BEIJING, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The world is now in a battle against COVID-19, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 200 countries and regions.
The following are the updates on the contagious disease.
- - - -
UNITED NATIONS -- The Group of 77 coalition of developing nations and China expressed solidarity with all affected countries struggling to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement released on Friday, the group expressed support and admiration for all healthcare professionals and medical researchers who serve on the frontlines in the battle against the disease.
- - - -
NEW YORK -- With a surge of COVID-19 patients expected in the coming days, the U.S. state of New York is in urgent need of ventilators, personal protective equipment and health care workers, officials said Friday.
Governor Andrew Cuomo told a press briefing on Friday morning that he would issue an executive order that allows the state to take ventilators and PPE from institutions that do not currently need them, and the National Guard will be mobilized to move the equipment to where they are needed the most.
- - - -
WASHINGTON -- The Chinese embassy and consulates-general in the United States will send out health kits, including face masks and disinfection supplies, to Chinese students in the country where the number of COVID-19 cases topped 277,000 by Friday.
The distribution of the health kits is part of efforts by the Chinese government to help safeguard the health and safety of overseas Chinese students in countries hit hard by the COVID-19 epidemic, according to a letter to the Chinese students by the Chinese embassy on its webpage.
- - - -
BEIJING -- Xi Jinping led other Chinese leaders on Saturday to attend a national mourning for COVID-19 victims.
Xi, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan stood in silence in Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing at 10:00 a.m. The commemoration lasted three minutes.
They had white flowers pinned to the chest and paid silent tribute in front of a national flag.
- - - -
BERLIN -- From this Saturday, Borussia Dortmund's stadium, the biggest in Germany, will house a COVID-19 testing center.
Rooms in the Westfalenstadion's north stand have been prepared to take in people suspected of suffering from COVID-19. It is hoped the center will relieve pressure on the medical facilities in the city of Dortmund.
- - - -
BEIJING -- The Chinese mainland reported 18 new imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease Friday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 888, the National Health Commission said Saturday.
The mainland also reported 11 new suspected cases, all of which were imported, the commission said in its daily report.
- - - -
WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that Americans wear cloth face covering to protect against COVID-19.
"The CDC is advising the use of non-medical cloth face covering as a voluntary health measure," Trump told a White House briefing. "It is voluntary. They suggested for a period of time."
However, Trump said he would not wear mask.
- - - -
SOFIA -- The Bulgarian National Assembly on Friday evening approved the extension of the nationwide state of emergency until May 13 in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
The state of emergency was initially implemented on March 13, and since then a number of anti-epidemic measures have been taken, such as closing bars, restaurants, schools and universities, and suspending mass events.
- - - -
HELSINKI -- The Finnish government on Friday ordered all restaurants in the country to close from Saturday, in its latest effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.
According to the order by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, restaurants must remain closed from Saturday until the end of May. Takeaway sales will be allowed -- in a way that avoids contagion.
