Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Earthquake Shatters Iran's Social Distancing Measures

VOA News

   An early morningearthquake in Iran has dealt a blow to the country's
   struggle to combat the coronavirus. Thousands of people took to the
   streets of Tehran, the capital, early Friday without observing the
   social distancing measures designed to prevent the spread of the
   disease. At least two people are reported to have died in the temblor,
   which Reuters reported had a magnitude of 5.1.

   Australia announced a three-step plan Friday for its gradual re-opening
   after closing down to stop the spread of the virus.

   As individual U.S. states continue to struggle to obtain COVID-19 tests
   for their residents, the White House has announced that President
   Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence will now be tested every day
   after the president's valet tested positive for the virus. Before the
   valet fell ill, the two U.S. leaders were tested once a week.

   The U.S. was bracing Friday for the release of the government's
   official unemployment figures. Economists speculate the figure could be
   as high as 16 percent, following the job losses millions have faced
   following the outbreak of the coronavirus.

   Up to 44 million people in Africa could come down with the coronavirus
   and 190,000 will die if the virus is not contained, the World Health
   Organization said.

   A new WHO report lookedat 47 countries on the African continent. It
   said while the rates of transmission in Africa would be slower than in
   other parts of the world during the pandemic's first year, COVID-19 in
   Africa could "smolder" for a long time in what the report called hot
   spots.

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