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Coronavirus live news: New York reports nearly 3,000 deaths Coronavirus live news: New York reports nearly 3,000 deaths
(32 minutes later)
Iran’s death toll reaches 3,294; Swiss death toll rises to 484; Australia’s medical chief says true global cases could be five to 10 millionIran’s death toll reaches 3,294; Swiss death toll rises to 484; Australia’s medical chief says true global cases could be five to 10 million
Ontario has been lagging behind other Canadian provinces in testing for coronavirus because in the early weeks of the outbreak its public labs relied heavily on a single company for needed chemicals, Reuters reports.
There are thought to be thousands of backlogged cases in Ontario, Canada’s most heavily populated region. The province is focused on ramping testing back up, particularly for healthcare workers.
As of Wednesday, Ontario had tested 4,188 per million residents, less than every Canadian province except New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, which have far fewer cases. Alberta had tested 11,139 per million, and Quebec 8,216 per million.
The provincial public health agency’s labs were heavily dependent on one company’s system to extract RNA, the virus’s genetic material, the agency told Reuters.
Hundreds of US citizens have been stranded in Moscow after an evacuation flight to New York was grounded at the last moment due to a Russian ban on all international flights.Hundreds of US citizens have been stranded in Moscow after an evacuation flight to New York was grounded at the last moment due to a Russian ban on all international flights.
The Aeroflot flight was meant to carry US citizens seeking to leave Russia, and then repatriate hundreds of Russians stranded in the United States. Russia has closed its international borders for most travellers, and this afternoon announced that it would impose a ban on all international flights in and out of Russia as of Saturday morning. The Aeroflot flight was meant to carry US citizens seeking to leave Russia, and then repatriate hundreds of Russians stranded in the US. Russia has closed its international borders for most travellers, and this afternoon announced it would impose a ban on all international flights in and out of Russia as of Saturday morning.
The flight cancellation came after passengers had already boarded the flight. Some had been trying to leave Russia for weeks. Others had been living in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport for days, waiting for a chance to leave the country. The cancellation came after passengers had already boarded the flight. Some had been trying to leave Russia for weeks. Others had been living in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport for days, waiting for a chance to leave the country.
Nicholas Mackay, a ballet photographer who lives in Russia, said that he has been trying to travel to the United States for several weeks to reach his father, who is sick with cancer. Nicholas Mackay, a ballet photographer who lives in Russia, said that he has been trying to travel to the US for several weeks to reach his father, who has cancer.
“We were already on the flight, and then a flight attendant came on over the intercom and told us that we are not flying out, the flight is cancelled and all flights are cancelled by the Russian government,” he said by telephone. “There’s no information. We’re not even able to get any money back from our flight. We’re only able to change for a different day. A different day is no day, because no one knows when international travel will be OK in this whole situation.”“We were already on the flight, and then a flight attendant came on over the intercom and told us that we are not flying out, the flight is cancelled and all flights are cancelled by the Russian government,” he said by telephone. “There’s no information. We’re not even able to get any money back from our flight. We’re only able to change for a different day. A different day is no day, because no one knows when international travel will be OK in this whole situation.”
A video uploaded by his brother, Julian, showed angry passengers reacting to the flight cancellation. “It’s chaos,” he said.A video uploaded by his brother, Julian, showed angry passengers reacting to the flight cancellation. “It’s chaos,” he said.
A US embassy spokesperson said: “The US Embassy is aware of the inexplicable cancellation of today’s Aeroflot flight to New York. The flight was full of US citizens anxious to get home. We are awaiting an explanation from the Russian Federation. We continue to work to find ways to help US citizens return home.” A US embassy spokesperson said: “The US embassy is aware of the inexplicable cancellation of today’s Aeroflot flight to New York. The flight was full of US citizens anxious to get home. We are awaiting an explanation from the Russian Federation. We continue to work to find ways to help US citizens return home.”
Canada has recorded almost 12,000 cases of coronavirus, according to the country’s public health agency. The death toll increased to 152 on Friday.Canada has recorded almost 12,000 cases of coronavirus, according to the country’s public health agency. The death toll increased to 152 on Friday.
Quebec, which has 5,518 confirmed cases as of Friday, is the country’s worst affected region, followed by Ontario, with 3,255 confirmed cases.Quebec, which has 5,518 confirmed cases as of Friday, is the country’s worst affected region, followed by Ontario, with 3,255 confirmed cases.
The Spanish government has said it is working to roll out some form of guaranteed income that could benefit as many as 5 million people as the country reels from the coronavirus epidemic.The Spanish government has said it is working to roll out some form of guaranteed income that could benefit as many as 5 million people as the country reels from the coronavirus epidemic.
“We’re working on a minimum income,” the country’s labour minister, Yolanda Díaz, said on Friday. “We need it now more than ever.”“We’re working on a minimum income,” the country’s labour minister, Yolanda Díaz, said on Friday. “We need it now more than ever.”
Spain has emerged as one of the world’s hardest-hit countries, with the virus claiming 10,935 lives. More than 117,000 people have tested positive for Covid-19.Spain has emerged as one of the world’s hardest-hit countries, with the virus claiming 10,935 lives. More than 117,000 people have tested positive for Covid-19.
The rapid spread of the virus has decimated the country’s tourism industry – which accounts for nearly 12% of the country’s GDP – while the near-total lockdown has shuttered bars, restaurants and non-essential shops and halted construction.The rapid spread of the virus has decimated the country’s tourism industry – which accounts for nearly 12% of the country’s GDP – while the near-total lockdown has shuttered bars, restaurants and non-essential shops and halted construction.
Nearly 900,000 workers have lost their jobs since the lockdown began on 14 March, while another 620,000 people have been temporarily laid off, government data showed this week, sparking worry in a country where the unemployment rate already ranks among the highest in the Eurozone.Nearly 900,000 workers have lost their jobs since the lockdown began on 14 March, while another 620,000 people have been temporarily laid off, government data showed this week, sparking worry in a country where the unemployment rate already ranks among the highest in the Eurozone.
“The data is extraordinary,” the social security minister, José Luis Escrivá, said on Thursday. “It’s unprecedented.”“The data is extraordinary,” the social security minister, José Luis Escrivá, said on Thursday. “It’s unprecedented.”
The government has announced a series of measures aimed at softening the blow of the epidemic, including a moratorium on mortgages payments and the suspension of evictions for those affected by the crisis.The government has announced a series of measures aimed at softening the blow of the epidemic, including a moratorium on mortgages payments and the suspension of evictions for those affected by the crisis.
The minimum income is aimed at complementing these measures, Díaz, the labour minister, told the Spanish broadcaster Cadena Ser, as it will provide protection for vulnerable residents not served by other government measures. She declined to provide more details or a timeline for the measure.The minimum income is aimed at complementing these measures, Díaz, the labour minister, told the Spanish broadcaster Cadena Ser, as it will provide protection for vulnerable residents not served by other government measures. She declined to provide more details or a timeline for the measure.
The death toll in New York from the coronavirus has jumped to 2,935, governor Andrew Cuomo announced.The death toll in New York from the coronavirus has jumped to 2,935, governor Andrew Cuomo announced.
The death toll, which is up from from 2,373 a day earlier, represented the highest single-day rise since the coronavirus crisis struck the state.The death toll, which is up from from 2,373 a day earlier, represented the highest single-day rise since the coronavirus crisis struck the state.
There are 102,863 confirmed cases of coronavirus in New York. Cuomo said that hospitals have effectively turned into ICU hospitals for Covid-19 patients.There are 102,863 confirmed cases of coronavirus in New York. Cuomo said that hospitals have effectively turned into ICU hospitals for Covid-19 patients.
The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda has written to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to call for debt relief for his country and other small economies hit suffering economic crises caused by the coronavirus outbreak.In a two-page letter published on Thursday to his Facebook page, Gaston Browne, who also finance minister of the Caribbean nation, said that the crisis had already led to the loss of a fifth of GDP, and was only likely to get worse.With airlines grounded, cruise ships berthed and hotels closed in an effort to curb the international spread of the coronavirus, the tourism industry in the region had ceased and governments had taken a huge hit to revenue, Browne said.“All of this translates into very high unemployment, and an increase in poverty levels that, inevitably, will spur more and varied crime – drug trafficking, probably becoming rampant”He pointed out that his country and others in the region are trying to battle outbreaks at the same time as preparing what is forecast to be an “above average” hurricane season, with as many as four major hurricanes expected.“In the region’s already precarious state, the effects of a hurricane would be catastrophic.”The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda has written to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to call for debt relief for his country and other small economies hit suffering economic crises caused by the coronavirus outbreak.In a two-page letter published on Thursday to his Facebook page, Gaston Browne, who also finance minister of the Caribbean nation, said that the crisis had already led to the loss of a fifth of GDP, and was only likely to get worse.With airlines grounded, cruise ships berthed and hotels closed in an effort to curb the international spread of the coronavirus, the tourism industry in the region had ceased and governments had taken a huge hit to revenue, Browne said.“All of this translates into very high unemployment, and an increase in poverty levels that, inevitably, will spur more and varied crime – drug trafficking, probably becoming rampant”He pointed out that his country and others in the region are trying to battle outbreaks at the same time as preparing what is forecast to be an “above average” hurricane season, with as many as four major hurricanes expected.“In the region’s already precarious state, the effects of a hurricane would be catastrophic.”
Slovenia will introduce a mandatory 14-day quarantine for most people entering the country from Saturday, Reuters reports.Slovenia will introduce a mandatory 14-day quarantine for most people entering the country from Saturday, Reuters reports.
The quarantine will apply to both Slovenian citizens and foreign nationals, the government said on Friday. The penalty for those flouting the decree will be 400 euros ($430), the government said.The quarantine will apply to both Slovenian citizens and foreign nationals, the government said on Friday. The penalty for those flouting the decree will be 400 euros ($430), the government said.
The new rule will not apply to people who have to travel to the country for work and will not include those involved in cargo traffic or who are passing through Slovenia on their way to another country without staying overnight.The new rule will not apply to people who have to travel to the country for work and will not include those involved in cargo traffic or who are passing through Slovenia on their way to another country without staying overnight.
Last month, Slovenia closed all schools, bars, restaurants, hotels, sports centres, cultural institutions and shops, except food and drug stores. It has also shut down all public transport.Last month, Slovenia closed all schools, bars, restaurants, hotels, sports centres, cultural institutions and shops, except food and drug stores. It has also shut down all public transport.
Slovenia has confirmed 934 coronavirus cases and 20 deaths.Slovenia has confirmed 934 coronavirus cases and 20 deaths.
Premier League players will be asked to take a 30% drop in their wages, via cuts or deferrals or both, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the clubs agreed at a meeting on Friday.Premier League players will be asked to take a 30% drop in their wages, via cuts or deferrals or both, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the clubs agreed at a meeting on Friday.
The move came as the 20 top-flight teams said they would give £125m to the EFL and National League to help their clubs through the crisis and donate £20m to support the NHS, communities, families and vulnerable groups.The move came as the 20 top-flight teams said they would give £125m to the EFL and National League to help their clubs through the crisis and donate £20m to support the NHS, communities, families and vulnerable groups.
A Premier League statement said: “In the face of substantial and continuing losses for the 2019-20 season since the suspension of matches began, and to protect employment throughout the professional game, Premier League clubs unanimously agreed to consult their players regarding a combination of conditional reductions and deferrals amounting to 30% of total annual remuneration.”A Premier League statement said: “In the face of substantial and continuing losses for the 2019-20 season since the suspension of matches began, and to protect employment throughout the professional game, Premier League clubs unanimously agreed to consult their players regarding a combination of conditional reductions and deferrals amounting to 30% of total annual remuneration.”
More than 250,000 European Union citizens are still trying to get home after the EU has repatriated some 350,000 people, Reuters reports.More than 250,000 European Union citizens are still trying to get home after the EU has repatriated some 350,000 people, Reuters reports.
“We have brought home 350,000 Europeans but there are still 250,000 remaining and many operations are under way,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief told reporters.“We have brought home 350,000 Europeans but there are still 250,000 remaining and many operations are under way,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief told reporters.
“One could not imagine that there are so many Europeans stranded in the world: tourists, visitors, short-term workers. We are not talking about permanent residents,” Borrell added.“One could not imagine that there are so many Europeans stranded in the world: tourists, visitors, short-term workers. We are not talking about permanent residents,” Borrell added.
With a mix of chartered and military planes, EU institutions are helping member states cover the costs of repatriation on flights with passengers of more than one EU country.With a mix of chartered and military planes, EU institutions are helping member states cover the costs of repatriation on flights with passengers of more than one EU country.
How has coronavirus affected global air traffic? Niko Kommenda, the Guardian’s visual projects editor, analysed the data and found thousands of planes are still in the air despite the mass cancellation of flights.How has coronavirus affected global air traffic? Niko Kommenda, the Guardian’s visual projects editor, analysed the data and found thousands of planes are still in the air despite the mass cancellation of flights.
French police have increased checks at train stations and motorways on Friday to stop people breaking a national lockdown ahead of school holidays this weekend.
Reuters reports 5,307 people have died from the coronavirus in France. Almost 60,000 people there been diagnosed with the illness, and almost 6,400 are on life-support machines, which has put the health system under pressure and overwhelmed hospitals in the Paris and eastern regions.
The number of people entering intensive care units has fallen over the last three days and the daily death toll in hospitals stabilised after the government imposed a lockdown on the country’s 67 million population on 17 March, which was extended until 15 April.
The government of Jersey has announced a plan to test every citizen for Covid-19 in a programme to be rolled out over the coming weeks.
The British crown dependency says it has ordered up to 150,000 antibody test kits which are due to arrive in batches. Known as serology tests, they measure the presence of antibodies in the blood which are known to be produced by those who have already contracted the virus.
Jersey went into lockdown on Monday and 96 islanders have so far tested positive. Frontline staff and key workers will be tested first, in order to check whether they have had the disease and therefore potentially gained immunity, meaning they can return to work.
The scheme will then be rolled out to other islanders. The first delivery is due by the middle of April. Government medical officer Dr Ivan Muscat said arrangements for expanding testing into the community may involve sending out mobile testing units.
“Obviously, we would be very interested in working out who is infected and who isn’t,” said Muscat at a press conference, “in order to determine what someone’s diagnosis is and where they’re looked after if they’re admitted to hospital, for example.”
Fellow crown dependency the Isle of Man has taken a different approach, choosing to align with UK government advice, which is that antibody test kits are not reliable enough for widespread use in the community.
“The latest advice I’ve received is that so far they are only 30% reliable,” first minister Howard Quayle told the island’s parliament Friday. “We are obviously watching this and when our medics feel that the test is reliable … then of course we will be looking to implement that on the Isle of Man too.”
Ireland has had a more than fourfold increase in coronavirus outbreaks in nursing homes in the space of a week, Reuters reports.
The rate of increase in infections has more than halved across the country since the government implemented restrictions in mid-March.
Despite these restrictions, the number of nursing homes reporting clusters of cases rose to 38 from nine from 24-31 March, according to the most recent data released on Friday from Ireland’s health service executive (HSE).
“A manifestation of where Covid-19 is at the moment is that the health now of those who are in our nursing homes is a matter of real concern for the government,” the finance minister, Paschal Donohoe, told reporters.
“We are looking at the moment at what additional measures need to be put in place in nursing home environments.”
The global scramble to source protective equipment is heating up, Kim Willsher and Oliver Holmes reports.
Valérie Pecresse, the influential president of the Île-de-France region, which includes Paris, described the race to get hold of masks as a “treasure hunt”.
Pecresse said:
About 90% of Americans are under stay-at-home orders as the US tries to get a handle of the rapid spread of coronavirus by enforcing social distancing guidelines. But there are still frustrations with the handful of governors who are resisting issuing statewide orders.
The US reported 1,169 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, the highest one-day death toll of any country so far.
My colleague Joan Greve is now liveblogging all US-related coronavirus news.
A coalition of governments and research institutions from 30 countries has been launched to work on tackling Covid-19 in lower-income countries.
The 70 institutions signed up said states with limited resources are being forgotten in the pandemic response, and that very few related clinical trials had been planned for poorer countries despite their wealth of expertise.
They called for greater coordination of research efforts in Africa, Latin America, Asia and eastern Europe.
“The more players we have in research and development, the more rich it will be,” said Jean-Michel Piedagnel, the south-east Asia director for the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, one of the 70.
“You will develop treatment options that are more aligned with the needs of the country and with the means of the country. If you do your clinical trial in a setting where healthcare is underfunded or resource-poor, you will do a different clinical trial, you will do a different treatment.”
The World Health Organization’s chief scientist, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, said the initiative would help coordinate a global response.
“We must prepare now for the consequences of this pandemic in more resource-constrained settings or we stand to lose many more lives,” she said.
Evans Amukoye, the director of scientific programmes at the Kenya Medical Research Institute, said in the past treatments were often beyond the means of poorer countries.
“A lot of people had died before it became accessible. If you look at some diseases you see that where there is no profit there is no investment,” said Amukoye.
Russia will suspend all flights bringing Russians home from abroad from Friday night, reports the Interfax news agency.
The announcement was made with no explanation. The foreign ministry said on Wednesday that 25,000 Russians abroad had appealed for help getting home, with many still stranded as measures to curb the spread of coronavirus have limited travel options.
The UK has endured its deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic, with 569 fatalities recorded in 24 hours.
As Downing Street comes under mounting pressure over its perceived failure to accelerate nationwide testing to combat the virus, the country’s Covid-19 death toll continues to rise.
A total of 2,921 people had died in hospitals after testing positive for the disease as of 5pm on Wednesday, representing a slightly bigger increase than the previous day, when there were 563 deaths.
Don’t forget, you can also follow our UK coronavirus blog:
Russian police have detained a doctors’ rights activist who has been highly critical of the Kremlin’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
Anastasia Vasiliyeva, the head of the opposition-leaning Alliance of Doctors union, was detained with other activists last night while attempting to deliver medical equipment in Russia’s Novgorod region.
Video of the incident showed Vasiliyeva being dragged into a local police station by police officers and other men in medical masks. In a post, the organisation said Vasiliyeva lost consciousness during the arrest, possibly because she was choked.
She is still in custody as of Friday afternoon and has reportedly received citations for violating mandatory quarantine measures and for resisting police orders.
Vasiliyeva and the Alliance of Doctors have been highly critical of the government’s preparations for the coronavirus outbreak, accusing the government of faking official statistics about the number of coronavirus cases in Russia and blasting the government for failing to equip hospitals with needed medical supplies.
The group had also criticised the government’s airlift of medical equipment and ventilators to the US.
“Well, great,” the group wrote. “We raise money all over the country to buy medical protective equipment, and our government sells PPE to the USA. It’s a mockery.”
Greta Thunberg, the 17-year-old Swedish activist who inspired the global school climate strikes, posted a picture of herself striking at home.
Last week, Thunberg said in a post on Instagram that she had self-isolated after she and her father returned from a trip around central Europe about two weeks ago.