worth hearing. remembering the victims of the coronavirus china pauses to pay tribute to the thousands who've died. down jordan this is out there at live from doha also coming up a warning of humanity's darkest hour the i.m.f. says the corona virus outbreak has brought the global economy to a standstill 8 these way worse. and the global financial crisis. the battle for mosques the global shortage of much needed medical equipment leads to a bidding war. and award

winning american soul singer bill withers has died at the age of $81.00. millions across china have stood in silence to honor the more than 3000 people who died from corona virus much of the country came to a stop 2 hours ago. from beijing to woo han and hundreds of other towns and cities sirens sounded to mark the so-called martyrs day china claims to have now curb the spread of the virus but some restrictions have been tightened again to prevent a 2nd wave of infection 82000 confirmed cases in china but most have already recovered well katrina you joins us live now from beijing katrina so a very poignant reminder there to everyone in the country the pandemic still presents a real and deadly danger. that's

right at 10 am here local time for 3 minutes the entire country stood still flags were flown at half mast people stopped with i was standing with their heads bowed traffic was stopped and sirens around all the country was wailing and people who had boats or cars were also encouraged to join in it was a very somber a moving moment as the sound of the horns resembled crying and it's a national day of mourning here in china to remember the more than 3000 people who lost their lives to cope with 19 it's a 1st time such a day has been held for a public health crisis previously this kind of thing was only held for natural disasters and it's also coinciding with ching media here in china which is the 2 sweeping festival a day for people normally to gather with families at 7 trees and to remember ancestors and it's also today as you mentioned remembering 14 masses health workers doctors and nurses who lost their lives treating coronavirus patients

mostly a province including doctor the un the un who was a doctor who 1st sounded the alarm about the severity of the outbreak late last year and was punished for that and of course families would normally be gathering at cemeteries today burning offerings for the festival but because of the threat of the pandemic the outbreak is still not over here in china so the government has encouraged families to stay home for them and remembrances today and to try to just bring us up to date with the situation across the country as china attempts to get but to some kind of normality. it's trying to get back to normal life that the numbers are all still rising will be a very slowly and much fewer numbers than what we saw at the beginning of the outbreak in the last 24 hours we have 19 new cases mostly imported all but one local transmission and who have a province about 300 people are still in critical condition and according to the

government there are 81000 people 681630 9 people have been infected by the current virus here in china and for the government it's really about balancing the pandemic and trying to prevent a 2nd wave of infections while getting the economy started again one county judge county in conn province was put into lockdown this week after a few infections the found there but by and large the rest of the country is returning to normal life mostly and in major cities most businesses are are in restaurants are open people are going to parks and going out again and factories have resumed operation and even into bay the epicenter of the outbreak is some restrictions are being eased there and out than travel has been allowed starting from this week or katrina you there in beijing katrina thank you it's humanity's darkest hour that's how the international monetary fund has described the coronavirus pandemic which it says has brought the global economy to

a standstill ahead of the agency said the outbreak has pushed the world into recession christina georgiev reassured nations that there are funds to help them recover and she called on advanced economies to help developing countries. this is a crisis like no other member in the history of the i.m.f. we have weakness the world economy coming to a stand still we are now in recession it is when you were so. then the global financial crisis we have one trillion dollars war chest and we are determined to use as much as best the saving in that protecting the economy from the scouting to this crises most envoy has a resident scholar at the american enterprise institute he says government should

focus on reviving the economy when the health crisis is over layoffs are continuing and the economic downturn is slowly spreading from the most directly affected industries throughout our economy and so the total shock could well be much greater than what we saw during the global financial crisis 1st and foremost we should obviously deal with the public health threat then on the economic front i do think that deploying large amounts of funds is crucial but not in the traditional keynesian way read we're not trying to stimulate aggregate demand in the usual way because we have in fact intentionally reduced demand for it for things like barbershops and cruise ships and hotels almost a 0 and so there's no point in trying to stimulate demand for those goods and services instead what we should use the money for is that it's to help households and firms bridge this period bad and so that means sending out cash help help it helping states and local governments reach this difficult period make sure that

employers do not lay off all of their workers all those kinds of measures it was what we need in a sense we need to but the economy is sleep but they care because they can wake up and be active again by the time the public health threat goes away that's what we should do ploy large amounts of money. now in what's being called a bidding war countries and even cities are competing for supplies of personal protective equipment including mosques globs of gallons for health care workers the pandemic has led to a worldwide shortage so high that reports. there's not enough protective gear to go around countries are scrambling to get hold of supplies especially face masks and just soon as possible but some governments are being accused of using unscrupulous tactics and paying inflated prices to get their share. and then is accusing the u.s. of carrying out a modern piracy of bangkok said ports and diverting a shipment of mass destined to germany for itself then these are marked must marked

off to the whole world is buying them right now it's worth gold at the moment it's sometimes very very difficult to plan things in advance and that sometimes deliveries that were thought to be secured suddenly don't arrive as planned. the heads of 3 regions in some of the west's hit coronavirus areas in france have accused the united states of affectively hijacking millions of mosques to shanghai airport they were made in china and destined for france then it's alleged the us paid $3.00 to $4.00 times the going rate to obtain the us denies the allegations but it's need as great. as the more than a 1000000 people diagnosed with the virus globally the u.s. has the highest number of infections and like many other countries is struggling to find enough protective equipment donald trump is under pressure new york an epicenter of the virus will run short of ventilators in a few days. despite u.s. strange relations with russia and china president donald trump says will take

whatever he can get. was a very nice offer from president putin i spoke to him the other night as a job when they had access to medical equipment things and i'll take it i'll take it i think it's very very swift action from china we also help other countries a lot of mosques and ventilates is meant to us states are in a price bidding war against each other to replenish dwindling supply lines the federal emergency management agency or fema says a black market has emerged with some equipment made in u.s. factories being sold to pooled brokers come in their bidding and bidding on always different people driving the price up and guess what you know where it's going the domestic sources here are being export. across the border canada is investigating reports that one of its orders was diverted to the us i've heard reports on this issue and of course there are concerning we need to make sure that

the equipment that is destined for canada gets to and stays in canada and i've asked ministers to follow up on these particular reports we are working not just here at home but overseas as well to ensure that the equipment that canada has ordered makes its way to canada. to start slow some governments have been accused of using a number of tactics including stockpiling medical supplies blocking exports of protective equipment and seizing shipments transiting through their territories to other countries france want companies they can't just supply and supplies from turkey because of visits to the strictures on medical supplies fighting covert 19 is a race against time and with a global shortage of fact 33 g.'s protective gear some are resorting to making their own instead of waiting. al-jazeera. the number of deaths across europe has surged past more than 40000 italy and spain account for more than half of those with large death tolls continue to be reported daily reports now on

the situation across the continent. spin are can only speak to her mother through a distant window 85 year old concepcion lives in a bus alone a nursing home the heart of the elderly residents have been isolated with suspected coronavirus but if concepcion tests positive and design slated herself in rio may never see her again. these are the people who have gone through a lot they have got to post will actually have them die like this it's very very sad they don't deserve it. on friday the european union executive admitted it's struggling to procure large numbers of ventilators quickly and member states are scrambling to manufacture their own with spain seeing new fatalities exceed 900 for the 2nd consecutive day the spanish prime minister visited a ventilator factory. visitor. with this visit i don't just want to

pay tribute to the work of this company and all its workers but also to the company's workers and professionals who have been working these weeks against the clock to save lives. as europe grapples with a virus that is yet to hit its infectious peak here governments are struggling to expand medical facilities while at the same time reducing the chance that their citizens will actually need them germany's disease control chief says social distancing is having a measurable impact but there is still a shortfall in equipment. and great for the respirators and intensive care capacities have been increased but in my opinion i still can't be sure that it will be enough personally i think it well but i'll be glad if i am wrong. so prevention and avoidance remain the priority and the world health organization is urging vigilance if countries right to lift restrictions too quickly. the virus good research and the economy impact could be even more a c.v.s.

and prolonged police have been questioning passengers at montana station one of paris's main rail terminals at the start of the traditional easter holiday inspired many to head for their country homes passengers traveling without justification and paperwork face a 145 dollar fine and with warm spring weather forecast across europe this weekend there is grave concern among all thought he's the people's discipline and patience will slip i think so but also not over the last and with this good weather some of you will want to barbecue of course you can but do it with the people you live with on the same roof do not invite your friends neighbors or relatives remember that picnics in the parks even with the family are not allowed to spite weeks of social restrictions and stay at home orders the virus pandemic in europe is not yet at its peak and people are being warned that the longer they can abide by the lockdown orders the shorter they will have to be in force paul brennan al-jazeera time for

a short break here not just iraq when we come back anger and frustration in ecuador as families try to bury their dead. and nowhere to go the new threat the coronavirus pandemic poses to the homeless more nuts famous. hello turkey still a favorite for yet more rain sun will spill through lebanon and northern syria because showers equally through iran is it is of course spring and even in this part of the world that tends to move winds quite rapidly from north to a south temperatures change with it and the rain becomes quite visionary now again and it may be the turn of to around to get some decent shots of for most places it's a dry looking picture the wind is likely to increase i think and for the higher to cure it'll be a couple days at what you could probably cause from our very stiff northerly those

temps in the high side 30 to 32 degrees and probably recently fine weather not particularly dusty we has had some big shots recently in somalia but on the satellite picture you have to look further west d.r. congo and beyond to get the biggest and in the forecast it is certain parts of africa where the biggest shadows are forming so the whole of africa particularly dry just wanted to showers in the high ground in ethiopia and of course still around like the tory but the congo is the focus but the line of wet weather does come south it goes through angola just catching namibia botswana and down towards south africa itself stop take the active line of weather but where you get the showers a slow moving in pretty big and they could be around your house back all the city. talk to al jazeera we ask what you will force work when you saw that document for

the 1st story we listen to after the war saying your europeans go build you know the stage of you we will not be with you we meet with global news makers and talk about the stories that matter on al-jazeera we understand the differences and similarities of cultures across the world so no matter what we are to the news and current affairs that matter to you. welcome back a quick amount of our top stories here this hour. people across china have stood in silence on a more than 3000 people have died from corona virus 82000 people have been infected

but most are already recovered. the international monetary fund says the virus and chemicals bought the global economy to a standstill it's one of the situation is far worse than the 2008 financial crisis the i.m.f. said it says it has a trillion dollar war chest to help on the economists. and a bidding war has begun globally as countries and cities compete for supplies of personal protective equipment for the tasks gloves galton's for health care workers . now ecuador's repairing to create a camp for the dead as it struggles with one of the worst covered 900 outbreaks in latin america or than 3000 infections have been reported and 145 people have died and the country's largest city hospitals and morgues are already at breaking point is john heilemann. the people of why kill in ecuador desperate not only to stop the march of the coronavirus but to bury the dead many have been left in the street the authorities have been overwhelmed. so to the hospital.

my name is we limited chan the son of leone chan who is deceased i believe 8 days i have the order of removal but even still they don't want to give me the body. this is the queue for those trying to get their relatives into the local cemetery it was president lenin moreno says his government criticised for acting late but is now moving his thomas crown body mass we are creating a special camp for the did he believe will be between 2 dozen 502-3500. and that projected estimate is just acquires province where kill is. situated it's higher than the current death toll through of latin america. refrigerated containers have been brought in to store the bodies the government is picking up. only that in the past 3 days the joint work force went from taking away 30 deceased per day to 150. for the city but it's really overwhelmed those who did only place in new places

moved their. own home and. turkey's president has announced tougher measures to contain the spread of coronavirus under the new rules mosques must be worn in public places there's a ban in place for cars entering and leaving 31 cities for at least 15 days istanbul's mayor has been calling for a full lockdown of the city which has the highest infection rates in the country. german chancellor angela merkel has ended herself quarantine after testing negative for the virus she's been held up as an example of how world leaders should manage the pandemic health officials say early widespread testing has helped to keep the death toll relatively low or down it can explains how germany's march to keep the death toll is now as it has. the key here is combining widescale targeted testing with an ample provision of intensive care unit bed space to

treat the people who test positive and develop a severe reaction and go into a critical condition as it was when the outbreak spouses germany the estimates were that germany had around 28000 intensive care unit beds available since the outbreak began and really took hold across europe germany has been able to expand or commence those i.c.u. spaces so there are now 40000 that's a 43 percent increase in bed spaces specifically in intensive care that spaces and they've also been able to increase the number of bed spaces for those who don't have coronavirus which means they're full that the hospitals are able to isolate the patients in most most urgent need so those people don't and as it were exposed of this to the risk of contracting the virus which is what happened in hospitals in the countries that you mentioned earlier and that's one of the germans believe that they've been able as it were to keep not necessary to keep an id on the problem

because clearly that is not the case when infections are spreading and more people are dying but they've been able to keep the mortality rate very low. australia's internal borders have been closed as officials try to take advantage of a decrease in the rate of new daily infections people have been want to stay at home with the upcoming easter holiday the chief health officer said the daily increased infections that fall and around 5 percent prime minister scott morrison said the country was shifting to a suppression. 28 people have died from the virus more than 5200 cases have been confirmed. now the coronavirus poses a new threat to the homeless population with cafes shopping centers and restaurants closed across washington d.c. the homeless are being left with nowhere to go during the pandemic mike hanna has their story. of street band playing hello from the other side an ironic song for local residents

venturing out of the confines of their apartment to shop or stroll around in most cases observing a social distance from their neighbors but there are those in the city who do not have the option who do not have apartments in which to shelter from the virus in accordance with the d.c. mandate tree lockdown order the virus has created new challenges to those who have no homes those like linda who stopped sleeping in shelters even before the outbreak of this pandemic i used to be in a shelter and you go so well for me and when i was doing the winter where your regular flu spread your regular run of the day you know call. a lady sneeze or cough. bad things would happen to her linda says she's been homeless for longer than she cares to remember but it has never been as hard as this or i would panhandle have a day then run

a couple errands. and then i would go to my local starbucks. sit there reading the books and then give it to the staff because i can't run a wrong of a bunch of books it's too heavy to carry just getting out of this for a few hours a day feel a little nomo go to the register pay for yourself that i missed a lot shots along with the doors of public bathrooms and restaurants the metro and the libraries the last lingering sense of dignity now we have nowhere to go literally. going into day lies specially as a woman sorry to say pulling down your pants where anybody could just walk up on you is pretty degrading. that is that has done me in but it's restaurant owners and say don't have a choice there's nowhere to go this is really the 1st time in my life i can truly

say i have nowhere to go. and linda walks away to find an early way in which to spend the night. unlike those more fortunate there is no other side to turn to when the music stops. al-jazeera washington tens of thousands of kenyan flower growers are losing their jobs of the countries florida sports with during the pandemic many of them are sole income earners and now don't know how they'll see their families welcome whereas the story. of the. coronavirus hasn't yet reached greater community near the town of my vasher in kenya as far as she knows but it konami impact has she earned about $100.00 a month job at a nearby flower farm in till she was fired last week even if that would get me what is going to do. what is going to affect is hank yeah

because if only. it would dramatically i'm going to. kenya is africa's leading producer of flowers most to export it to europe. these white roses are being harvested because they're ready they'll be thrown away not many european lovers are buying each other a bunch of these at the moment many european countries on lockdown people can't even go on dates here in kenya that means people are losing jobs this whole production line is normally full of people sorting flowers for export the industry says more than 30000 casual workers have already been sent home and tens of thousands more workers stand to lose their jobs in the weeks ahead. industry representatives spoke to journalists from a safe distance none of the prominent workers have been laid off as we speak.

for another 3 or 4 weeks the next day. as a seasonal work of grace says she was among the 1st to go is now wondering how she will feed her children thousands in her community who are in the same position. there aren't many jobs here at the best of times health experts say the virus could spread rapidly in these kinds of crowded settlement maybe it already is. but the lock down and the economic decline could be even more crippling. the farmer say they'll keep growing flowers as long as they can they want to be ready to resume exports if and when the market recovers. in the meantime the flowers are laid to waste tens of thousands of livelihoods with them malcolm webb al-jazeera kenya. in other news donald trump has fired the intelligence community's

inspector general michael lakin's and had informed congress in september about the whistleblower complaint that triggered trump's impeachment atkinson is the latest person who took part in the impeachment to be removed by the trumpet ministration to leave his post in 30 days. bill withers has died from heart complications as the 3 time grammy award winner was best known for his hit singles lean on me ain't no sunshine and lovely day he was 81 years old nor about money takes a look back at his life for. his so full baritone voice powerful melodies and engaging there though with his music has stood the test of time. it's inspired generations from r. and b. rap and soul and it's been played in films commercials and of weddings throughout the world. even health

care workers choirs and artists. was uplifting here during the crew of ours. born william harrison with his junior he grew up in slab fork west virginia after school he joined the navy for 9 years before becoming a milkman and then a factory. between shifts he turns himself to play guitar he bought from a pawnshop. a demo tape recorded lands in the hands of the fact that fossett records in 19711 of the record it would be a hit a no sunshine one of a grammy award. with his joint columbia records in 197510 years after his 1st grammy he won another for a song here called it with grover washington jr just the 2 of us.

he won his 3rd grammy for recording of lean on me in 1987. songs out of the music business like the fees to the hamburger business. you know if you don't have a soul that's where it all starts. with this one also be known i 1st saw a man who turned his back and forth in 1905 he quit singing and retreated from public life he didn't just talk of. being the system bass player he made a quip for the told someone he was with us and they didn't believe him. but he did make a rare appearance when he was inducted into the hall of fame in 2005. 1

this time many honesty in his lyrics. connect with. the news of course on our website there it is al jazeera dot com. time for a quick check of the headlines here al-jazeera. people across china have been silenced on up more than 3000 people have died from corona virus h 2000 people have been infected but most have recovered. the international monetary fund says the coronavirus pandemic has brought the global economy to a standstill it's warning the situation is worse than the 2008 financial crisis says it has a trillion dollars available to help vulnerable economies. this is

a crisis like no other never in the history of the i.m.f. we have weakness the world economy coming to a stand still we are now in recession. eat these when you were 6. and the global financial crisis we could have one trillion dollars war chest and we are determined to use as much as vesa serry in that protect the economy from this current of this crisis a global bidding war has begun as countries and cities compete for supplies of personal protective equipment including masts gloves and downs for health care workers so this president has announced tougher measures to contain the kind of a virus under the new rules masks must be worn in public people under the age of 20 and also be subject to a partial curfew and cars are banned from entering and leaving 31 cities at least

15 days german chancellor angela merkel has ended herself quarantine after testing negative for the virus she's being seen as an example of the world leaders should manage the pandemic in other news donald trump has fired the u.s. intelligence community is inspector general michael atkinson had informed congress in september about whistleblowers complained led to trump's impeachment atkinson is the latest person involved in the impeachment procedure to be removed the president said he had lost all confidence in him. those are the headlines the news continues here on al-jazeera after talk to others their station that's watching. as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic we'll bring you the latest developments from around the wilds. with updates about travel restrictions and how to protect yourself. kuranda virus pandemic special coverage on

al-jazeera. see. u.n. headquarters in new york this is a building i work in most days and i have to tell you it is very early now normally there's about 10000 people come into this compound every single week day now at the moment there's only about 300 people accessing this building every day they all the skeleton staff most of them working trying to get the video conference and systems working to allow the rest of the u.n. to continue its vital functions those peace keep.