THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Dutch government said homeowners who are struggling to pay their mortgages because of the coronavirus crisis will not be evicted, as countries around the world adopted a raft of sometimes conflicting policies to deal with the pandemic.
Banks, housing organizations and the ministry of environment and housing issued a statement Tuesday pledging not to kick people out of their homes in the coming months as restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the virus wreak a devastating economic toll.
If people whose income has been hammered by the measures are unable to make monthly repayments, "mortgage providers together with homeowners will seek solutions" and not force them to sell their home, the statement says.
The exception to the no-eviction pledge is if a person is found to be running illegal activities in their home, such as a drug lab.
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Russia Reports More Than 1,000 New Cases Tuesday
MOSCOW — Russian authorities registered more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours for the first time since the beginning of the outbreak.
The government coronavirus task force reported 1,154 new cases Tuesday, bringing the country's total caseload to 7,497, with 58 deaths and 494 recoveries.
The epidemic in Russia picked up speed in March, with the number of cases growing exponentially and doubling every few days.
To curb the outbreak, President Vladimir Putin ordered everyone to stay off work this month, with only essential businesses, such as grocery stores and pharmacies operating. The vast majority of Russian regions are on lockdown, ordering residents to self-isolate at home and not go out, unless it's to buy groceries, medications, walk their dogs or take out trash.
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China and Russia Close a Land Border
BEIJING — China and Russia are closing their land border and river port near Vladivostok after the discovery of 59 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus among Chinese citizens returning home via the crossing.
Beginning Tuesday, all Chinese citizens who arrive in the border region aboard Russian domestic flights will be forced to undergo a 14-day quarantine, according to a notice posted on the website of the Chinese consulate in Vladivostok.
Only those holding special passes will then be permitted to travel on the Russian side of the border area, the notice said. It wasn't clear whether pass holders would be able to cross into China.
In addition, all guesthouses and nursing homes on the Russian side of the border area will be closed to outsiders through June 1, the notice said.
"Here, the consulate general strongly recommends and reminds relevant Chinese citizens to fully take into consideration the above situation" and not seek to return to China through the border crossing, the notice said.
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South African Infections Exceed 10,000
JOHANNESBURG — The African continent has reported more than 10,000 coronavirus cases, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Fifty-two of Africa's 54 countries have reported the virus, with island nation Sao Tome e Principe the latest to confirm cases.
Only the small kingdom of Lesotho and the island nation of Comoros have not confirmed cases. South Africa has the most reported cases on the continent with more than 1,600.
The shortage of testing capabilities across the continent has raised concerns that the number of actual cases in Africa could be higher.
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Denmark Plans to Reopen Primary Schools
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Denmark says it is planning to reopen kindergartens and primary schools next week for students up to age 11 in a gradual lifting of the country's coronavirus lockdown.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said late Monday that her government planned to open schools for younger students up until fifth grade first because the requirement to care for them represented a greater burden on society. Reopening is planned for April 15.
