Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, has described the coronavirus pandemic as the EU’s biggest test since its creation.

Merkel, who leads the continent’s industrial powerhouse, is calling for European self-sufficiency in mask production. Most face masks are currently produced in China, and there have in recent days been several well-publicised instances of shipments bound for European countries being diverted at the last minute to the US.

Thailand has extended its ban on incoming passenger flights until 18 April, the Thaiger reports.

An initial three-day ban on incoming flights imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand …continued .
[Source: The Guardian]