Angela Merkel calls coronavirus 'Germany's biggest challenge since WWII'

Germany is facing its biggest challenge since the Second World War in the fight against the Corona virus pandemic, Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a television address. In an appeal, Ms Merkel urged everyone to play a part in slowing down a virus that has raced across the globe and triggered unprecedented peace-time lockdowns.

Germany is among the countries worst hit by the Corona virus pandemic, with latest figures showing 12 deaths and 8,198 confirmed cases yesterday, a jump of 1,042 from the previous day. Germany currently has around 25,000 intensive care beds with respiratory capacity and Berlin has ordered thousands of new respirators to boost that number.

Italy yesterday reported 475 new deaths from the novel Corona virus, the highest one-day official toll of any nation since the first case was detected in China late last year. Total deaths in Italy have reached 2,978, more than half of all the cases recorded outside China while the number of infections stood at 35,713. The previous record high of 368 deaths was also recorded in Italy, on Sunday. The nation of 60 million has now recorded 34.2 per cent of all the deaths officially attributed to COVID-19 across the world.

Israel has barred entry of foreign nationals unless they have residency in the Jewish state, in the latest measure to contain Corona virus. A Foreign Ministry statement said, foreign nationals who are not citizens of Israel and who do not hold Israeli citizenship or residency will not be allowed entry into Israel. The measure came into effect immediately, it added. Israel has 433 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with another 44 in the



occupied Palestinian territories and tens of thousands in self-isolation.

In France, the Corona virus epidemic has caused 89 new deaths across the country over the last 24 hours bringing the total death toll to 264. A top French health official told reporters in Paris that the epidemic is rapidly becoming more serious adding that France now had 9,134 confirmed cases, 3,626 of whom were in hospital.

Meanwhile, Portugal declared a nationwide state of emergency in view of the Corona virus. The United Arab Emirates has announced a temporary suspension on issuing visas upon arrival for holders of exempted passports, effective from 01:00 (UAE local time) today, as part of the precautionary and preventive measures adopted by the country to contain the spread of COVID-19. Holders of diplomatic passports are exempted from this decision, noted the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship in a statement issued yesterday.

According to the statement, the decision will apply to holders of exempted passports until a medical clearance process is activated at the departure country as part of global precautionary measures being undertaken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

UNESCO has said that more than 850 million young people or about half the world's student population are barred from their school and university grounds because of the Novel Corona virus pandemic. Calling it an unprecedented challenge, UNESCO said in a statement in Paris that schools had been closed in 102 countries, with partial closures in 11 more, with more closures to come.