In the absence of the United States of America, participants in the Global Pledge Conference to Response to the Corona Pandemic, pledged 7.4 billion euros for the development of treatment and vaccine for the virus, while Britain spoke about trying a new drug, while Iran announced a high rate of recoverers and Turkey confirmed easing quarantine measures.

The European Union pledged one billion euros, Japan 762 million, Canada 551 million, Germany 525 million, and France 500 million.

Saudi Arabia also pledged 457 million euros, Britain 441 million, Switzerland 350 million, Mexico 274 million and Australia 205 million.

Corona infected, as of Monday evening, more than 3 million and 618 thousand around the world, of whom more than 250 thousand died, and more than one million and 178 thousand have recovered, according to the World Meteor website that specializes in counting the victims of the virus.

The United States on Monday played down the importance of this initiative, which took place on Monday and involved nearly 40 countries and private donors, without explaining the reasons for not participating.     

A senior US official told reporters, asking not to be named, "As we are at the forefront of foreign support for the fight against Covid 19, we welcome the efforts of the European Union to ensure pledges of additional contributions to fight this epidemic."

In response to a question about the non-participation of the United States, the official said that the effort by the European Union "is one of many existing pledge efforts," adding that Washington "is really ahead of us in the front line of these international efforts."

Trump has vowed to freeze the US contribution to the World Health Organization, which exceeds $ 400 million annually, accusing the UN body of moving slowly and not confronting China when the virus was detected there for the first time.

Critics say Trump is trying to divert attention from his own handling of the pandemic, saying in January that the pandemic was under control, but that it had caused the largest number of deaths in the United States compared to any other country in the world.

"World Health" responds
and the World Health Organization confirmed on Monday that Washington had not provided any evidence to support Trump's "speculation" that the source of the emerging corona virus is a laboratory in Wuhan, China, the first epidemic in the world.

"We have not received any specific information or evidence from the United States government related to the alleged source of the virus, so it is still, in our view, (mere) speculation," said WHO Director of Emergency Michael Ryan at an online news conference from its Geneva headquarters.

Congress is back. It
happens as the US Senate reconvenes on Monday, with new guidelines to prevent the outbreak of the new Corona virus and concern about the epidemic that has killed more than 67,000 Americans and left tens of millions without work.

Members of the council who have been encouraged to put on protective masks without being forced upon them, will seek to resolve differences over ways to tackle the infection and reduce its damaging economic effects.

Doctor Brian Munahan, who returns to the Capitol, advises to apply social divergence rules, put up masks, reduce the number of employees in offices, examine visitors, use hand sanitizer, and for home if they show symptoms of the disease.    

A drug in Britain
These developments coincided with the start of British scientists testing a new drug to treat the Corona virus.

And the British Broadcasting Corporation "BBC", on Monday, that scientists have started taking drug tests for 75 people with corona at the University of Southampton Hospital.

She explained that the new drug, developed by a British-based company (whose name was not mentioned), using the "interferon beta" protein.

This protein is produced by the human body, which scientists describe as the "first line of defense" of the immune system, due to its ability to fight infection.

"The Corona virus prevents the body from producing interferon beta protein," the authority quoted a company official, Richard Marsden, as saying.

With the new drug, Marsden added, they aim to strengthen the immune system of patients to help them fight the corona.

This protein is used in the treatment of many chronic diseases, especially asthma, pneumonia, and others.

The company aims to end human new drug tests by the end of next June, and if it proves successful, it will be delivered to a large category of patients before the end of 2020.

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Iran and Turkey and
in Iran, the Ministry of Health said Monday that the deaths of Corona virus in Iran rose 74 cases in the past twenty-four hours to 6277 cases.

The ministry’s spokesperson, Kyanosh Jahanpur, added in a statement broadcast on state television that the total number of confirmed cases in Iran rose to 98,647. The daily death toll has been less than 100 since mid-April.

Tehran clarified that 79,397 of the injured who were hospitalized for treatment since Iran announced the first injuries in mid-February, had been discharged, while 2,676 were still in critical condition.

Iran said it was among the "first five countries in the world" to have the largest number of recoverers, without providing any details.

On Sunday, President Hassan Rouhani said that authorities would open mosques in 132 cities on Monday as part of a broader plan to ease restrictions imposed to contain the disease.

The Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency reported that the Minister of Sports and Youth of Iran Masoud Sultanevar said that the sports clubs would also be reopened in the 132 cities and towns.

Iran has already lifted a ban on city travel, and has allowed malls and supermarkets to resume activities, despite warnings from some health officials of a possible new wave of infections.

The Iranian Student News Agency quoted the Iranian Minister of Education, Mohsen Haji Mirzai, as saying that the schools will likely also open in more than 130 cities.

In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Monday a gradual easing of quarantine measures imposed to curb the outbreak of the new Corona virus, including those over the age of 65 and under 20.

Since March 21, quarantine measures have been imposed on nearly 7.5 million people over the age of 65, preventing them from leaving the home as a measure to prevent the spread of the epidemic.

On April 4, the government announced the same procedures for those under 20 years of age.

"We will gradually return to a normal life," Erdogan said in Istanbul after a government meeting over the video. However, he cautioned, "But this will be the new normal."