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DUBAI: Small battles are being won by the global community in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic with some countries reporting no new cases while others are slowly managing to tame the infection curve.

But the COVID-19 war in the US could be protracted as one of its top health officials warned a second wave of infections could be even more destructive with the likely onset of the flu season. The US has recorded more than 800,000 confirmed cases, with 44,845 deaths — the most reported of any country.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 (All times in GMT)

19:24 - Bahrain extends closure measures for two additional weeks starting April 23, the state news agency reports. 

16:48 - ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ's finance minister said on Wednesday the government was looking at additional measures to reduce spending amidst the coronavirus outbreak.
Cuts in expenses on items such as travel, events, tourism, entertainment, sports would lead to savings, Mohammed al-Jadaan said. 

16:18 - Turkey has gotten the coronavirus outbreak under control, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Wednesday, as data showed deaths from the virus increasing by 117 to 2,376, with 3,083 confirmed cases in the past 24 hours.

16:14 - US coronavirus deaths topped 46,000 on Wednesday after rising by a near-record single-day number on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally.

15:47 - England's chief medical officer said on Wednesday it was unrealistic to expect a sudden lifting of all lockdown restrictions, even as ministers say the United Kingdom has reached the peak of the coronavirus outbreak.

15:42 - Italy's official death toll from the novel coronavirus topped 25,000 on Wednesday, but the number of those currently being treated declined for a third consecutive day as the government considers easing some of the lockdown measures.

15:36 - France reports 544 new coronavirus deaths, total toll 21,340, officials have said. 

15:36 - Two pet cats in New York state have tested positive for the coronavirus, marking the first cases in companion animals in the United States, federal officials said Wednesday.

15:00 - A Palestinian woman from Syria has become the first refugee living in a camp in Lebanon to test positive for the coronavirus, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Wednesday. 

10:48 – Oman’s Central Bank has asked banks to postpone payment of credit installments of personal and housing loans without fines or fees.

10:23 – Iran’s coronavirus cases reached 85,966 and fatalities increased to 5,391.

09:08 – Spain’s number of coronavirus cases rose to 208,389 on Wednesday from 204,178 on Tuesday, the country’s health ministry said.

09:04 – Malaysia reported 50 new coronavirus cases; total now at 5,532 with one new death.

08:52 – India has ordered a pause in testing for antibodies to the coronavirus because of concern over the accuracy, health officials said. READ THE STORY

08:43 – The Philippine health ministry reported nine new coronavirus deaths, 111 more infections.

07:58 – Tunisia confirmed 17 new cases, bringing the total to 901.

07:37 – Russia recorded 5,236 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, bringing its nationwide tally to 57,999, the Russian coronavirus crisis response center said.

06:58 – Sudan confirmed 33 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 140.

06:34 – The first coronavirus case was confirmed among Palestinian refugees in Jalil camp in Lebanon’s Beqaa village.

04:46 – China again reported no new deaths from the coronavirus, but registered 30 more cases – 23 of them from abroad.

04:35 – Thailand reported 15 new coronavirus cases, and one new death.

04:31 – Germany’s confirmed coronavirus cases rose by 2,237 to 145,694.

04:22 – A second wave of the novel coronavirus in the US could be even more destructive because it will likely collide with the beginning of flu season, one of the country’s top health officials said.