Stories for March 2020

Monday, March 30th 2020 - 09:05 UTC
Zaandam and Rotterdam on their way to Florida, where strict debarkation measures await

Holland America Zaandam cruise ship, carrying four bodies and scores of patients with coronavirus-like symptoms, has been given permission to cross the Panama Canal, allowing them to continue their journey toward Florida, the cruise line’s president said Sunday.
Monday, March 30th 2020 - 08:56 UTC
Argentina satisfied with pandemic quarantine results, extends the circulation ban until 12 April

Mandatory quarantine measures that permit citizens to leave their homes only for essential reasons will remain in place in Argentina until April 12, President Alberto Fernandez announced on Sunday.
Monday, March 30th 2020 - 08:50 UTC
Cleaner air in European cities as nitrogen dioxide levels drop with lockdowns

Air pollution has decreased in urban areas across Europe during lockdowns to combat the corona-virus, new satellite images showed on Monday, but campaigners warned city-dwellers were still more vulnerable to the epidemic. Cities including Brussels, Paris, Madrid, Milan and Frankfurt showed a reduction in average levels of noxious nitrogen dioxide over Mar 5-25, compared with the same period last year, according to the Sentinel-5 satellite images.
Monday, March 30th 2020 - 08:29 UTC
Bolsonaro urges followers in the streets to keep the Brazilian economy going

Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday flouted his government's social distancing guidelines against the spread of the coronavirus by mixing with supporters on the streets of Brasilia and urging them to keep the economy going.
Monday, March 30th 2020 - 07:48 UTC
Trump said social distancing guidelines will be extended until 30 April

President Trump announced on Sunday the nationwide social distancing guidelines will remain in place until April 30, saying the “peak” of the coronavirus pandemic is expected in two weeks. Mr. Trump said he expected the country to be “well on its way to recovery” by June 1.
Monday, March 30th 2020 - 07:36 UTC
Pandemic: Sweden avoids draconian measures of the rest of European countries

While swathes of Europe's population endure lockdown conditions in the face of the coronavirus outbreak, one country stands almost alone in allowing life to go on much closer to normal. After a long winter, it's just become warm enough to sit outside in the Swedish capital and people are making the most of it.
Monday, March 30th 2020 - 07:27 UTC
Retired Venezuela general charged with drug-trafficking turned himself to US authorities

A retired Venezuelan general has turned himself over to Colombian authorities after the United States charged him with drug-trafficking and offered a reward for his capture, local media reported. Cliver Alcala turned himself in on Friday to the Colombians, who in turn handed him over to US authorities, the El Tiempo de Bogota newspaper said.
Monday, March 30th 2020 - 07:22 UTC
Germany does not discard another huge financial package to prop the economy

Germany's 750 billion euro (US$834 billion) package to soften the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak on Europe's largest economy will last for about two months, an independent economic think tank told a German newspaper group.
Saturday, March 28th 2020 - 08:58 UTC
Four passengers dead on the MS Zaandam which last called in Punta Arenas

Four passengers have died on a cruise ship off the Pacific coast of Panama with more than 130 others aboard suffering from influenza-like symptoms, at least two of whom have coronavirus, the vessel's operator said on Friday.
Saturday, March 28th 2020 - 08:54 UTC
A bright sight from coronavirus: industry and transport emissions in three EU cities down 40%

Air pollution from nitrogen dioxide has fallen by an estimated 40% in three European cities, according to new satellite data released by the European Space Agency (ESA), coinciding with a widespread lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus.