VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Egypt's famed Great Pyramid was emblazoned Monday evening with messages of unity and solidarity with those battling the novel coronavirus the world over. As quoted by AFP.com (31/3) "Stay safe", "Stay at home" and "Thank you to those keeping us safe," flashed in blue and green lights across the towering structure at the Giza plateau, southwest of the capital Cairo. Egypt has so far registered 656 COVID-19 cases, including 41 deaths. Of the total infected, 150 reportedly recovered. Tourism and antiquities minister Khaled al-Anani,  at the site stated the tourism sector is one of the most affected industry but the priority is health. Senior antiquities ministry official Mostafa al-Waziri thanked all the medical staff who help to keep the people safe. Egypt has carried out sweeping disinfection operations at archaeological sites, museums and other sites across the country. In tandem, strict social distancing measures were imposed to reduce the risk of contagion among the country's 100 million inhabitants//AFP

Spain’s death toll from the coronavirus has surpassed the official figure from China, becoming the second highest in the world. As quoted by BBC.com (25/3) the number of deaths rose by 738 in 24 hours - a daily record - to 3,434, higher than the 683 announced in Italy. By comparison, China has officially reported 3,285 deaths, while Italy – the worst affected country – has 6,820. Spain's rate of infection has increased by a fifth and almost 27,000 people are being treated in hospital. Madrid is the country's worst affected region but Catalonia in the north-east has seen a rapid increase in cases. Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo has tested positive for the virus, the government says. She was admitted to hospital on Sunday with respiratory symptoms//BBC

There is a strong chance that the new coronavirus could return in seasonal cycles, a senior US scientist said Wednesday, underscoring the urgent need to find a vaccine and effective treatments.  As quoted by AFP.com (26/3 ) Anthony Fauci, who leads research into infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NI), told a briefing the virus was beginning to take root in the southern hemisphere, where winter is on its way. he said What his side is starting to see now  in southern Africa and in the southern hemisphere countries, is that his side having cases that are appearing as they go into their winter season. And if, in fact, they have a substantial outbreak, it will be inevitable that we need to be prepared that we'll get a cycle around the second time//AFP

More than three billion people around the world were living under lockdown on Wednesday as governments stepped up their efforts against the coronavirus pandemic which has left more than 20,000 people dead. As quoted by AFP.com (26/3 ) as the number of confirmed cases worldwide soared past 450,000, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that only a concerted global effort could stop the spread of the virus. In Spain, the number of fatalities surpassed those of China, where the novel coronavirus first emerged three months ago, making it the hardest-hit nation after Italy. A total of more than 20,800 deaths have now been reported in 182 countries and territories.Stock markets rebounded after the US Congress moved closer to passing a $2.2 trillion relief package to prop up a teetering US economy//AFP