Corona .. The United Nations warns of famines, Egypt extends curfews, and Saudi Arabia monitors violations

The United Nations launched a new appeal to raise additional funding to protect vulnerable countries from the consequences of the Coruna epidemic, and it warned of possible famines. Meanwhile, Arab and European countries announced measures and plans to deal with the next stage of the crisis.

The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 disease - caused by the emerging coronavirus around the world - exceeded 3.77 million, of which more than 264,000 died, and more than a million and a quarter million people were cured, according to the statistics compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Mark Lowcock, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said that the poorest countries will feel the worst repercussions of the pandemic, warning that failure to act to address this situation will exacerbate conflicts, hunger and poverty, noting that "the specter of famines" looms on the horizon.

In its latest appeal, the world body requested that $ 4.7 billion be raised to protect millions of lives and reduce the epidemic in weak countries. This money is added to the $ 2 billion that the United Nations requested when it launched its global humanitarian plan on March 25.

Meanwhile, many countries continue to announce their plans to deal with the coming stages of the crisis, which require the gradual easing of global quarantine measures.

Sanctions in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi News Agency said that the authorities formed a police unit to monitor violations of the rules that prohibit the gathering of more than five individuals, which had been imposed to combat the spread of the virus.

On Thursday, the authorities announced that violators of the rules would be punished by law, and encouraged citizens to report violations.

The official agency quoted a circular approved by the Minister of Interior that "anyone who knows about any gathering that violates the provisions of these regulations must inform the competent authority of the location of its occurrence."

Egypt ... blame for the citizens
Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly announced today the extension of the night curfew in the country until the end of the month of Ramadan, as part of efforts to contain the Corona epidemic.

He told a news conference that the number of casualties was "in a controlled position." And he saw that "the problem in the behavior of citizens in the commitment to apply the measures of separation and preventive measures," referring to the editing of more than four thousand minutes to violate the time of the ban yesterday, Wednesday, according to the official Middle East News Agency.

Today, the Ministry of Health recorded 393 new cases of coronavirus and 13 deaths, bringing the total number of cases to 7981 cases, and deaths to 482.

In Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced today that the government will begin easing quarantine measures next Saturday, May 9th, hours after the announcement of the highest daily increase in the number of new cases in the country.

Imran Khan said in a televised speech, "We decided to end this closure now ... We know we are doing this at a time when the (casualties) curve is escalating, but it is not escalating as we expected."

He added that workers and the poor can no longer live under general isolation measures any longer. He made clear that those measures would be phased in, and urged people to act wisely.

Pakistan - which has witnessed strict quarantine procedures since the end of March - has recorded more than 24,000 cases of coronavirus, and 564 deaths.

The authorities said today that 1523 new cases and 38 deaths from the disease had been detected in the past 24 hours.

In Europe, some major countries are still very careful before announcing next steps to deal with the epidemic.

Severe caution in Britain A
spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said today that the latter will announce a very limited easing of quarantine and closure measures in the country next week.

"We are at a critical moment in the battle against the virus, and we will not do anything that could jeopardize our efforts and the sacrifices of the British people," he added.

At a meeting of senior ministers today, Johnson said that Britain would move "with the utmost caution and be guided by science and data when deciding whether any of the strict measures of social separation should be relaxed."

Johnson is slated to announce the next steps in the battle to tackle the epidemic next Sunday after ministers review existing measures that have disrupted the economy and kept millions in their homes.

Today, the authorities announced the registration of 539 new deaths from the Corona virus, which brings the total number of deaths in the country to 30,615.

France announces plan
, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe confirmed today that his government will start lifting isolation measures next Monday across French territory, but will maintain strict restrictions in areas hardest hit by the epidemic such as Paris.

He explained that France is "divided into two halves" in terms of the health situation, during a press conference to announce the details of ending the stone that started since March 17 in the country that recorded more than 25 thousand deaths from the emerging coronavirus.

The Prime Minister indicated that there would be "red" areas like Paris, where restrictions would be more severe, as junior high schools (ages 11-14 years) would remain closed in May, and "very strict rules" would be imposed on public transport.

Health Minister Olivier Ferrand said that the four red regions are Paris, North, East and Central, due to the widespread spread of the virus in it and the greater pressure on the health system.