blogs.worldbank.org (07.07.2020) The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating the long-anticipated surge in telemedicine services worldwide. Consulting a health care provider over phone, video or text has become the new normal for many non-urgent medical needs, while the crisis has sparked renewed interest in digital tools that can test and monitor at-risk patients safely in their homes.

Government of the Republic of Benin (10.07.2020) The majority of beneficiaries exercising certain trades who were impacted by the restrictive measures to fight against the spread of corona virus have started receiving a subsidy via cash transfers on their mobile phones. 

There are differences in the grants. They depend on three things: whether the activity is formal or not; the geographical location of the activity (does the person work in large cities or not) and also what was declared in terms of loss of income during the period of implementation of these restrictive measures.

Now is the time to

Al Jazeera (07.07.2020) Burundi has launched a campaign of mass testing for the coronavirus in the country's largest city, in a significant shift in policy for a nation which has largely ignored the dangers of the outbreak.

Many Bujumbura residents, including students, participated in the screening in three centres in the north, centre and south of the commercial capital on Monday.

unicef.org (01.07.2020) The Government of Spain recently launched a national ‘Basic Income scheme’ (‘Ingreso Minimo Vital’), for extremely poor households and vulnerable groups. The means-tested programme is expected to reach approximately 2.5 million people, who will receive between €462 and €1,015 per month per household depending on the number of household members. Total household income and wealth determines whether a household receives the benefit, and applicants should be between 23 and 65 years of age and have legal residence in Spain of at least one year. There is also a condition of being registered as a job seeker. The programme is expected to cost €3,000 million.

lefigaro.fr (10.07.2020) Le parquet de Paris a annoncé vendredi enquêter sur des fraudes «massives» au chômage partiel, impliquant des «flux financiers internationaux», qui ont occasionné «plus d'1,7 million d'euros» de préjudice.

Orbitax News (10.07.2020) Mexico's Social Security Institute has announced a simplified installment plan scheme for employers facing difficulties in paying their social security contributions due to COVID-19. Under the scheme, employers may make up to 48 monthly installments, subject to monthly interest as follows:

• up to 12 months - 1.26% interest
• 12 months to 24 months - 1.53% interest
• 24 months to 48 months - 1.82% interest

To be eligible, at least 20% of employer contributions and 100% of employee contributions must be paid.