WHO halts hydroxychloroquine, HIV drugs in COVID trials

Coronavirus cases keep rising in Eurasia 
WHO reports record daily increase in global coronavirus cases

The WHO said that it was discontinuing its trials of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and combination HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 after they failed to reduce mortality.

WHO accepted the recommendation from the Solidarity Trial’s International Steering Committee to discontinue the trial’s hydroxychloroquine and the lopinavir/ritonavir arms.

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"These interim trial results show that hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir produce little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalised COVID-19 patients when compared to standard of care. Solidarity trial investigators will interrupt the trials with immediate effect," the WHO said in a statement, referring to large multi-country trials that the agency is leading.

The UN agency said that the decision, taken on the recommendation of the trial's international steering committee, does not affect other studies where the drugs are used for non-hospitalised patients or as a prophylaxis.

In Azerbaijan, health officials reported that the total number of cases to date rose to 19,801 with 534 new additions in the past 24 hours.

The tally of recoveries neared 11,300 and the death toll climbed to 241.

Health authorities in Belarus announced that they observed 273 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to over 63,000. While more than 50,000 people have recovered in the country, fatalities totalled 418.

As for Moldova, officials stated that official cases topped 17,650 with 227 new additions in the last 24 hours. 

The death toll stands at 580 in the country, where more than 2,500 health personnel have contracted the virus.

The WHO has reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases, with the total rising by 212,326 in 24 hours.

The biggest increases were from the United States, Brazil and India. The previous WHO record for new cases was 189,077 on June 28.

Deaths remained steady at about 5,000 a day.

COVID-19: Russian military plane to deliver medical equipment from China to Moldova

Russia will provide Moldova with a military plane to deliver a large shipment of anti-coronavirus medical equipment, Moldova’s President Igor Dodon announced Friday.

"Next week, with support of our friends from China and the Russian Federation, which will provide us with a military plane, we will be able to deliver about 40 tonnes of medical supplies," the president said.

Moldova announced the purchase of a large package of coronavirus fighting kits on March 30. However, the government had to work out the issue of how to deliver the cargo. Earlier, the republic received a shipment of tests, drugs and equipment from Russia. The Moldovan president thanked both countries for the aid during the crisis period. "A friend in need is a friend indeed," Dodon noted during a briefing Friday.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Moldova introduced a state of emergency, which will last until May 15. The national borders are closed and movement of the people is restricted.

The first coronavirus case in Moldova was registered on March 7. A total of 1,289 cases are registered in the country, 128 of them are in serious state, while 29 died.

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First Moldovan national diagnosed with coronavirus after visiting Italy

Moldova reported the first coronavirus case on Saturday. The country’s Health, Labor and Social Protection Ministry said that a 48-year-old woman, who had flown from Italy’s Bologna to Chisinau, tested positive for the coronavirus.

"The woman was immediately rushed to hospital since she suffers from diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure, so the doctors assess her condition as serious. In hospital she had a fever, cough and pulmonary insufficiency," the statement said.

On Sunday, an emergency session of the government commission on public health will he held. Moldovan President Igor Dodon had earlier convened the Supreme Security Council over coronavirus fears.

In late December 2019, a pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus (previously known as 2019-nCoV) was

The World Health Organization declared the new coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19), which was reported in China’s city of Wuhan in late December 2019, a public health emergency of international concern, characterizing it as an epidemic with multiple locations. 

Outside China, the worst affected countries are Iran, Italy and South Korea. Overall, more than 90 other countries, including Russia, Iraq and Israel, have reportedly confirmed coronavirus cases.

 According to the latest reports, China, which handles the bulk of cases, has confirmed around 80,000 cases of patients infected with the novel coronavirus. The virus’ death toll has reached more than 3,000, yet more than 55,500 patients have recovered from the disease. 

WHO says that new coronavirus cases outside China have passed 21,000, and there are over 400 deaths.

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