NEWS IN BRIEF
SPAIN VIRUS DEATH TOLL TOPS 10,000: GOVT
AFP, Madrid
The coronavirus death toll in Spain surged past 10,000 yesterday after a record 950 deaths in 24 hours, with the number of confirmed cases passing the 110,000 mark, the government said. Spain has the worlds second-highest death toll after Italy, with the virus so far claiming 10,003 lives although the rate of new infections and deaths continued its downward trend, the health ministry figures showed. The number of new infections increased by 7.9 percent, compared with 8.2 percent on Wednesday and more than 25 percent at the start of last week.
ISRAEL PM NETANYAHU
RE-ENTERS QUARANTINE
AFP, Jerusalem
Israeli Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, a leading member of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, has tested positive for COVID-19, forcing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to re-enter precautionary quarantine, officials said yesterday. Netanyahus previous quarantine, imposed earlier this week after one of his staffers tested positive for the novel coronavirus, had ended Wednesday night, his office said. The premiers new seven-day self-isolation was imposed following his contacts with the 71-year-old Litzman, the prime ministers office said.
INDONESIA FREES 18,000 INMATES FROM JAILS OVER VIRUS FEARS
AFP, Majene, Indonesia
Indonesia has released some 18,000 inmates in a desperate bid to stop coronavirus from rampaging through its notoriously overcrowded prison system, authorities said yesterday. The mass release comes days after the Southeast Asian nation said it would free more than 30,000 inmates to take pressure off prisons and jails beset by unsanitary conditions and long at risk of infectious diseases. The UN has called on countries to release vulnerable inmates, with Afghanistan last week announcing it would set free some 10,000 prisoners.
