Paris, France | AFP | The automotive industry is offering its expertise and manpower to the hospital sector as it gears up to build mechanical ventilators during the coronavirus pandemic, an initiative that is being met with some scepticism. American auto manufacturers General Motors and Ford, French car companies PSA and Renault, Germany’s Volkswagen group …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | With all eyes on the rapid global spread of the novel coronavirus, health experts fear a drop in routine vaccinations could fuel other, potentially deadlier outbreaks of diseases like measles. With nearly half of the world’s population told to stay at home, many parents are having to postpone taking their …

Paris, France | AFP | Anti-malarial drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine should only be used to treat COVID-19 in clinical trials or in case of “national emergency”, the European Medicine Agency warned Wednesday. Around the world, countries are expanding access to the two compounds, which are used to treat malaria and are known to have anti-viral …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s president on Wednesday apologised for violence meted out by police following the declaration of a nationwide curfew last week to curb the spread of coronavirus. “I want to apologise to all Kenyans for… some excesses that were conducted,” President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a live …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Premier League clubs have been accused of living in a “moral vacuum”, with players urged to take their share of the financial hit from the coronavirus pandemic as non-playing staff begin to feel the pinch. Last year’s Champions League finalists Tottenham as well as Newcastle …

Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Despite loud appeals for caution, Africans are rushing to embrace chloroquine, the venerable anti-malaria drug touted as a possible treatment for coronavirus. From hospitals in Senegal to pharmaceutical companies in South Africa and street sellers in Cameroon, chloroquine has fired hopes of a medicinal fix against …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Guidelines are being developed at the coronavirus isolation and treatment centre in Mulago to help health workers a make quick decisions on what kind of patient benefits from ICU services first, in case they are faced with multiple cases with serious symptoms. Dr Elizabeth …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Water and Environment has directed all local governments to repair all non-functional boreholes. The move is to ensure that all Ugandans can have access to water as the country battles an outbreak of coronavirus. According to the circular dated March 31,  …

Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russian leader Vladimir Putin has decided to handle his duties remotely, the Kremlin said Wednesday, after the head of the country’s main coronavirus hospital tested positive following a meeting with the president. Denis Protsenko, who met with Putin last week as the Russian leader visited the Kommunarka hospital in Moscow, …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | HIV patients in Bunyoro sub-region want the presidential directive on the restriction of movements relaxed. They say that the restriction is negatively impacting on them since they no longer access health facilities where they often have to go for antiretroviral therapy. The patients contend …