Britain’s finance ministry said it will extend the scrapping of sales tax on personal protective equipment (PPE) for infectious diseases until the end of October.
“Extending the zero VAT rate on PPE will provide the relief needed by care homes in particular, so that as many people as possible continue to be protected against the coronavirus,” junior finance minister Jesse Norman said in a statement.
Holidays to test Thailand’s easing of virus restrictions
Thai authorities are urging vigilance as the South East Asian nation celebrates its first long holiday weekend after lifting most restrictions imposed to fight the spread of the coronavirus. No new local infections have been reported in Thailand in more than a month.
The four day holiday starting Saturday, incorporating two Buddhist holy days, is expected to see Thais return en masse from the cities where many work to their family homes in rural areas.
Remdesivir first virus drug to receive EU approval
The first drug to treat severe cases of Covid-19 in the European Union has been given the green light, with the European Commission approving remdesivir.
“We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to secure efficient treatments or vaccine against the coronavirus,” Stella Kyriakides, the EU’s health commissioner, said in a statement.
It is the first time the EU’sáexecutive arm has granted the approval to a Covid-19 drug and was the last step for remdesivir to be given the full the go-ahead.
Israel reports over 1,000 cases in one day
The number of new coronavirus infections in Israel has breached the 1,000 mark for the first time, according to figures published by the Health Ministry.
A record 1,107 new cases were registered on Thursday, the highest single-day caseload since the beginning of the pandemic. The previous record was registered Wednesday at 967.
Overall, 27,542 individuals have tested positive for Sars-CoV-2 in the country, with 9,600 active cases and 325 deaths, according to the ministry.
Iranians urged to take coronavirus seriously as new cases rise
Total coronavirus cases rose to 235,429 in Iran with 154 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 11,260, authorities said as the country tries to fend off new infections after easing its lockdown restrictions.
Eight out of 31 provinces are considered in a red status, meaning the epidemic has been on the rise, while seven, including the province where Tehran is located, are on alert as the virus is still a threat, Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on state TV.
State television is airing warnings such as “Coronavirus is very close” and “Let’s take the coronavirus danger seriously”.
Tokyo records over 120 new virus cases
Tokyo reported 124 new cases of the coronavirus, Governor Yuriko Koike said, amid concerns that recent spikes in the Japanese capital could escalate.
On Thursday, Tokyo reported 107 new cases, which was the highest since May 2 when Japan was still under a pandemic state of emergency.
At its peak, Tokyo’s daily new cases exceeded 200.
England puts the United States on ‘red-list’
Passengers arriving into England from the United States will not be exempted from quarantine rules, Britain’s transport minister Grant Shapps said.
Asked whether the United States would be on a ‘red-list’ of countries to which a 14-day quarantine period will apply, Shapps said: “I’m afraid it will be.”
South Korea has 63 newly confirmed virus cases
South Korea has reported 63 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 as health authorities scramble to mobilize public health tools to the southwestern city of Gwangju, where more than 50 people were found sickened over the past week.
The figures announced by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brought the national caseload to 12,967 infections, including 282 deaths.
In new record, India adds 20,000 virus cases
India reported another single-day record for new virus cases on Friday – 20,903.
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
