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Coronavirus live news: Boris Johnson in hospital as Japan prepares for state of emergency Coronavirus live news: Boris Johnson in hospital as Japan prepares for state of emergency
(32 minutes later)
US faces ‘hardest and saddest week’; South Korea reports fewer than 50 new cases; Bronx Zoo tiger tests positive; Follow the latest updates.US faces ‘hardest and saddest week’; South Korea reports fewer than 50 new cases; Bronx Zoo tiger tests positive; Follow the latest updates.
Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has pledged to craft an “unprecedented” stimulus package to respond to the downturn inflicted by Covid-19, with a draft document referring to the pandemic as the “biggest crisis” the global economy has faced since World War Two.
Abe’s government is to pledge to take “all steps” encompassing fiscal, monetary and tax policies to battle the deepening fallout from the coronavirus in a stimulus package to be approved on Tuesday, a draft document reviewed by Reuters showed.
The package would exceed the size of one compiled in the wake of the 2009 financial crisis totalling 56 trillion yen ($514 billion) in size, with fiscal spending of 15 trillion yen.
Neither the size of the coronavirus package nor the amount of fiscal measures has yet been determined, according to the document, but features direct payments to households and financial backstops to companies.
Japan has been spared the kind of explosive surge seen in Europe, the United States and elsewhere, with some 3,500 cases and 85 deaths as of Monday, but the rate of new infections has been increasing, particularly in Tokyo itself, and the government looks set to declare a state of emergency.
The Afghan health ministry has urged migrants returning from Iran to quarantine themselves, as coronavirus cases in the country continue to surge and the number of deaths reached 10.A heath ministry spokesman said 2,737 people have been tested for Covid-19 in Afghanistan, with 367 confirmed positive. 30 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in last 24 hours.Testing remains low in Afghanistan, and experts fear that the full extent of the spread is not known, leaving the country vulnerable to further infection.Afghanistan’s most affected province, Herat, recorded 16 new positive cases, raising the total number to 230. Kabul is the second most affected city, with 57 confirmed cases.Tens of thousands of Afghans have fled the coronavirus outbreak in Iran and returned home to Afghanistan, sparking fears they are bringing new infections into the country.Kabul and all three provinces which have borders with Iran are under partial curfew in a bid to contain the virus spread, but with people still walking around freely, experts warn that fighting the coronavirus will be challenging.Three patients died of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, pushing the total number of deaths to 10.
A doctor at a private hospital has also died of coronavirus in Kabul, the health ministry spokesman said. “Samples will be taken from 20 other doctors who were in contact with this doctor.”Afghanistan has recorded 18 coronavirus recoveries so far.
A New York paramedic has said the US surgeon general referring to the coronavirus crisis in the country as a “Pearl Harbor moment” is not hyperbole and believes the worst is yet to come.
Michael Greco, a paramedic in New York and vice-president of the FDNY EMS union that represents emergency service workers, said on Sky News this morning: “It’s not hyperbole. This is probably some of the saddest most destructive eight days we’ve seen in a long time.
“The PPE shortage is one of our biggest challenges, country-wide as well as in New York. The amount of cardiac arrests we’re getting in any single day is unfortunately hitting a very high level.”
Greco said calls for paramedics began to spike two weeks ago, and their average 4,500 calls a day soon jumped to 7,000 a day. “We’ve been on record-breaking call volumes for nine days now,” he added.
Although New York recorded a lower number of coronavirus deaths on Sunday (594 fatalities, lower than the 630 deaths reported on Saturday), Greco said it is too soon to draw any conclusions.
“I don’t know if we’ve turned a corner yet, I think we’re going to need to see a couple of days straight of numbers declining to really feel that this has past the apex,” he said
“I still unfortunately believe we haven’t seen the worst of it yet. Our men and women are having to make decisions out in the field that nobody was trained for.”
French coronavirus figures appear to show a slight slowing of the spread of Covid-19.French coronavirus figures appear to show a slight slowing of the spread of Covid-19.
There are now 70,478 confirmed cases (+1,873) and there has been a jump in the number of deaths because nursing and care homes are now reporting (5,889 deaths in hospital (+357), and 2,189 deaths in homes (+161)). There are now 70,478 confirmed cases (+1,873) and there has been a sharp rise in the number of deaths because nursing and care homes are now reporting 5,889 deaths in hospital (+357), and 2,189 deaths in homes (+161)).
But experts saying it is hospital admissions and intensive care admission numbers that are important. Data from the government website appears to show the curve is beginning to flatten, suggesting the lockdown introduced on 17 March may be working.But experts saying it is hospital admissions and intensive care admission numbers that are important. Data from the government website appears to show the curve is beginning to flatten, suggesting the lockdown introduced on 17 March may be working.
Here’s the evolution of hospital admissions over the last seven days, plus intensive care (IC) admissions.Here’s the evolution of hospital admissions over the last seven days, plus intensive care (IC) admissions.
05/04: +748 (+140 in IC)05/04: +748 (+140 in IC)
04/04: +711 (+176 in IC)04/04: +711 (+176 in IC)
03/04: +1,186 (+263 in IC)03/04: +1,186 (+263 in IC)
02/04: +1,607 (+382 in IC)02/04: +1,607 (+382 in IC)
01/04: +1,882 (+452 in IC)01/04: +1,882 (+452 in IC)
31/03: +1,749 (+458 in IC)31/03: +1,749 (+458 in IC)
30/03: +1,654 (+475 in IC)30/03: +1,654 (+475 in IC)
29/03: +1,734 (+359 in IC)29/03: +1,734 (+359 in IC)
This is Jessica Murray taking over the blog for the next few hours to bring you all the latest coronavirus pandemic developments from around the globe.This is Jessica Murray taking over the blog for the next few hours to bring you all the latest coronavirus pandemic developments from around the globe.
Feel free to get in touch with tips, comments and questions via email (jessica.murray@theguardian.com) or Twitter (@journo_jess).Feel free to get in touch with tips, comments and questions via email (jessica.murray@theguardian.com) or Twitter (@journo_jess).
Switzerland is facing a shortage of the raw material needed to make disinfectant to tackle Covid-19, after the country abandoned its emergency reserve of 10,000 tonnes of ethanol two years ago, newspaper Tages-Anzeiger reported on Monday.Switzerland is facing a shortage of the raw material needed to make disinfectant to tackle Covid-19, after the country abandoned its emergency reserve of 10,000 tonnes of ethanol two years ago, newspaper Tages-Anzeiger reported on Monday.
Switzerland keeps emergency stockpiles of everything from coffee, wheat, rice and cooking oil. In 2018, the country ended its longtime practice of stocking ethanol as part of efforts to privatise the country’s alcohol market, the Swiss newspaper said.Switzerland keeps emergency stockpiles of everything from coffee, wheat, rice and cooking oil. In 2018, the country ended its longtime practice of stocking ethanol as part of efforts to privatise the country’s alcohol market, the Swiss newspaper said.
The decision has contributed to shortages of disinfectant – it disappeared weeks ago from many store shelves as people stocked up – prompting distilleries, wineries and even beer brewers to begin making it.The decision has contributed to shortages of disinfectant – it disappeared weeks ago from many store shelves as people stocked up – prompting distilleries, wineries and even beer brewers to begin making it.
Some Swiss politicians are frustrated by the move to give up the stockpile, the paper said.Some Swiss politicians are frustrated by the move to give up the stockpile, the paper said.
“It just can’t be that an important raw material like alcohol is suddenly missing when a pandemic starts,” said parliament member Alois Gmuer, the paper reported.“It just can’t be that an important raw material like alcohol is suddenly missing when a pandemic starts,” said parliament member Alois Gmuer, the paper reported.
That’s it from me, Helen Sullivan for now. My colleague Jessica Murray is taking over the blog. She will be bringing you rolling coverage of the coronavirus pandemic in what looks likely to be a particularly eventful 24 hours, even by the standards of this crisis.That’s it from me, Helen Sullivan for now. My colleague Jessica Murray is taking over the blog. She will be bringing you rolling coverage of the coronavirus pandemic in what looks likely to be a particularly eventful 24 hours, even by the standards of this crisis.
Here are the most important pieces of news from the last few hours:Here are the most important pieces of news from the last few hours:
Japan is expected to declare a state of emergency that may go into effect as early as Tuesday. Under a law revised in March to cover the coronavirus, the prime minister can declare a state of emergency if the disease poses a “grave danger” to lives and if its rapid spread could have a huge impact on the economy.Japan is expected to declare a state of emergency that may go into effect as early as Tuesday. Under a law revised in March to cover the coronavirus, the prime minister can declare a state of emergency if the disease poses a “grave danger” to lives and if its rapid spread could have a huge impact on the economy.
In airlines news, British Airways announced it would suspend direct flights between the UK and Japan and American Airlines Group Inc said late on Sunday it would suspend more flights in and out of New York City’s three main airports for about a month.In airlines news, British Airways announced it would suspend direct flights between the UK and Japan and American Airlines Group Inc said late on Sunday it would suspend more flights in and out of New York City’s three main airports for about a month.
Donald Trump said the US government had ordered 29m doses of hydroxychloroquine, a drug used to treat malaria for which testing for its use to treat coronavirus is still under way. The drug has potentially harmful side-effects. Personal protective gear is also being airlifted to US affected states, including millions of masks, gloves, and sterile gowns.Donald Trump said the US government had ordered 29m doses of hydroxychloroquine, a drug used to treat malaria for which testing for its use to treat coronavirus is still under way. The drug has potentially harmful side-effects. Personal protective gear is also being airlifted to US affected states, including millions of masks, gloves, and sterile gowns.
The United Nations’ biodiversity chief called for a global ban on wildlife markets – such as the one in Wuhan, China, believed to be the starting point of the coronavirus outbreak – to prevent future pandemics.The United Nations’ biodiversity chief called for a global ban on wildlife markets – such as the one in Wuhan, China, believed to be the starting point of the coronavirus outbreak – to prevent future pandemics.
UK prime minister Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital for tests after showing persistent symptoms of coronavirus 10 days after announcing that he had tested positive for the virus. The pound fell against the dollar in response to the news.UK prime minister Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital for tests after showing persistent symptoms of coronavirus 10 days after announcing that he had tested positive for the virus. The pound fell against the dollar in response to the news.
South Korea for the first time since 29 February reported fewer than 50 new coronavirus cases. For the last month, South Korea has been reporting around 100 new coronavirus cases per day.South Korea for the first time since 29 February reported fewer than 50 new coronavirus cases. For the last month, South Korea has been reporting around 100 new coronavirus cases per day.
Germany reported its fourth straight drop in daily cases. Germany’s confirmed coronavirus infections rose by 3,677 in the past 24 hours to 95,391 on Monday, the fourth straight drop in the daily rate of new cases, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases.Germany reported its fourth straight drop in daily cases. Germany’s confirmed coronavirus infections rose by 3,677 in the past 24 hours to 95,391 on Monday, the fourth straight drop in the daily rate of new cases, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases.
Scotland’s chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood resigned after being criticised for not following her own social distancing guidance by visiting her second home.Scotland’s chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood resigned after being criticised for not following her own social distancing guidance by visiting her second home.
Ireland’s premier Leo Varadkar re-registered as a medical practitioner and will work one shift a week during the coronavirus crisis.Ireland’s premier Leo Varadkar re-registered as a medical practitioner and will work one shift a week during the coronavirus crisis.
A tiger at New York City’s Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the coronavirus, in the first known case of Covid-19 in an animal in the US, a zoo spokesman told Reuters on Sunday. Six other tigers and lions are also believed to have been infected.A tiger at New York City’s Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the coronavirus, in the first known case of Covid-19 in an animal in the US, a zoo spokesman told Reuters on Sunday. Six other tigers and lions are also believed to have been infected.
Pakistan has quarantined 20,000 worshippers and is looking for tens of thousands of others who attended a religious event in Lahore in March. Authorities want to test or quarantine 100,000 people who were at the event held by the Tablighi Jamaat, an Islamic missionary movement.Pakistan has quarantined 20,000 worshippers and is looking for tens of thousands of others who attended a religious event in Lahore in March. Authorities want to test or quarantine 100,000 people who were at the event held by the Tablighi Jamaat, an Islamic missionary movement.
Daily death tolls slowed on Sunday in Italy, Spain and France. Italy registered 525 new coronavirus deaths on Sunday, the lowest daily rate since March 19. Spain recorded 674 deaths in the past 24 hours – the lowest daily death toll reported since March 26. In France, 357 people died from Covid-19 in hospitals, compared with 441 in the previous 24 hours.Daily death tolls slowed on Sunday in Italy, Spain and France. Italy registered 525 new coronavirus deaths on Sunday, the lowest daily rate since March 19. Spain recorded 674 deaths in the past 24 hours – the lowest daily death toll reported since March 26. In France, 357 people died from Covid-19 in hospitals, compared with 441 in the previous 24 hours.
‘All I think of is my brother’: UK refugee family reunions disrupted by Covid-19‘All I think of is my brother’: UK refugee family reunions disrupted by Covid-19
After seven months of waiting, Ahmed* had everything ready for his younger brother. Finally, 18-year-old Wahid was due to arrive from the Greek island of Samos under family reunion laws.After seven months of waiting, Ahmed* had everything ready for his younger brother. Finally, 18-year-old Wahid was due to arrive from the Greek island of Samos under family reunion laws.
But on 19 March, as Covid-19 took hold across Europe, the Greek authorities called to tell him the transfer had been cancelled because of the growing restrictions on flights. Greece had suspended direct flights to the UK but indirect routes are still available.But on 19 March, as Covid-19 took hold across Europe, the Greek authorities called to tell him the transfer had been cancelled because of the growing restrictions on flights. Greece had suspended direct flights to the UK but indirect routes are still available.
The UN refugee agency told the Guardian that most European countries have suspended transfers. According to charity Safe Passage, Greek authorities have stopped 52 family reunion transfers to the UK alone. The charity say they are concerned that the numbers of cancelled reunions could stretch into the hundreds.The UN refugee agency told the Guardian that most European countries have suspended transfers. According to charity Safe Passage, Greek authorities have stopped 52 family reunion transfers to the UK alone. The charity say they are concerned that the numbers of cancelled reunions could stretch into the hundreds.
UK house sales will collapse in 2020 as market goes into deep freeze, says studyUK house sales will collapse in 2020 as market goes into deep freeze, says study
House sales in the UK will collapse this year as the coronavirus pandemic puts the property market into deep freeze. But prices will fall by only 3% and will rebound next year, according to global consultancy Knight Frank.House sales in the UK will collapse this year as the coronavirus pandemic puts the property market into deep freeze. But prices will fall by only 3% and will rebound next year, according to global consultancy Knight Frank.
Coronavirus cases worldwide are climbing towards 1.3 million as deaths approach 70,000.Coronavirus cases worldwide are climbing towards 1.3 million as deaths approach 70,000.
There are 1,275,542 confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide and 69,498 people have lost their lives so far in the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University.There are 1,275,542 confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide and 69,498 people have lost their lives so far in the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Below are the 10 worst-affected countries:Below are the 10 worst-affected countries:
Here are a few of the UK front pages for Monday, 6 April 2020 following the news last night that the Prime Minister has been hospitalised and the Queen’s speech, only the fifth special televised broadcast, other than Christmas messages, of her long reign.Here are a few of the UK front pages for Monday, 6 April 2020 following the news last night that the Prime Minister has been hospitalised and the Queen’s speech, only the fifth special televised broadcast, other than Christmas messages, of her long reign.
Here is everything we know so far about UK prime minister Boris Johnson’s admission to hospital:
Here is my colleague Sarah Bosely with a bit more on what that might mean for the PM’s health.
“Given the increasing pressure on hospitals at the moment, it is unlikely he will have been admitted unless doctors have real concerns. Minor tests could be carried out in Downing Street,” she writes.
Monday briefing: Boris Johnson in hospital for ‘as long as needed’
Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital and will stay for treatment “as long as needed” after failing to shake off the coronavirus. The prime minister was diagnosed with the disease 10 days ago and had been continuing to coordinate the government’s response to the crisis while self-isolating in Downing Street.
But No 10 said on Sunday night that Johnson had been taken to an NHS hospital in London after days of persistent symptoms, including a fever. Stressing that he was undergoing tests as a “precautionary” measure, No 10 said he would remain in charge of the government.
However, Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary and first secretary of state, is expected to stand in for the prime minister while he is in hospital and will chair the government’s coronavirus meeting this morning. Our health editor writes that the hospitalisation suggests the PM’s case may have progressed to the risky second stage where the immune system overreacts to the virus and ends up attacking the body’s own organs.
Export expectations in Germany’s car sector have fallen to their lowest level since March 2009, when Europe’s largest economy was in the throes of the global financial crisis, Germany’s Ifo institute said on Monday. “The prospects for the German car sector have significantly worsened due to the coronavirus crisis,” Ifo said. It said business expectations in the sector for the coming months had dropped to -33.7 from -19.7 in February.
If you have questions, tips or news from where you live, you can find me on Twitter @helenrsullivan.
Russia defies calls to halt Victory Day parade rehearsals
Russia is holding rehearsals for its Victory Day parade, scheduled for 9 May despite the coronavirus crisis, as the Kremlin resists cancelling a patriotic holiday with major political significance.
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is supposed to host France’s Emmanuel Macron and other world leaders at a military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the second world war. The event is a significant historical landmark for Russia and a coveted photo opportunity to claim Putin’s re-emergence from political isolation in the west.
But with 12 million Muscovites confined to their apartments and a global pandemic ushering in a period of self-isolation, preparations for the parade have raised concerns in Russia.
Germany’s confirmed coronavirus infections rose by 3,677 in the past 24 hours to 95,391 on Monday, the fourth straight drop in the daily rate of new cases, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases. The number of new cases was lower than the 5,936 new infections reported on Sunday. The reported death toll rose by 92 to 1,434.
Thailand reported 51 new coronavirus cases and three more deaths on Monday, according to a spokesman for the government’s Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration.
That’s half as many cases as were reported the day before: on Sunday Thailand reported 102 new coronavirus cases.
Thirteen of the new cases were medical personnel who attended to infected patients or had activities with them, said the spokesman, Taweesin Wisanuyothin. More than half of the new cases were in Bangkok, he said. Thailand has confirmed 2,220 cases and 26 fatalities since the outbreak emerged in the country in January.
Calls to seal off ultra-Orthodox areas add to Israel’s virus tensions
Oliver Holmes and Quique Kierszenbaum report for the Guardian from Bethlehem.
It wasn’t a typical police operation. Two Israeli officers were to go undercover, although not posing as drug dealers or arms traffickers. For this particular assignment, they were to disguise themselves as ultra-Orthodox Jews.
Their mission on Friday was to bust an illegal gathering in a synagogue. People were praying together, a practice that is now against the law in the era of the coronavirus. Once the officers got inside to confirm the crowd, more units barged in and dispersed people.
Forces left the area, according to police, but: “An hour later, it was reported that people had returned again.” At that point, officers handed out fines amounting to nearly £4,000 (US$4,900).
The operation in the county’s north was one small part of a sometimes fruitless nationwide effort to impose Covid-19 restrictions on a deeply religious and often cut-off community that has been slow, or even opposed, to change their way of life.
Officials fear the result has been an explosion of cases in neighbourhoods populated with the minority, which makes up more than 12% of Israel’s nine million citizens.
Japan is expected to declare a state of emergency that may go into effect as early as Tuesday. Under a law revised in March to cover the coronavirus, the prime minister can declare a state of emergency if the disease poses a “grave danger” to lives and if its rapid spread could have a huge impact on the economy.
South Korea for the first time since 29 February reported fewer than 50 new coronavirus cases. For the last month, South Korea has been reporting around 100 new coronavirus cases per day.
Donald Trump said the US government had ordered 29m doses of hydroxychloroquine, a drug used to treat malaria for which testing for its use to treat coronavirus is still under way. The drug has potentially harmful side effects. Personal protective gear is also being airlifted to US affected states, including millions of masks, gloves, and sterile gowns.
The United Nations’ biodiversity chief called for a global ban on wildlife markets – such as the one in Wuhan, China, believed to be the starting point of the coronavirus outbreak – to prevent future pandemics.
UK prime minister Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital for tests after showing persistent symptoms of coronavirus 10 days after announcing that he had tested positive for the virus. The pound fell against the dollar in response to the news.
Scotland’s chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood resigned after being criticised for not following her own social distancing guidance by visiting her second home.
Ireland’s premier Leo Varadkar re-registered as a medical practitioner and will work one shift a week during the coronavirus crisis.
A tiger at New York City’s Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the coronavirus, in the first known case of Covid-19 in an animal in the US, a zoo spokesman told Reuters on Sunday. Six other tigers and lions are also believed to have been infected.
In airlines news, British Airways announced it would suspend direct flights between the UK and Japan and American Airlines Group Inc said late Sunday it would suspend more flights in and out of New York City’s three main airports for about a month.
Pakistan has quarantined 20,000 worshippers and is looking for tens of thousands of others who attended a religious event in Lahore in March. Authorities want to test or quarantine 100,000 people who were at the event held by the Tablighi Jamaat, an Islamic missionary movement.
Daily death tolls slowed on Sunday in Italy, Spain and France. Italy registered 525 new coronavirus deaths on Sunday, the lowest daily rate since March 19. Spain recorded 674 deaths in the past 24 hours – the lowest daily death toll reported since March 26. In France, 357 people died from Covid-19 in hospitals, compared with 441 in the previous 24 hours.
The Japanese government’s advisory panel on the new coronavirus outbreak will meet on Monday at 5am GMT (in roughly thirty minutes’ time) in preparation for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to declare a state of emergency, the Nikkei business daily reported.
The state of emergency may go into effect as early as Tuesday, the Yomiuri newspaper reported.
Under a law revised in March to cover the coronavirus, the prime minister can declare a state of emergency if the disease poses a “grave danger” to lives and if its rapid spread could have a huge impact on the economy. The virus has already increased Japan’s recession risk.
Tokyo reported 143 cases on Sunday – its highest one-day increase – bringing the city’s total cases to 1,003. There are 6,654 cases nationally.