(AP) — Around the world, the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 343,400 people and killed more than 14,700.
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JOHANNESBURG
South Africa's coronavirus cases jumped to 402 on Monday — an an increase of 128 cases from the day before; it is the country with the most cases in Africa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is to speak to the nation about the growing threat and many expect him to announce new restrictive measures.
More than half of South Africa's total cases are in Gauteng Province, which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria. Johannesburg has 5.7 million people, 10% of the country’s South Africa 57 million.
Egypt, with 372 cases, has the second-highest toll in Africa. South Africa has not reported a death from the disease.
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TAIPEI
Taiwan will ban airline passenger transits through the country starting Tuesday, through April 7.
Taiwan confirmed 26 more Covid-19 cases, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the island to 195.
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WARSAW
Poland has joined those calling for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Polish Olympic Committee said there is too much uncertainty to go ahead. It said that because of the rising number of Covid-19 cases, "Polish athletes have increasingly limited training options, Olympic qualifications are being canceled and there is too much uncertainty."
The pandemic is also hitting some of Catholic Poland's best-loved traditions, such as the blessing of food in churches on Holy Saturday.
Poland's bishops have advised against holding the tradition this year to avoid drawing the usual crowds to churches. People bring baskets of food to church that are placed together on a large table, the foods get a blessing and a sprinkle of Holy Water from the priest, as do the families gathered around the table.
With a "national quarantine" in place in the fight against the spreading virus, the bishops advise against the blessing and against the use of Holy Water in Easter liturgies in April.
One of Poland's biggest hospitals, the University Hospital in Krakow, has closed almost all wards to new patients after a few of its employees tested positive for coronavirus.
Only the contagious diseases ward, dedicated to treating Covid-19, remains open. All patients in the hospital will be tested for coronavirus during the week, or some seven days after they had contact with the infected medics. Experts say that to be effective, the tests need to be taken about a week after potential exposure to the virus.
The hospital provides educational and practical base to medical students of the Jagiellonian University. All schools and universities in Poland have been closed.
A nation of 38 million, Poland has confirmed 649 cases of coronavirus infection. Seven patients have died.
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DUBLIN
Irish premier Leo Varadkar warned that further restrictions may be made on people's movements during the coronavirus pandemic because of failure to follow social distancing advice.
Varadkar said more recommendations are needed in light of weekend images of crowded public places in Ireland. They will be delivered Tuesday.
The Irish government has said four people have died from the Covid-19 disease and there are 906 confirmed cases.
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CANBERRA
Australia's Parliament passed $48.4 billion in economic stimulus measures to dampen the impact of the coronavirus.