Italy

The head of a hospital in Milan, Italy claims the novel coronavirus no longer exists in the country — clinically speaking, that is. 

Italy, facing its worst recession since World War II, reopened its borders to international travelers Wednesday as part of a larger effort to draw in tourism dollars and give recently reopened businesses an added boost after they were left shuttered for nearly three months during the coronavirus lockdown.

After closing more than three months ago in response to the global coronavirus health crisis, both the Colosseum in Rome and the Vatican Museums in Vatican City (which itself is located in Rome) reopened on Monday.

Italy’s Colosseum Archaeological Park in Rome (PArCo) announced Tuesday it will reopen to the public on June 1 after having been closed for three months due to coronavirus restrictions.

Nearly 96% of virus fatalities in Italy were among elderly with underlying conditions, a report says.

“Here we are, we finally made it inside. It only took 2 ½ months,” said Marvin Hewson.

Italians could attend Mass in-person and enjoy meals and drinks at newly reopened bars and restaurants for the first time in two months Monday as the country continued to come out of its once grueling lockdown put in place to limit the effect of the coronavirus in what was once the epicenter of the outbreak in Europe. 

Brazil passes a grim milestone, joining an exclusive club of which no nation wishes to be a member.

The 100th anniversary of the birth of Saint John Paul II has been somewhat marred in his native Poland after the country's most senior member of the Catholic Church asked the Vatican to investigate a Polish bishop accused of protecting priests known to have sexually abused children.

Italy takes a bold step towards trying to revive its economy.