’s update “was given to us by St. Thomas’ Hospital and it contains all of the information which the PM’s medical team considers to be clinically relevant.”
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is standing in for Johnson while he is hospitalized.
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TOKYO — Gov. Yuriko Koike say the Japanese capital has a record 144 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total to 1,339 on Wednesday, one day after a state of emergency was declared in the region.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a month-long state of emergency in Tokyo and six other hard-hit prefectures to bolster the fight against the coronavirus. Abe said he was expecting widespread compliance despite the lack of legal penalties for violating social distancing and other measures.
However, on Wednesday rush hour trains were still crowded and shops were open as usual. That concerned Koike, who said via internet live streaming that “Asking for the residents to use self-restraint and stay home is not enough. We should restrict use of cluster-causing facilities.”
She has repeatedly said hostess bars, karaoke and other nighttime entertainment spots are main sources of infections, urging the residents to stay away.
Japan has 4,257 confirmed cases and 92 deaths.
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PRAGUE — The Czech Republic’s health minister says the number of infected people in the Czech Republic surpassed 5,000.
Health Minister Adam Vojtech says there were 5,033 cases and 91 people have died.
The day-to-day increase reached 195 on Tuesday, the second lowest in more than a week. Health officials predicted about 11,000 Czechs will be infected by the end of April.
The government has already relaxed some restrictions on individual outdoor sports activities this week and allowed some stores to reopen on Thursday.
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VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is denouncing the mafia and all those who are taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to make money.
Francis opened his morning Mass on Wednesday by praying that “all those who profit off the needs of others, and sell them” experience spiritual conversion.
Francis’ homily was dedicated to the biblical story of Judas betraying Jesus — a narrative Christians commemorate this week in the run-up to liturgical services marking Christ’s Last Supper, crucifixion and resurrection on Easter.
In his remarks, Francis said everyone has a “little Judas inside of us” who makes a choice between loyalty to others or self-interest. He said: “Each one of us has the capacity to betray, to sell others, to choose our own interests.”
Speaking of mobsters and money lenders, he said: “May the Lord touch their hearts and convert them.”
Italian officials have warned that organized crime groups are maneuvering to profit off the social and economic disruptions caused by Italy’s virus-induced nationwide shutdown.
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TIRANA, Albania — Forty Albanian citizens waiting at the two border crossings with Greece were let in and sent to hotels under quarantine for 14 days, the health ministry reports on Wednesday.
Authorities have closed the borders “to protect the life of the people inside and outside of Albania,” according to Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Only those coming for an emergency to check on families will be allowed to enter the country while Albanians with foreign citizenship are not allowed.
Spokeswoman Etiola Kola said 35 Albanians were quarantined at a hotel after crossing the southeastern Kapshtice border check point Tuesday evening.
The local media on Wednesday reported on five others crossing the border in southern Kakavia, both with neighboring Greece where hundreds of thousands of Albanians live since immigrating after the fall of the communist regime in 1990.
Their expenses for 14 days of quarantine will be billed to their families.
Albania has 400 COVID-19 cases and 22 deaths. The relatively low figures are attributed to rigid restrictions in the country.
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MADRID — Spain’s Health Ministry reported Wednesday 757 new deaths of patients with coronavirus and 6,180 new confirmed infections.
Both figures were slightly higher than Tuesday’s, when the first increase in five days was explained by a backlog of test results and fatalities that had gone unreported over the weekend.
But doubts about the statistics are being heard louder as fresh data starts to emerge.
Authorities have already acknowledged that a scarcity of testing kits and a bottleneck in the number of tests that laboratories can conduct on a daily basis are giving an underestimated contagion tally, which rose to 146,000 on Wednesday. A nationwide survey of 30,000 households has been launched to figure out what is the more approximate extent of the epidemic beyond hospitals and nursing homes.
Health Minister Salvador Illa said Tuesday that his department can only account for those who die and were tested. There have been few instances of post-mortem testing.
To rein in the data divide, Spain’s Justice Ministry issued an order on Wednesday requiring more than 4,000 civil registries across the country to provide new and revised data.
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JOHANNESBURG — Some African leaders are bristling at President Donald Trump’s attack on the WHO chief, especially after Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke up this week against “racist” comments by two French doctors who said a coronavirus vaccine could be tested in Africa.
Tedros condemned the remarks as leftovers of a “colonial mentality.” Tedros is from Ethiopia and is the first African to lead the World Health Organization.
“Surprised to learn of a campaign by the U.S. govt against WHO’s global leadership. The African Union fully supports WHO and Dr. Tedros,” the chair of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, tweeted.
“I agree with you, my brother. WHO, under the stewardship of Dr. Tedros, has shown itself to be a true flag-bearer of multilateralism when global solidarity has become critical,” Namibia’s President Hage Geingob responded in a tweet.
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GENEVA — The head of the World Health Organization’s Europe office says a trend of decline in the rate of increase in new coronavirus cases does not mean it’s time to relax measures aimed to stop its spread.
Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe, also said some countries “are experiencing a rapid increase in cases or a fresh surge,” and called for continued vigilance. He noted measures taken in many countries to shut schools and businesses.
“We still have a long way to go in the marathon and the progress we have made so far in fighting the virus is extremely fragile,” he said. “To think we are coming close to an endpoint would be a dangerous thing to do. The virus leaves no room for error or complacency.”
He said countries that any prospect of easing lockdowns or physical distancing measures “requires very careful consideration,” such as by considering if health systems are prepared.
“Many of us are looking forward to celebrating Easter with better weather but this is not the time to lower our guard,” Kluge told a video news conference from Copenhagen. “We must soldier on.”
