Singapore reports 657 new coronavirus cases

(Reuters) – Singapore’s health ministry on Sunday confirmed 657 new coronavirus infections, taking the city-state’s total to 18,205.

Most of the new cases are among migrant workers living in dormitories, the ministry said.

Spain Reports Fewest New Virus Deaths in More Than Six Weeks

Spain recorded the fewest new coronavirus deaths in more than six weeks, as the nation begins gradually relaxing Europe’s strictest lockdown and easing weeks of confinement.

There were 164 new fatalities, bringing total deaths to 25,264, according to Health Ministry data. That compared with 276 daily fatalities reported Saturday. Total infections rose by 838 to 217,466, down from the previous increase of 1,147. The figures include adjustment on how previous new cases were counted in certain regions, the ministry said.

Lost all sense of time? Here’s why it’s happening during lockdown

Time flies when you’re having fun, but it can really drag in lockdown.

If you’re having trouble keeping track of what day it is, you’re not alone. For many people whose schedules were upended by coronavirus social distancing measures, time seems to move differently, experts say.

Iran coronavirus death toll rises by 47 to 6,203: health ministry

(Reuters) – The death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak in Iran rose by 47 over the past 24 hours to 6,203, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said on state TV on Sunday.

Iran, one of the Middle Eastern countries hardest hit by the outbreak, has a total of 97,424 cases of the coronavirus, he said.

Social media criticism in Iran as petrol prices stay high

The global oil slump caused by coronavirus gives Iranians renewed drive to put their foot down over the price of gas.

The global fall in oil prices has left many governments reeling, but Iran’s president says his country’s economy is able to cope better than most, thanks to being forced to diversify because of US sanctions.

When global oil prices fell earlier this month, some Iranians turned to social media and began asking for the savings to be passed on to them.

Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi reports from Tehran, Iran.

Coronavirus: US meat processing plants forced to close

US facing a growing food crisis after meat processing plants forced to slow production or close because of outbreaks.

The pandemic has forced meat-processing plants across the US to slow down production or close entirely.

But on April 28, President Donald Trump invoked a war-time law, ordering plants to stay open to avoid any shortages.

Labour unions are worried that this will mean the workers’ safety is put at risk, as they are forced to stand close together in the plants.

Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher reports from Falls Church in the US state of Virginia.

Paris-Orly Airport May Not Reopen Before Late September

The Paris-Orly airport may not reopen before the fall given a slump in traffic due to the coronavirus epidemic, French newspaper Les Echos reported Sunday, without saying where it got the information.

The larger Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport will absorb all traffic this summer, according to the newspaper. Orly has been closed to commercial traffic since April 1.

Air traffic dropped dramatically as countries imposed restrictions on travel in a bid to curb the pandemic. Air France-KLM Chief Executive Officer Ben Smith has said it will take at least two years for traffic to return to previous levels.

Roche’s COVID-19 Antibody Test Gets Emergency Use Approval From FDA

Swiss drug maker Roche Group (RHHBY) announced Sunday that it has received Emergency Use Authorization from U.S. FDA for its new Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody test to help determine if a patient has been exposed with the coronavirus.

The company specified that its serology test, Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2, has a specificity greater than 99.8% and 100% sensitivity(14 Days post-PCR confirmation).

The company noted that the test is available on Roche’s cobas e analysers which are widely available around the world.

Roche has already started shipping the new antibody test to leading laboratories globally and will ramp up production capacity to high double-digit millions per month to serve healthcare systems in countries accepting the CE mark as well as the U.S.

“I am in particular pleased about the high specificity and sensitivity of our test, which is crucial to support health care systems around the world with a reliable tool to better manage the COVID-19 health crisis”, said Severin Schwan, CEO Roche Group.

Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 is an immunoassay for the in-vitro qualitative detection of antibodies (including IgG) to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in human serum and plasma.

“Roche is committed to helping laboratories deliver fast, accurate, and reliable results to healthcare professionals and their patients”, said Thomas Schinecker, CEO Roche Diagnostics.

Reports of gunfire in London Ont., appears residence was targeted: police

Police in London, Ont., say there are no known injuries after gunfire was reported Saturday morning.

Officials say at around 7 a.m. Saturday, gunfire was reported in the area of Talbot Street and Oxford Street.

Police attended the area, and say further investigation revealed a residence appears to have been targeted.