BitGou: Tuesday Morning Briefing: The World Health Organization urges "extreme vigilance" as countries begin to exit lockdowns

What you need to know about the coronavirus today

Easing risks: Eyes wide shut?

Officials from the World Health Organization are urging "extreme vigilance" as countries begin to exit weeks-long lockdowns, warning of the risk of a second wave of infections with a vaccine still a long way off.

In particular, it pointed to early studies showing lower-than-expected antibody levels against the disease within the general population, meaning most people remain susceptible.

"It's really important that we hold up examples of countries who are willing to open their eyes and willing to keep their eyes open," Dr Mike Ryan, head of the WHO's emergencies program said, citing Germany and South Korea.

In contrast, he said other countries - without naming them - were "trying to drive through this blindly."

Furloughing on notice

The UK government is expected on Tuesday to prepare the ground for a winding down of its furloughing program, currently paying the wages of more than 6 million workers at businesses affected by the coronavirus.

Britain's finance minister, Rishi Sunak, will make a statement on the government's economic package at 1130 GMT - hours after one of his ministerial colleagues told a morning radio show that the program "can't last for ever".

At present, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme pays employers 80% of the wages of staff who are on temporary leave - local media speculate this could fall to 60%.

Tourist quarantines

It's already clear the pandemic has the potential to change the tourism industry in far-reaching if still undefinable ways. One of Europe's top holiday destinations, Spain has now ordered a two-week quarantine for all those arriving from abroad.

Incoming travelers will have to remain locked in and will only be allowed to go out for grocery shopping, to visit health centers, or in case of "situation of need", an official order published on Tuesday said.

The quarantine will be enforced for all travelers coming to Spain between May 15 and May 24 at the very earliest.

Cannes canned

"It breaks my heart," said Joseph Morpelli, leading member of the so-called 'stepladder gang' of ardent autograph-hunters and amateur paparazzi, as he stood across the street from the venue of the canceled Cannes Festival.

Usually a hive of activity, the location where Morpelli and his fellow diehard fans could get a glimpse of celebrities walking down the red carpet is now deserted, as the film festival due to start on Tuesday has been called off.

It was only the third time in its history that the festival has failed to take place. The two previous occasions were the outbreak of World War Two and 1968, when France was rocked by violent anti-establishment protests.

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Life under lockdown

Indigenous peoples across Latin America are cutting off their communities from the outside world, worried that the coronavirus could pose a grave threat to their culture by putting at risk tribal elders, the keepers of their heritage. From the rocky Patagonian regions of Argentina to the lush Brazilian Amazon and the Andean villages of Colombia, indigenous groups are barricading villages against outsiders and doling out harsh punishment to members who violate quarantine rules.

Madagascar is putting its self-proclaimed, plant-based “cure” for COVID-19 on sale and several countries in Africa have already put in orders for purchase, despite warnings from the World Health Organisation that its efficacy is unproven. Last month President Andry Rajoelina launched the remedy at a news conference, drinking from a sleekly-branded bottle filled with an amber liquid which he said had already cured two people.

A coronavirus-resistant restaurant in a meadow in Sweden with just one table and one chair has welcomed its first guest. The pop-up restaurant named Bord for En - Table for One in English - has no waiters and the food is delivered to the table in a basket from the kitchen window via a pulley system. Upon arrival, the guest is guided to the table by another rope that leads into the meadow.

The coronavirus lockdown has so far reduced the number of asylum seekers able to reach Europe, but the pandemic could lead to a bigger wave in future if it brings turmoil to the Middle East and North Africa, the European Union’s asylum agency said. With global travel all but grounded, the EASO agency said that in March the bloc logged only about half as many asylum claims as in February.

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