Denmark eases restrictions to halt virus for schools

Schoolchildren below 11 are returning to classrooms across Denmark, where teachers enforce social distancing.

Denmark is allowing primary schools and nurseries to reopen, making it the first European country to lift restrictions against the coronavirus on education.

It was also one of the first in Europe to impose a lockdown.

But not all parents agree with the government’s move.

Al Jazeera’s Simi Jan reports from Copenhagen.

US companies make medical supplies for New York to beat virus

As New York state faces severe shortage of protective equipment for COVID-19, some US companies step in to fill gap.

President Donald Trump has faced criticism for failing to coordinate with states in the US during the pandemic, with a shortage of medical gear for front-line staff being a particular problem.

But some domestic companies have started producing their own protective equipment – and New Yorkers have been only too happy to lend a hand.

Al Jazeera’s Kristen Saloomey reports from New York.

Captain Tom, 99-year old veteran, completes walk raising $15 million for UK health service

LONDON, April 16 (Reuters) – Captain Tom, a 99-year old British veteran, completed 100 laps of his garden on Thursday, raising 12.2 million pounds ($15.24 million) for Britain’s state-run National Health Service as it battles the coronavirus pandemic.

Penlon ventilator receives UK approval in battle against coronavirus

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain has approved a ventilator from medical device company Penlon which will be built as part of a consortium including Airbus and Rolls-Royce in a bid to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are working closely with our supply chain partners to rapidly scale up production to achieve our target of at least 1,500 units a week of the combined Penlon and Smiths models,” said Dick Elsy, the chief executive of the VentilatorChallengeUK consortium.

Philippines reports 13 new coronavirus deaths, 207 more infections

MANILA (REUTERS) – The Philippine health ministry on Thursday (April 16) reported 13 new coronavirus deaths and 207 additional infections.

In a bulletin, the health ministry said total deaths have reached 362 while infections have increased to 5,660, with the Philippines recording the most cases in Southeast Asian nations.

But 82 patients have recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 435, it added.

Virus pandemic: Has the government failed care homes?

On this edition of the Sky News Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan, we discuss measures to bolster COVID-19 testing in the social care setting.

We also examine suggestions that BAME communities are disproportionately affected by the virus.

European Commission: Members should coordinate on virus curbs

Italy, Spain, Austria, Finland and Denmark begin to lift movement restrictions as their infections numbers ease.

As some countries in Europe ease movement control restrictions over the coronavirus pandemic, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen urged member states to work together to ensure a coordinated response.

And the body said a gradual lifting of restrictions based on careful monitoring was needed.

Al Jazeera’s Paul Brennan reports.

Virus fallout: IMF says Nigeria economy to shrink by 3.4 percent

Global coronavirus lockdowns and low oil prices to hit Nigeria’s economy, already reeling from high unemployment.

The International Monetary Fund says Nigeria’s economy is expected to shrink by 3.4 percent this year and Africa’s largest economy could face a recession lasting until 2021.

Oil-rich Nigeria has been hit by the plunge in the demand for energy set off by the global lockdown against COVID-19.

And the country’s jobless rate, already at 23 percent, is expected to climb even higher. 

Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris reports from Abuja.

Penlon ventilator receives UK approval in battle against coronavirus

LONDON, April 16 (Reuters) – Britain has approved a ventilator from medical device company Penlon which will be built as part of a consortium including Airbus and Rolls-Royce in a bid to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are working closely with our supply chain partners to rapidly scale up production to achieve our target of at least 1,500 units a week of the combined Penlon and Smiths models,” said Dick Elsy, the chief executive of the VentilatorChallengeUK consortium.

Trump says virus curbs to be lifted in some states as cases peak

President Donald Trump says US infections have peaked; some states may open before May 1 deadline.

President Trump has declared that COVID-19 restrictions could be lifted in up to 30 US states by the beginning of next month.

He said he would talk to governors on Thursday about the move as infections in the United States had hit a peak.

The US has more than 630,000 cases of infection and more than 30,900 people have died from the virus.

Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna reports.

Factbox: Filters prove elusive as Europe scrambles to rekindle mask industry

(Reuters) – As European nations clamour for masks to protect their healthcare workers against the coronavirus, a niche within the synthetic fibre industry emerges as the provider of a vital component.

INOVIO Partners With IVI And KNIH To Test INO-4800 In South Korea – Quick Facts

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has granted $6.9 million funding to INOVIO (INO) to work with the International Vaccine Institute and the Korea National Institute of Health for a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of INOVIO’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate, INO-4800, in South Korea.

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations is a partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil society organizations, to develop vaccines. It has initiated 8 partnerships to develop vaccines against the novel coronavirus.

Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, the International Vaccine Institute is a nonprofit inter-governmental organization. IVI has 35 signatory countries.

Joseph Kim, INOVIO’s CEO, said: “Our DNA vaccine platform was one of the first technologies to receive support from CEPI to accelerate a COVID-19 vaccine, and IVI conducting safety and efficacy trials in South Korea is a crucial step forward in evaluating this vaccine.”