Here are today’s top headlines from select sources across the world.
How an Austrian ski resort helped coronavirus spread across Europe
Henrik Lerfeldt has fond memories of Kitzloch, a popular restaurant and bar in the Austrian ski resort town of Ischgl, where he partied several nights while on vacation three weeks ago.
China to lift lockdown on Wuhan, ground zero of coronavirus pandemic
China has announced it will lift the lockdown on Wuhan, the city at the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, on April 8, marking a significant milestone in its battle against the deadly outbreak.
Blame game escalates between US and China over coronavirus disinformation
President Donald Trump says he has declared war on the coronavirus in an effort to contain the outbreak and its economic impact here at home, but on the world stage, his administration is engaged in another battle as the US and China fight to shape the narrative about the pandemic’s origins.
Why soap, sanitizer and warm water work against Covid-19 and other viruses
Tired of washing your hands until they’re cracked? Please don’t stop. Read on to find out why that one act works so well to keep us safe — and not just from coronavirus.
IOC member predicts Tokyo Olympics will be postponed
International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound predicted the 2020 Games in Toyko will be postponed because of the coronavirus, which would make it the largest event yet halted or rescheduled by the global pandemic.
Prominent 30-year-old Zimbabwe broadcaster dies of coronavirus
A prominent 30-year-old television journalist has died in Zimbabwe after contracting the new coronavirus infection, the first person to die in the country from the virus.
Arizona man dies after self-medicating with chloroquine to treat coronavirus
A Phoenix-area man is dead and his wife is under critical care after the two took chloroquine phosphate in an apparent attempt to self-medicate for the novel coronavirus, according to hospital system Banner Health.
A man ran the length of a marathon all from his balcony during France’s coronavirus lockdown
One runner didn’t let the French government’s order to remain indoors prevent him from training for a marathon amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The entire Trump stock rally is gone
The Trump stock rally, which at its peak only last month seemed unending, has evaporated.
African saxophone legend dies of Covid-19
The African saxophone legend Manu Dibango has died in Paris after catching coronavirus. Dibango – best known for his 1972 song Soul Makossa – is one of the first global stars to die from Covid-19. The 86-year-old fused jazz and funk music with traditional sounds from his home country, Cameroon.
Tokyo 2020: Why is Olympic decision taking so long?
Even the Olympics is not immune. It now seems almost certain that Tokyo 2020 will be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world. But as the IOC gives itself another four weeks to mull over a delay, what forces are at play behind the biggest peacetime decision world sport has ever seen?
Coronavirus: A visual guide to the pandemic
There are more than 380,000 confirmed cases worldwide. Europe is now at the epicentre of the crisis and the US is facing a surge in cases. This series of maps and charts will help you understand what is going on.
Carmakers answer pleas for ventilators and masks
Carmakers are answering calls from governments to help make more ventilators and face masks to help out during the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday Fiat began converting one of its car plants in China to start making about one million masks a month.
Will warm weather really kill off Covid-19?
Many infectious diseases wax and wane with the seasons. Flu typically arrives with the colder winter months, as does the norovirus vomiting bug. Others, such as typhoid, tend to peak during the summer. Measles cases drop during the summer in temperate climates, while in tropical regions they peak in the dry season.
Ex-Trump Advisers Issue Coronavirus Warning: Don’t Prioritize Economy Over Lives
A trio of former top advisers to President Donald Trump have warned against attempting to boost the U.S. economy by relaxing the social distancing measures that are aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Trump himself has touted the prospect in recent days.
These Are The Most Common Ways The Coronavirus Is Transmitted
Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, health experts have emphasized how important it is to wash your hands, disinfect surfaces and cough into your arm or sleeve. But it’s hard to avoid all methods of transmission, so much so that the vast majority of Americans are taking lockdown, quarantine or social distancing measures.
Arizona Man Dies After Self-Medicating With Chloroquine To Prevent Coronavirus
An Arizona man has died and his wife was in critical condition after consuming chloroquine phosphate, a product used to clean fish tanks that shares an active ingredient with drugs touted by President Donald Trump as a possible treatment for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
The most important thing to know about social distancing
You’re watching the numbers go up every day. Yet, mayors and governors around the nation have ordered Americans to stay inside. Sports are canceled. Birthday parties are canceled. The Rolling Stones tour is canceled. Pick-up basketball in parks, canceled. When will these unprecedented social distancing measures – intended to significantly reduce the uncontrolled rise in new coronavirus infections – work?
Internet is getting slower in the U.S. and Europe
Broadband speeds are falling in many European countries as well as North America. According to data from Speedtest, this is especially visible in the past week, amid an unprecedented lockdown in many countries due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The ‘Game of Thrones’ crossover on ‘Westworld’ was George R.R. Martin’s idea
Anything goes on . No really, anything. Killer robots, puzzles, multiple timelines, and the AI apocalypse are all fair game on the hit HBO show, but the second episode of Westworld Season 3 truly went there with a trio of unexpected cameos that get even weirder when you learn the story behind them.
Germans sing ‘Bella Ciao’ from rooftops, showing support for Italians in lockdown
Germans are showing support for Italians in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic by singing “Bella Ciao,” the Guardian reports. In the Bavarian town of Bamberg, people stuck their heads out of their windows and sat in chairs on their rooftops to sing the Italian resistance song.
Stephen King is using ‘The Stand’ to warn people about the coronavirus spread
If it feels like we’re living in a disaster movie at the moment, that’s probably because there’s been so much famous fiction chronicling deadly pandemics in the past. One of the many novels about the rapid spread of a virus is The Stand by Stephen King – a story which details the collapse of the U.S.
