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Coronavirus live news: global death toll passes 20,000, as Spain overtakes China as second worst-hit country Coronavirus live news: global death toll passes 20,000, as Spain overtakes China as second worst-hit country
(32 minutes later)
India locks down; Prince Charles tests positive for coronavirus; Senate and White House reach stimulus deal. Follow the latest updatesIndia locks down; Prince Charles tests positive for coronavirus; Senate and White House reach stimulus deal. Follow the latest updates
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Wednesday failed in his bid to be bailed after he argued that he was at risk of catching coronavirus in the British prison where he is being held, AFP reports.
“As matters stand today, this global pandemic does not as of itself provide grounds for Mr Assange’s release,” said judge Vanessa Baraitser at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Assange is currently in the high security Belmarsh prison in south London as he fights an extradition request by the United States to stand trial there on espionage charges.
Baraitser pointed out that the 48-year-old, who followed proceedings via videolink, had already violated a bail order when he fled to the Ecuadorian embassy in 2012.
At that time, Swedish authorities were attempting to extradite him over sexual assault claims that were later dropped.
Assange’s lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, said there was currently no Covid-19 case at Belmarsh but 100 prison officers were off work and there was a “very real risk - and the risk could be fatal”.
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Hi, this is Helen Sullivan with you now, taking over from my colleague Kevin Rawlinson.
In the US, Alexandra Villarrea reports for the Guardian that during a press conference Wednesday afternoon, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio blasted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for allegedly standing in the way of real aid to New York.
De Blasio said:
De Blasio took issue with the fact that New York City only got $1 billion out of the $150 billion pool of funds provided for the entire country in the Senate’s stimulus bill when New York City alone accounts for almost two-thirds of confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S.
To deal with crowd density, de Blasio said he would be removing hoops at 80 of New York City’s 1,700 basketball courts because people weren’t properly social-distancing.
He also said that he’s working to release any inmates who can be directly acted on, who don’t pose a threat to the community. By tonight, he said he will have released 200 inmates.
The UK’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) says that, as of 9am on Wednesday (all times GMT), 9,529 people have tested positive; an increase of 1,452 since its last update, which was as at 9am on Tuesday.The UK’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) says that, as of 9am on Wednesday (all times GMT), 9,529 people have tested positive; an increase of 1,452 since its last update, which was as at 9am on Tuesday.
A little clarification: the DHSC tweet puts the UK death toll at 463, while we reported it earlier to be 465.A little clarification: the DHSC tweet puts the UK death toll at 463, while we reported it earlier to be 465.
As the tweet says, the figures do not cover a full 24-hour period and are as of 9am on Wednesday, while our earlier report is based on the very latest releases from the health authorities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.As the tweet says, the figures do not cover a full 24-hour period and are as of 9am on Wednesday, while our earlier report is based on the very latest releases from the health authorities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Queen has been pictured at Windsor Castle as she held her weekly audience with the UK’s prime minister by telephone.The Queen has been pictured at Windsor Castle as she held her weekly audience with the UK’s prime minister by telephone.
It comes on the same day Clarence House announced the Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus. Buckingham Palace has said the Queen, 93, who is staying at Windsor Castle with the Duke of Edinburgh, 98, remains in good health and is following all appropriate advice.It comes on the same day Clarence House announced the Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus. Buckingham Palace has said the Queen, 93, who is staying at Windsor Castle with the Duke of Edinburgh, 98, remains in good health and is following all appropriate advice.
The Finnish government is setting up a three-week blockade of the Uusimaa region around Helsinki to prevent people from travelling and spreading the virus to other parts of the country, it has said.The Finnish government is setting up a three-week blockade of the Uusimaa region around Helsinki to prevent people from travelling and spreading the virus to other parts of the country, it has said.
The decision came after the Finnish health authority worsened its forecast for the outbreak, estimating that between 11,000 and 15,500 people would be hospitalised and that between 3,600 and 5,000 of them would require intensive care in the following months.The decision came after the Finnish health authority worsened its forecast for the outbreak, estimating that between 11,000 and 15,500 people would be hospitalised and that between 3,600 and 5,000 of them would require intensive care in the following months.
Authorities have counted three deaths and 880 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Finland; most of them in the capital region.Authorities have counted three deaths and 880 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Finland; most of them in the capital region.
A third of the world’s population is under lockdown as countries tighten measures to stop the spread of Covid-19. We’ve take a look at some of the strategies – from drones to armed forces, exercises to fines – that governments are using to police their citizens:A third of the world’s population is under lockdown as countries tighten measures to stop the spread of Covid-19. We’ve take a look at some of the strategies – from drones to armed forces, exercises to fines – that governments are using to police their citizens:
As many as 50,000 Americans may need their government’s help in getting home, the US State Department says; a huge increase on its previous estimate of only about 13,500.As many as 50,000 Americans may need their government’s help in getting home, the US State Department says; a huge increase on its previous estimate of only about 13,500.
Ian Brownlee, the head of the department’s repatriation task force, said it had brought back more than 9,000 people from 28 countries, while another 9,000 are set to return on 66 flights over the next nine days. But the scale of the problem is straining resources.Ian Brownlee, the head of the department’s repatriation task force, said it had brought back more than 9,000 people from 28 countries, while another 9,000 are set to return on 66 flights over the next nine days. But the scale of the problem is straining resources.
The UK government has asked the vacuum cleaner company, Dyson, to design and manufacture 10,000 ventilators to help deal with the outbreak in the coming weeks, according to an internal email seen by Reuters. The company’s founder, James Dyson, says in the email:The UK government has asked the vacuum cleaner company, Dyson, to design and manufacture 10,000 ventilators to help deal with the outbreak in the coming weeks, according to an internal email seen by Reuters. The company’s founder, James Dyson, says in the email:
Dyson said he received a call from the British prime minister Boris Johnson 10 days ago and has since refocused resources at Dyson to design and build an entirely new ventilator, The CoVent.Dyson said he received a call from the British prime minister Boris Johnson 10 days ago and has since refocused resources at Dyson to design and build an entirely new ventilator, The CoVent.
Reuters had reported earlier that British industry expected the government to give the go-ahead for an emergency ventilator production plan on Wednesday.Reuters had reported earlier that British industry expected the government to give the go-ahead for an emergency ventilator production plan on Wednesday.
New research suggests that “off label” repurposing of drugs such as hydroxychloroquine could lead to “drug-induced sudden cardiac death”.New research suggests that “off label” repurposing of drugs such as hydroxychloroquine could lead to “drug-induced sudden cardiac death”.
A paper by the nonprofit medical organisation the Mayo Clinic found that chloroquine and Kaletra, an HIV drug also being used against coronavirus, can cause the heart muscle to take longer than normal to recharge between beats.A paper by the nonprofit medical organisation the Mayo Clinic found that chloroquine and Kaletra, an HIV drug also being used against coronavirus, can cause the heart muscle to take longer than normal to recharge between beats.
Covid-19 cases have risen to 201 in Costa Rica but there is growing hope the virus could be contained in the Central America country.
No community transmission of the disease has been officially recorded in Costa Rica, the health ministry confirmed again on Wednesday, amid stringent nationwide measures to control the spread of the virus.
The government implemented strict social distancing rules early in the outbreak, including banning tourists from entering the country, closing most public areas and asking the public to stay at home unless absolutely necessary.
In neighbouring Panama, a nationwide curfew is in force after 443 confirmed cases and eight deaths were recorded on Tuesday. The country has the largest outbreak in Central America and the number of confirmed cases has increased rapidly in the last week.
Turkey’s death toll from the coronavirus has increased by 15 to 59 as the number of confirmed cases rose by 561 to 2,433, its health minister, Fahrettin Koca, has said. He tweeted that 5,035 tests have been conducted in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of tests carried out in Turkey to around 33,000.
A further 28 people have died in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths in the UK to 465.
The UK’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said 414 people in England have now died, while 22 have died in both Scotland and Wales and seven people have died in Northern Ireland.
The latest patients to die in England were aged between 47 and 93 years-old and all except the 47-year-old had underlying health conditions. Their families have been informed, the DHSC has said.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael say they’ve “agreed the need form a strong, stable government” in Ireland as the number of confirmed cases in the country rises by 235 to 1,564. Ireland’s health department has also confirmed two more deaths, bringing the total number to nine.
The Irish general election earlier this year resulted in an almost tied result with Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael dominating. None won enough seats to form a government by itself and numerous rounds of talks between parties have failed to result in an agreement to form a coalition government. The statement reads:
Andy Burnham, a former UK health secretary and now the mayor of Greater Manchester in the north of England, says he is taking legal advice on whether firms forcing employees to work without adequate protection and not observing guidance to keep them two metres apart are breaking the law.
After a conference call with Greater Manchester MPs, he tweeted:
Earlier in the day Burnham, announced a £5m fund to pay for 1,000 hotel beds for Greater Manchester’s rough sleepers. The Greater Manchester combined authority said:
In the UK, health workers are being exempted from car parking charges as the government seeks to make it easier for them to carry out their crucial roles.
The Local Government Association (LGA) and the UK government say they have agreed a scheme for all NHS trusts to provide free parking for staff “for the duration of Covid-19” in car parks and on the street. The Department of Health and Social Care said it would cover the cost of car parks for NHS staff at hospitals.
The LGA said it was also urging councils to waive all fines received by health and social care workers while carrying out their extended duties in recent days.
The economic downturn and job losses caused by the pandemic are likely to be worse than the 2008 recession, according to World Trade Organization projections. Its director general, Roberto Azevêdo, has said:
He added that concrete forecasts were not yet available but its in-house economists expect “a very sharp decline in trade”.
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, spoke from eastern France on Wednesday evening after visiting an emergency military hospital set up at Mulhouse in Alsace, where there has been a large coronavirus cluster.
He praised health workers, all those continuing to work to keep the country going and honoured those who have died. He also issued a passionate call for national unity.
Macron insisted the government was working and communicating “transparently” about the availability of masks, ventilators and tests.
The president thanked France’s neighbours – Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg – for taking 30 sick patients with coronavirus for treatment, saying:
Here’s a summary of the latest news:
The global death toll passed 20,000. In all, 20,499 people have died as a result of the pandemic, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The institution says there have been at least 451,355 cases around the world, while 112,982 people have recovered.
More than 400,000 volunteered to help England’s health service. The prime minister, Boris Johnson, says the government had hoped 250,000 people would volunteer to help those in isolation by delivering medicines, driving patients to and from hospital appointments and making regular phone calls to check up on them.
Britain’s deputy ambassador to Hungary, Steven Dick, has died. The 37-year-old died in hospital in Budapest on Tuesday after contracting coronavirus, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed.
Hopes were raised that antibody tests could soon be rolled out in the UK. Experts said tests that show whether or not a person has had the virus would first be used to work out how many people contract the virus but remain asymptomatic, before being given to NHS workers.
Italy’s infection rate slowed for the third consecutive day. The World Health Organization said the country could reach its peak number of coronavirus cases on Sunday.
Argentina reported its largest one-day increase in cases. According to local media reports, officials in the country say the latest figures show 86 new cases in 24 hours – the highest daily figure of the pandemic to date.
Belgian hospital admissions increased by half. With experts warning the disease has not yet reached its peak, the country’s federal crisis centre said 434 people had been admitted to hospital in 24 hours; an increase of 50% on the previous day.
Spain’s deputy prime minister tested positive. Carmen Calvo was hospitalised on Sunday with a respiratory infection. She is doing well and receiving medical treatment, according to the Spanish government.
The UN launched a global humanitarian response plan. Its secretary general, António Guterres, called on governments to work together to combat the pandemic.
Widespread New York closures are likely, the state’s governor warned. Andrew Cuomo said New York City could begin closing streets to traffic, while parks and playgrounds could yet see mandatory closures if New Yorkers continue to ignore calls to self-quarantine.
You can see a summary of earlier events here.
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