this is g w news live from berlin tonight 10000000 protective face mask arrived in germany just in time a shipment from china on the day that new regulations forced germans to cover in shops and on public transportation but in sweden schools and daycare centers they remain open as the country avoids the kind of strict lockdown that we've seen elsewhere in europe is it working a swedish government minister would defend the strategy also coming up britain's

prime minister boris johnson is back at work a month after contract included 19 but he warns lifting restrictions too soon could risk a 2nd wave of infections. i'm burnt off it's good to have you with us we begin tonight with the latest grim numbers in this pandemic the number of confirmed coronavirus cases around the world has now surpassed the 3000000 mark that's according to the tally of johns hopkins university in the united states at the same time in an effort to curb the spread of the virus germany today made it mandatory for people to cover their faces when using public transport in most parts of the country a mask or some other form of facial covering is also required if you go shopping but there are concerns. urns that demand for mass could fast outstrip the supply 5

to require wearing masks requires having masks to wear germany like most countries needs billions of them in the months ahead so when the world's largest cargo plane landed in the eastern city of leipzig on monday with 10000000 masts from china on board leading member of i'm going to medicals cabinet was there to greet them defense minister on a great credit card our says the master will be sent to germany 16 federal states for distribution into fenton d.d. wanted to hear the whole a small guys who have you know. sure this delivery a right. to have something much bigger title to try and makes up for a new crisis barrel and. food you mention. non-medical masks or improvised coverings are thought to protect others from infected people public health officials say this is especially important for coated

19 given the suspected large number of mild and asymptomatic cases by wednesday mass will be required in most german states for shops and public transit. measures many people appear to be taking in stride this is that kind of force and it's not a big deal that i must doesn't do anyhow and if it can have it's time. to sift out if it's to help people and protect older people it's ok you can do with it it's harder to speak and breathe place for a good reason. but. one cannot go for we are used to seeing this in japan but here it's really strange it's i'm only doing it to protect of those others. as if it doesn't support i think it's really taboo cumber someone you don't get a lot of after and maybe it's a good safety precaution but who knows if this really doesn't do anything is a shall issue. states must. trust.

polls show most germans backing the restrictions on public life how long this new normal last open ended official saying until there's a vaccine which may be many months or longer. arliss bill in our political correspondent melinda crane she is on the story for us here in berlin good evening to you melinda there have been reports of defective medical equipment coming from china so can we even be sure that these masks will do what they're supposed to do. well that shipment that arrived today and by the way we are expecting another shipment on wednesday bringing the total masks from china during the last few days to $25000000.00 apparently there were tests on those masts both in china and there will also be tests here in germany when the masks are distributed throughout the federal states where they will be given to over to the health

ministers of their respective states and to be frank china has a very high stake in ensuring that these masks do are well because the deal to provide was actually negotiated between chancellor angela merkel and chinese president so a lot is riding on the fact that these mass needs to be effect and mother knew we know that making these facial mask a mandatory it's been a controversial issue here in germany what has changed now and do you think people are willing to comply. well i think the fact that the politicians were not speaking with one voice about this and that was the case for quite some time had to do that with the fact that at least some politicians were uncertain about what to say as long as not enough masks were available as in fact was indicated in our report but the fact is now we have not only these deliveries coming in from abroad the medical masks and by the way those mass from china they will be going to medical workers

those are not for let's say citizens to be wearing on the street or even in shops but there are also a lot of initiatives now in germany to produce cloth masks for use by citizens when they're taking public transportation grandmaster now we quired when they are visiting shops where masks are required in almost all federal states and now apparently will also be required in berlin so there's a spreading recognition that in fact masks can prove useful and i think that is coming especially because they are now yeah and you know you can make your own masks you know you could take a bandana for example or a scarf and you can make it if you can't find one to buy but there's still a discussion going on whether or not it makes sense to wear a mask in public what's your take on the absolute absolutely there is this is an ongoing discussion in fact today we saw a very high compliance and as that was

a little sound bites in the report indicated many people saying yes we're going to lock this and yet at the same time there's a little bit of doubt still in the minds of many people about what exactly is the goal of a mask so let's go through that because it's really important the mask especially a cloth mask this is not going to protect the wearer from expect and there are people who have coat it what it is going to do is ensure that if the wear and perhaps already has copd it doesn't know it doesn't have symptoms that he. she cannot so easily spread the virus and if the mask is used properly meaning washed changed and so on it does provide some protection for other people and the fact is we have to break the chain of infection that is absolutely crucial and masts and one way to really put that in people's consciousness as their own goal that they can play in doing that it's right you're protecting yourself by protecting others

that's an important message there are chief political correspondent lyndal crane on the story for us tonight here in berlin melinda thank you will incur contrast to germany and other european countries sweden's coronavirus strategy has been white touch allowing bars restaurants and businesses to operate as long as they respect physical distancing recommendations schools in daycare centers for example are still open and the country's chief deputy ologist says that the approach has been carefully thought out but there are critics. daily life in sweden as in most countries is dominated by the corona crisis but children here are still going to daycare centers this one in stockholm looks after 25 boys and girls some things have changed even if you don't advocate mick is live on f i normally spend a lot of time outside but now it's even more more i get a pretty man inside me do lessons in small groups everything else is outside so we

take it in turns. in the professional and have thanksgiving. it helps working parents that day care centers and primary schools are still open and the swedish health authorities say it's good for the children as well they are convinced young children do not spread the virus in fact schools have not become sources of infection there are rules in place. far more subtle but we have to wash our hands carefully and sing a song then after that we could rinse off the soap and we're putting it out for. sweden has followed a different path to other countries from the start the aim has been to protect the vulnerable groups such as the elderly and those with existing illness it hasn't all gone smoothly a lot of old people have been infected nearly half the deaths in sweden have been into your homes senior hospital doctor johan still has many elderly patients i'd be

hawked and it's got daughter to call mental goods to scandal that will need looking into when this is over and i think we are still going to see a significant rise in fatalities in old people's homes. sweden has added considerably to its hospital capacity since the start of the outbreak there are spare beds but many health care staff are off sick. the hard one don't test that we are not testing enough we test all patients suspected of having the current virus and everyone who needs an operation i would like to see all work force being tested but we aren't able to do all that and there will be it all. despite these criticisms most people do support government policy day care centers are counting on the authorities getting it right. just put out it it's not a job to look after children. i hope and i believe that those responsible are

making the right decisions for a sweet and if it's broke some time to the death because that facade of. sweden is going its own way with no end to the crisis yet in sight. for some of the other stories now that are making headlines around the world syrian authorities say that 3 civilians were killed and 4 others injured in an israeli missile attack on towns south of damascus syria's military say their air defenses intercepted and shot down several missiles fired by warplanes over lebanon but that some made it through israel has made no comments on the incident the chinese human rights lawyer wang kwan jong has been reunited with his family in beijing after being separated from them for nearly 5 years he was detained back in 2015 as part of a crackdown on hundreds of lawyers and rights activists in the u.s. speaker of the house nancy pelosi has publicly endorsed joe biden's presidential candidacy the california democrat says that biden will be

a voice of reason and resilience and made the coronavirus pandemic. in britain prime minister boris johnson has returned to work after recovering from code 19 while some european countries are starting to ease their lock downs johnson is against any such move in the u.k. he warns that right now is the moment of maximum risk. visibly thinner and with his hands even longer than usual british prime minister bars johnson has returned to work and yes in his 1st speech after 3 weeks of sick leave he asked the british people to contain their impatience to for lex the current lock down i refuse to throw away all the effort and the sacrifice of the british people and to risk a 2nd major outbreak and huge loss of life and be overwhelming of the n.h.s.

. to more than a month now the country has been at a near standstill and one of the spread of the virus is slowing down most people support holding on to the current mattias. i do actually commend the u.k. government and in many ways intensive the lockdowns we have pageant i guess. not rushing back to normal too soon i think we need to keep the restrictions and this time i think in any case. and i just noticed really did go to people that you know you didn't get my point in time but going back to kind of the peak you don't need so i think kerry will be kind of. one should be. careful. he's probably going to shut down in. the u.k. government is set to review the lockdown restrictions by may 7th but even after that date social distancing measures probably continue to from. our sports news

in football italy's prime minister just up a conte has given the go ahead. to resume training next month with individual training due to start in the 1st week of may now team training will follow on the 18th although players will have to maintain some social distance at the league was suspended in march after several players tested positive for 19 syria still has 12 rounds of matches to play but no return date has been set. and here's a reminder of the top story that we're following for you germany has made face masks mandatory in certain public places such as stores and public transport it's hoped that the new rules will help prevent people infected with the virus from the passing it on. your watch a d w new threats for more news you can check out our website at www dot com i'll be

back at the top of the hour with more world news followed by the day's i perceive. combating the corona pandemic. where does research stand. what are scientists learning. background information and news of. our corona update. covert 19 special next on d w. they were abducted by the nazis and taken to germany to be raised as citizens of the.