Below are the latest developments in the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic and related measures and events:
US President Donald Trump announced the end of his country´s membership of the World Health Organization after it had previously suspended contributions to its budget. This came against the background of being considered the United Nations organization´s collusion with Beijing.
The United States, which was the largest funder of the organization with about 15 percent of its budget ($ 893 million in 2018/2019), said it would "redirect these funds to other urgent public health needs in the world."
The new Corona virus has killed more than 364,362 people worldwide since it appeared in China in December, according to a census drawn up by Agence France-Presse according to official sources at 11:00 GMT Saturday.
About six million cases have been recorded since the epidemic appeared in 196 countries and regions.
The states are the most affected country with 102,836 deaths, followed by Britain (38161), then Italy (33229), France (28714), Brazil (27878) and Spain (27121).
The highest death rate was recorded in Belgium (816 deaths per million inhabitants), followed by Spain (580), then the United Kingdom (562), Italy (550), France (440), Sweden (431), the Netherlands (346), Ireland (333), and the United States (311).
A French study published in the scientific journal "The Lancet Rheumatology" said that the drug Anakinra, which is used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases, showed "encouraging" results when used in the most serious infections with Covid-19, and specialists noted that it reduces the need for the use of artificial respirators in resuscitation.
The drug reduces the "cytokine storm", an inflammatory reaction that appears in the most dangerous forms of Covid-19 infection, leading to severe respiratory failure.
A toxic cloud released by a factory in the Indian city of Bhopal in 1984 killed 3,500 people instantly, and another 25,000 people in subsequent years.
Today, people who were poisoned decades ago represent a large portion (about half according to the government) of the Covid-19 victims in the city in central India.
The French authorities proposed to postpone the referendum on independence for New Caledonia in the South Pacific until 4 October, after it had been scheduled for 6 September, due to the logistical difficulties caused by the Covid-19 crisis.
A decree on this matter is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet in June.
Uruguayan President Luis Lacal has been quarantined after participating in a meeting with officials who were found to be infected with the emerging coronavirus.
Adam N Silver, president of the National Basketball Association (NBA), hopes the contest will return on July 31.
His plan includes resuming matches suspended since March 11 without an audience at Disney World, Florida.
Gibraltar will prevent touching macaques in the British coastal enclave in southern Spain, and this aims to protect these animals from the emerging Corona virus. Macaques live above the Gibraltar region, accessible to tourists.
