WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION:Latest updates on coronavirus disease outbreak

Latest updates on coronavirus disease outbreak How a Spanish doctor joined the race for a COVID-19 treatment Dr Vicente Estrada, a Spanish infectious disease doctor, has dedicated his career to studying and fighting HIV. But when Madrid became a hotspot for COVID-19, Dr Estrada and his colleagues pivoted their work to help find a treatment for this disease. Re-imagining and fixing the links in the supply chains during COVID-19 Getting humanitarian supplies where they need to go is a game of precision and meticulous planning under normal circumstances. Try adding a global, rapidly evolving pandemic to the mix, and you’ve described the current reality of WHO Operations Support & Logistics Chief Paul Molinaro. What can older people do to prepare for COVID-19? Older people, and people of all ages with pre-existing medical conditions (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, or cancer) appear to develop serious illness more often than others. Here's how you can protect yourself. 5G mobile networks DO NOT spread COVID-19 Viruses cannot travel on radio waves/mobile networks. COVID-19 is spreading in many countries that do not have 5G mobile networks. Visit our mythbusters page that dispels some common myths and misinformation circulating online and in the media. Current outbreak situation Take a look at our COVID-19 dashboard to see the latest number of confirmed cases and deaths across the world. Find out which regions and countries have been most affected since the beginning of the outbreak. All WHO information on COVID-19 outbreak Here you will find latest news, guidance as well as case numbers and deaths related to COVID-19 outbreak. This page is updated daily, so make sure to come back often and see the newest information from WHO. Other hot topics Join us for the 3rd Walk the Talk: Health for All Challenge 2020 virtually WHO is taking the third Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge virtual this year. In light of COVID-19, Walk the Talk will offer an even more global platform to promote health and well-being for people all over the world. The Virtual Walk the Talk will be held over 16-17 May 2020, with people invited to join in from their homes wherever they are located in the world.  Find out more

WTO issues report on trade impacts for WTO members graduating from LDC status

WTO issues report on trade impacts for WTO members graduating from LDC status

A new report issued by the WTO on 8 May seeks to help least developed countries (LDCs) 

better understand the trade-related implications of graduation from LDC status. The product

 of a joint effort between the WTO and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), “Trade

 Impacts of LDC Graduation” looks at how graduation may affect LDCs’ participation in 

world trade, including their access to export markets, and implications for their WTO

 commitments.

More

The report responds to a specific request from the LDC Group in the WTO for an analysis of how graduation will impact countries’ trade relations. LDCs are accorded special treatment in the WTO, in particular with regard to enhanced market access opportunities and the implementation of WTO rules and disciplines. 

While graduation represents an important milestone in their development path, phasing out of the special treatment provisions associated with LDC status could present challenges to graduating LDCs. As a result, graduation-related concerns are increasingly becoming an integral part of LDC proposals in the WTO.

The report was completed before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the issuance of the WTO’s recent trade forecast, which foresees a sharp downturn in global trade this year. Nevertheless, the study remains pertinent as it examines the trade impacts resulting from graduation, not the factors that could constrain prospects for graduation due to the pandemic.

“The WTO remains committed to helping LDCs use trade to raise incomes and reduce vulnerabilities, and thereby to graduate from LDC status,” WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said. “Today, a quarter of LDCs are on track to graduate — or at least were, prior to the economic dislocation arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. They​ need to be supported. It is very positive that the international community is continuing to explore measures to facilitate a smooth and sustainable graduation process for LDCs.”

A WTO member “graduates” from LDC status when it meets certain socio-economic thresholds set by the United Nations. The decision regarding graduation is taken by UN members at the recommendation of the Committee for Development Policy, an advisory body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

There are currently 47 LDCs, of which 12 are at different stages of the graduation process. Of these LDCs, seven are WTO members (Angola, Bangladesh, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) while three are in the process of negotiating their WTO accession (Bhutan, Sao Tome and Principe, and Timor-Leste). The other two LDCs on the graduation path are Kiribati and Tuvalu.

The report notes that while graduating LDCs have diverse economic and trade profiles, for most of them the impact of graduation appears limited, with only marginal increases in tariffs due to the loss of preferences. The biggest impact is likely to be confined to a handful of export items (clothing, fish products, footwear) destined for a few developed country markets (Canada, the European Union and Japan). With a considerable share of graduating LDC exports going to markets covered by regional trade agreements, the impact of graduation is likely to be limited for this trade.

Graduating governments may need to take certain steps to adhere to their new non-LDC obligations, particularly with regards to increased notification requirements, the report notes.

The report explores options for graduating LDCs, including through forging appropriate trade arrangements with their trading partners and seeking recourse to instruments and procedures available under WTO rules that allow them to engage with WTO members should they face difficulties in meeting their commitments. It also identifies potential support measures that graduating LDCs can build on by working hand-in-hand with their development partners to ensure sustainable graduation.

The WTO Secretariat intends to undertake a COVID-19 impact analysis for graduating LDCs under the aegis of this project.

“Trade Impacts of LDC Graduation” is the outcome of a joint project between the WTO and the EIF that aims to help graduating LDCs to address graduation-related challenges and support their integration into global trade.

The report is available here.

"ΝΕΑ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ":ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΡΙΟ FAKE NEWS....

Αθήνα 8.5.2020   Η Γενική Γραμματεία Αντεγκληματικής Πολιτικής «αρνείται» τη μεταγωγή του κρατουμένου Β. Δημάκη Πηγή:http://www.avgi.gr/article/10813/11049271/e-s-nikolaou-arneitai-na-ypograpsei-te-metagoge-b-demake • Με οδηγία της Γενικής Γραμματείας Αντεγκληματικής Πολιτικής, ελήφθη προφορικά, διά περιφοράς, η Απόφαση του Συμβουλίου των Φυλακών Γρεβενών για τη μεταγωγή του κρατουμένου. • Αφού υπογράφηκε η συγκεκριμένη απόφαση υποβλήθηκε βάσει της προβλεπόμενης διαδικασίας στη Γενική Γραμματεία Αντεγκληματικής Πολιτικής την 06-05-2020. • Ακολούθως από τη Γενική Γραμματέα Αντεγκληματικής Πολιτικής υπογράφηκε και διατάχθηκε - κατ’ εξαίρεση της συνήθους διαδικασίας μεταγωγών - η έκτακτη μεταγωγή του κρατουμένου στον Κορυδαλλό, η οποία και θα πραγματοποιηθεί άμεσα. Από τα παραπάνω προκύπτει ότι οι ισχυρισμοί που διακινούνται δεν ανταποκρίνονται στην πραγματικότητα. Κάποιοι επιμένουν να συγχέουν την πραγματικότητα με τη σκοπιμότητα και την ενημέρωση με την παραπληροφόρηση που εξυπηρετεί ύποπτες στοχεύσεις συγκεκριμένων κύκλων. Αθήνα, 8 Μαΐου 2020 Από το Γραφείο Τύπου της Νέας Δημοκρατίας εκδόθηκε η ακόλουθη ανακοίνωση: «Είμαστε σίγουροι ότι ούτε αυτή τη φορά ο κ. Τσίπρας πρόκειται να καταδικάσει την ανάρτηση του πρώην υπουργού του κ. Μάρδα. Είμαστε όμως υποχρεωμένοι να του θυμίσουμε άλλη μια φορά, ότι όσο δεν αντιδρά τόσο δείχνει ότι υιοθετεί και προσυπογράφει αυτές τις αθλιότητες. Θα αποδείξει έτσι ότι μένει ίδιος, απελπιστικά ίδιος, με την περίοδο του διχασμού και της μισαλλοδοξίας που καλλιέργησε».

U.S.A.'s latest:58.1% of Households Have Responded to the 2020 Census

58.1% of Households Have Responded It has never been easier to respond to the census on your own, whether online at 2020census.gov, over the phone, or by mail. More than half of all of the households in the country have responded – that’s 85,900,000 households so far! How Does Your Community Rank?  Take a look at the national response rate and the top 10 states ranked by response rate. See Rankings Data Gem: How is Your Community Responding to the 2020 Census? If you would like to track how your community is responding to the 2020 Census and how it is ranking in comparison to other areas, this Data Gem will introduce you to the 2020 Census Response Rate Map Rankings Dashboard. Our data visualization guru, Gerson Vasquez, will teach you how to visualize daily updates for your area of self-response rates for households that have self-responded to the 2020 Census (online, by phone or by mail) beginning mid-March. Play Video 2020 Census: Your Response Matters Invitations to respond to the 2020 Census were delivered in March. Millions of reminder post cards were sent in the mail to households that have not responded yet.  Did you know? You can respond online in one of 13 languages and find assistance in many more.  Respond Now

U.S. Small Business Administration,update

SBA to Make Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available to U.S. Agricultural Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza announced that agricultural businesses are now eligible for SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance programs. SBA’s EIDL portal has reopened as a result of funding authorized by Congress through the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act. The legislation, signed into law by the President one week ago, provided additional funding for farmers and ranchers and certain other agricultural businesses affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Learn more The Paycheck Protection Program is still accepting loan applications for small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Funding can be used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. Learn more and find a participating lender

U.S.Department of Labor,update

U.S. Department of Labor May 8, 2020 Joining President Trump in Arizona U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia joined President Donald Trump in Phoenix for a roundtable discussion on supporting Native Americans, and a tour of a Honeywell factory that will make N95 respirators to protect front-line workers. Strengthening COVID-19 Contact Tracing States and territories that have received Dislocated Worker Grants in response to the coronavirus pandemic can use their funds to identify and notify individuals who may have been exposed to the coronavirus. Demonstrating the Proper Use of Respirators OSHA issued a new video and poster on proper workplace use of respirators. Unemployment Insurance Guidance To help states administer their unemployment insurance programs effectively and efficiently, the Department released additional guidance on reporting requirements, modifications to emergency administrative grants, and common questions. Supporting Dislocated Workers The Department has awarded additional Dislocated Worker Grant funding in six states in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing the total awarded to $171,469,995.

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA:Meeting on implementing measures to support the economy and the social sphere

Meeting on implementing measures to support the economy and the social sphere


The President held, via videoconference, a meeting on implementing the adopted measures on supporting the economy and social sphere. The agenda also included proposals on the stage-by-stage lifting of anti-epidemic restrictions imposed to counter the novel coronavirus infection.
May 6, 2020
16:35
Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region



Meeting on implementing measures to support the economy and the social sphere.

Taking part in the meeting were Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Acting Prime Minister Andrei Belousov, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Kiriyenko, deputy prime ministers Tatyana Golikova and Marat Khusnullin, Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev, Presidential Aide Maxim Oreshkin, Minister of Transport Yevgeny Ditrikh, Minister of Labour and Social Protection Anton Kotyakov, Minister of Trade and Industry Denis Manturov, Minister of Healthcare Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov, Governor of the Central Bank Elvira Nabiullina, Acting Minister of Construction and Housing and Utilities Nikita Stasishin, Head of the Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare – Chief Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation Anna Popova, Head of the Federal Taxation Service Daniil Yegorov, and the heads of federal districts and all 85 regions of the Russian Federation.

* * *

Excerpts from transcript of meeting on implementing adopted measures to support the economy and social sphere

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues,

Before starting our today’s meeting, I would like to pass along best wishes and greetings from Mr Mishustin. He is recovering. Everything is okay. He is running a temperature, as often happens in his condition, but he is getting better. I am in contact with him every day, and he takes part in drafting all our decisions. Let us wish him a speedy recovery. Meanwhile, he sends you his best regards.

Our meeting today consists of two parts: first, reports on implementing the March and April decisions on supporting people and the economy during the coronavirus epidemic, and second, steps on lifting restrictions.

I would like to recall two packages of measures that were introduced gradually, expanded and supplemented each other according to a uniform logic of actions. Considering the development of the situation, we did this gradually. The decisions were adopted taking into account the problems that people, as well as small and medium-sized businesses, are now facing.

Priority decisions included direct payments to families with children and employees of medical facilities and emergency medical services; increased allowances for those who temporarily lost their jobs after March 1; state subsidies and easy payroll loans for companies that retain their employees, their teams; and deferments of tax, loan and rent payments.

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA:Meeting with regional heads on countering the spread of the coronavirus

Meeting with regional heads on countering the spread of the coronavirus


The President held a meeting, via videoconference, with heads of the Russian regions on countering the spread of the coronavirus infection.
April 28, 2020
19:00
Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region






At a meeting with regional heads on countering the spread of the coronavirus.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Kiriyenko, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko, Deputy Prime Minister – Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, presidential aides Igor Levitin and Maxim Oreshkin, Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, Minister of Healthcare Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov, presidential plenipotentiary envoys to the federal districts, the Head of the Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare – Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation Anna Popova and Head of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency Veronika Skvortsova.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon,

I hope everyone can see and hear me.

Today we are having a videoconference with the heads of all Russian regions. We will discuss the results of our joint work, developments in specific regions and the tasks we have to address together.

Let me remind you that on April 2 I signed an Executive Order declaring the period through April 30 as non-working days, and the regional heads were given additional powers to establish a list of specific preventive measures.

All of this made it possible to ensure a flexible approach without applying one-size-fits-all restrictions to people at random but introducing truly necessary measures in every region and municipality.