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Coronavirus live news: Germany sees further drop in cases as Japan prepares for state of emergency Coronavirus live news: Germany sees further drop in cases as Japan prepares for state of emergency
(32 minutes later)
US faces ‘hardest and saddest week’; UK PM Boris Johnson in hospital; South Korea reports fewer than 50 new cases; Bronx Zoo tiger tests positiveUS faces ‘hardest and saddest week’; UK PM Boris Johnson in hospital; South Korea reports fewer than 50 new cases; Bronx Zoo tiger tests positive
Indonesia on Monday confirmed 218 new coronavirus cases, the biggest daily jump since the first cases were announced a month ago, taking the total number of infections to 2,491, a Health Ministry official said. The Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, has said the country is planning to let smaller shops reopen next week, with the aim of reopening all shops and malls from 1 May.
Achmad Yurianto said that 11 deaths had been recorded, taking the total to 209, while 192 people had recovered. From then onwards, hotels and restaurants will open step-by-step from mid-May at the earliest, but a decision on that will come in late April. No events will be held until at least late June.
Meanwhile the Philippines’ Health Ministry reported 11 additional deaths and 414 new infections on Monday from the coronavirus outbreak. Kurz told a news conference that since Austria had acted earlier than most countries, that gave it the ability to reopen shops sooner as well.
If all goes well, it will reopen non-essential shops of less than 400 square metres and DIY shops on April 14, followed by all shops and malls on May 1, he said.
Meanwhile general lockdown measures will be extended until the end of April, and schools will remain closed until at least mid-May.
Kurz also announced that from Monday, face masks will be compulsory on public transport.
Indonesia on Monday confirmed 218 new coronavirus cases, the biggest daily jump since the first cases were announced a month ago, taking the total number of infections to 2,491, a health ministry official said.
Achmad Yurianto said 11 deaths had been recorded, taking the total to 209, while 192 people had recovered.
Meanwhile, the Philippines’ health ministry reported 11 additional deaths and 414 new infections on Monday from the coronavirus outbreak.
Total deaths in the Philippines have reached 163, while cases rose to 3,660, with 73 patients recovered.Total deaths in the Philippines have reached 163, while cases rose to 3,660, with 73 patients recovered.
A veterinary expert has said that while it is surprising that a Bronx zoo tiger has contracted Covid-19, cat owners shouldn’t be alarmed.A veterinary expert has said that while it is surprising that a Bronx zoo tiger has contracted Covid-19, cat owners shouldn’t be alarmed.
Dr Sarah Caddy, Veterinarian and Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, said that initial research has shown domestic cats can be infected with coronavirus if “large doses of virus are administered intranasally”. Dr Sarah Caddy, veterinarian and clinical research fellow at the University of Cambridge, said initial research has shown domestic cats can be infected with coronavirus if “large doses of virus are administered intranasally”.
“Therefore the report of a tiger with the same virus is not wholly unexpected,” she added.“Therefore the report of a tiger with the same virus is not wholly unexpected,” she added.
She added that it was also interesting the tiger exhibited symptoms similar to what Covid-19 triggers in humans, such as a dry cough, and that while scientific proof is lacking, the chance this is just a coincidence is low. She added it was also interesting the tiger exhibited symptoms similar to what Covid-19 triggers in humans, such as a dry cough, and that while scientific proof is lacking, the chance this is just a coincidence is low.
Almost half a million Chinese businesses shuttered permanently in the first quarter of this year, South China Morning Post has reported.Almost half a million Chinese businesses shuttered permanently in the first quarter of this year, South China Morning Post has reported.
Citing data technology service company Tianyacha, the report said almost half the 460,000 companies were in distribution or retail, and included 26,000 in the export sector, as well as businesses whose operating licenses had been revoked.Citing data technology service company Tianyacha, the report said almost half the 460,000 companies were in distribution or retail, and included 26,000 in the export sector, as well as businesses whose operating licenses had been revoked.
It said more than half the closed businesses had been operating for less than three years.It said more than half the closed businesses had been operating for less than three years.
The number of new firms being set up in the same time period was 29% lower than 2019.The number of new firms being set up in the same time period was 29% lower than 2019.
Economists are predicting dramatic downturns for China off the back of deeper than predicted economic damage.Economists are predicting dramatic downturns for China off the back of deeper than predicted economic damage.
Even as China reports a recovery from its own outbreak, the pandemic has affected trading partners, shipping and supply chains.Even as China reports a recovery from its own outbreak, the pandemic has affected trading partners, shipping and supply chains.
European shares rebounded on Monday as a slowdown in coronavirus deaths raised hopes that nationwide lockdowns were starting to show results.European shares rebounded on Monday as a slowdown in coronavirus deaths raised hopes that nationwide lockdowns were starting to show results.
Italy reported its lowest death toll in two weeks, Spanish fatalities dropped for the third straight day and France recorded its fewest deaths in a week.Italy reported its lowest death toll in two weeks, Spanish fatalities dropped for the third straight day and France recorded its fewest deaths in a week.
“The curve has started its descent and the number of deaths has started to drop,” said top Italian health official Silvio Brusaferro, adding the next phase could be a gradual easing of a strict month-long lockdown.“The curve has started its descent and the number of deaths has started to drop,” said top Italian health official Silvio Brusaferro, adding the next phase could be a gradual easing of a strict month-long lockdown.
A tweaking of tax rules to help tax exiles during the coronavirus pandemic has triggered a political row in Ireland, partially souring the mood of national solidarity.A tweaking of tax rules to help tax exiles during the coronavirus pandemic has triggered a political row in Ireland, partially souring the mood of national solidarity.
Tax exiles who are usually limited to spending 183 days in Ireland, can stay longer this year without incurring penalties if they can prove they were forced to stay because of the crisis.Tax exiles who are usually limited to spending 183 days in Ireland, can stay longer this year without incurring penalties if they can prove they were forced to stay because of the crisis.
“Where a departure from the state is prevented due to Covid-19, Revenue will consider this ‘force majeure’ for the purpose of establishing an individual’s tax residence position,” said revenue authority guidelines.“Where a departure from the state is prevented due to Covid-19, Revenue will consider this ‘force majeure’ for the purpose of establishing an individual’s tax residence position,” said revenue authority guidelines.
The decision, first reported by the Sunday Times, prompted criticism from left-wing parties who said doing a favour for very wealthy individuals flew against the spirit of collective sacrifice and social solidarity.The decision, first reported by the Sunday Times, prompted criticism from left-wing parties who said doing a favour for very wealthy individuals flew against the spirit of collective sacrifice and social solidarity.
“Baffling,” said Catherine Murphy, co-leader of the Social Democrats. Duncan Smith, a Labour TD, said he would ask the finance minister to reverse the decision.“Baffling,” said Catherine Murphy, co-leader of the Social Democrats. Duncan Smith, a Labour TD, said he would ask the finance minister to reverse the decision.
Russia has recorded its largest single-day jump in new coronavirus cases. Officials said they had diagnosed 954 new cases of the disease, a nearly 18% increase from the previous day’s tally.Russia has recorded its largest single-day jump in new coronavirus cases. Officials said they had diagnosed 954 new cases of the disease, a nearly 18% increase from the previous day’s tally.
Russia now has a total 6,343 confirmed cases of covid-19 and has recorded 47 deaths from the virus.Russia now has a total 6,343 confirmed cases of covid-19 and has recorded 47 deaths from the virus.
The numbers follow three days of falling rates for confirmed coronavirus cases. Moscow is the epicentre of the disease in Russia, and 591 of Monday’s new cases were reported in Moscow.The numbers follow three days of falling rates for confirmed coronavirus cases. Moscow is the epicentre of the disease in Russia, and 591 of Monday’s new cases were reported in Moscow.
Russia has closed its borders and Moscow is entering its second week of a mandatory lockdown, with the city’s 12 million inhabitants told to stay in their apartments or homes unless they are seeking medical care, going to the store, the pharmacy, or walking a pet.Russia has closed its borders and Moscow is entering its second week of a mandatory lockdown, with the city’s 12 million inhabitants told to stay in their apartments or homes unless they are seeking medical care, going to the store, the pharmacy, or walking a pet.
Vladimir Putin last week extended a de facto national holiday until April 30, asking Russians to remain in their homes.Vladimir Putin last week extended a de facto national holiday until April 30, asking Russians to remain in their homes.
Belgium’s prime minister Sophie Wilmès has warned that “a long process of reconstruction” awaits the country once the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is over.Belgium’s prime minister Sophie Wilmès has warned that “a long process of reconstruction” awaits the country once the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is over.
In a video address to the nation released on Sunday evening, Belgium’s prime minister said the process of exiting the lockdown would be gradual.In a video address to the nation released on Sunday evening, Belgium’s prime minister said the process of exiting the lockdown would be gradual.
She also repeated that the current restrictions on movement, which are due to end on 19 April, could be extended until 3 May. Urging people to “hold on” and respect social distancing rules, she warned of “very testing” times in the weeks to come.She also repeated that the current restrictions on movement, which are due to end on 19 April, could be extended until 3 May. Urging people to “hold on” and respect social distancing rules, she warned of “very testing” times in the weeks to come.
The eight-minute speech was released amid some hopeful signs the transmission of the virus is slowing.The eight-minute speech was released amid some hopeful signs the transmission of the virus is slowing.
For the first time since the start of the epidemic, more Coronavirus patients left hospital (504 people) than arrived (499), according to the latest data released on Sunday. The number of hospital admissions also appears to be reaching a plateau, with Sunday marking the fourth day of successive decline and a downward trend since peak admissions of 629 one week earlier.For the first time since the start of the epidemic, more Coronavirus patients left hospital (504 people) than arrived (499), according to the latest data released on Sunday. The number of hospital admissions also appears to be reaching a plateau, with Sunday marking the fourth day of successive decline and a downward trend since peak admissions of 629 one week earlier.
Since the start of the epidemic, 19,691 cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed in Belgium and 1,447 people have died.Since the start of the epidemic, 19,691 cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed in Belgium and 1,447 people have died.
The prime minister also hinted at how the virus might change societyThe prime minister also hinted at how the virus might change society
She also addressed criticism of the government’s record in ensuring supplies of personal protective equipment for medical staff, following a spate of criticism from senior doctors that hospitals lack sufficient face masks and other kit.She also addressed criticism of the government’s record in ensuring supplies of personal protective equipment for medical staff, following a spate of criticism from senior doctors that hospitals lack sufficient face masks and other kit.
A powerful tropical cyclone made landfall on the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on Monday, witnesses said, levelling buildings in a country already in a state of emergency due to concerns about the coronavirus.A powerful tropical cyclone made landfall on the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on Monday, witnesses said, levelling buildings in a country already in a state of emergency due to concerns about the coronavirus.
Tropical Cyclone Harold, which claimed 27 lives when it swept through the Solomon Islands last week, strengthened to a scale-topping category five superstorm overnight, Vanuatu’s meteorology service said.Tropical Cyclone Harold, which claimed 27 lives when it swept through the Solomon Islands last week, strengthened to a scale-topping category five superstorm overnight, Vanuatu’s meteorology service said.
The cyclone approached Sanma province, an island north of the capital Port Vila, with winds of up to 215 km (133 miles) per hour. There were no immediate reports of injuries.The cyclone approached Sanma province, an island north of the capital Port Vila, with winds of up to 215 km (133 miles) per hour. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
“There is lots of damage in Sanma, they lost lots of buildings,” said Jacqueline de Gaillande, CEO of Vanuatu Red Cross, from the capital Port Vila.“There is lots of damage in Sanma, they lost lots of buildings,” said Jacqueline de Gaillande, CEO of Vanuatu Red Cross, from the capital Port Vila.
“We don’t know if we can provide any supports to the island because we are not allowed to travel inter-island and we are waiting for the government to make that decision,” added de Gaillande, referring to travel restrictions associated with the coronavirus.“We don’t know if we can provide any supports to the island because we are not allowed to travel inter-island and we are waiting for the government to make that decision,” added de Gaillande, referring to travel restrictions associated with the coronavirus.
Vanuatu has reported no cases of the coronavirus but has nonetheless declared a state of emergency, banned most international and domestic air travel and limited public gatherings to five people as it tries to prevent a local outbreak.Vanuatu has reported no cases of the coronavirus but has nonetheless declared a state of emergency, banned most international and domestic air travel and limited public gatherings to five people as it tries to prevent a local outbreak.
A day earlier, Solomon Islands police said they retrieved five bodies in their search for 27 people who were swept off a ferry by the cyclone as it passed over the country.A day earlier, Solomon Islands police said they retrieved five bodies in their search for 27 people who were swept off a ferry by the cyclone as it passed over the country.
Singapore has put nearly 20,000 migrant workers under quarantine for two weeks after a growing number of coronavirus infections were detected in their dormitories.Singapore has put nearly 20,000 migrant workers under quarantine for two weeks after a growing number of coronavirus infections were detected in their dormitories.
Authorities reported 120 new virus cases on Sunday, the highest jump for the country in a single day, with many linked to foreign workers’ dorms.Authorities reported 120 new virus cases on Sunday, the highest jump for the country in a single day, with many linked to foreign workers’ dorms.
Many workers from less affluent countries, particularly parts of South Asia, come to Singapore to work in construction and are typically housed in large dormitory complexes.Many workers from less affluent countries, particularly parts of South Asia, come to Singapore to work in construction and are typically housed in large dormitory complexes.
Meanwhile Asian markets rose as some of the world’s worst-hit countries reported falling death rates, providing some much-needed hope in the battle against the coronavirus, though oil prices were rocked after a meeting of top producers was delayed.Meanwhile Asian markets rose as some of the world’s worst-hit countries reported falling death rates, providing some much-needed hope in the battle against the coronavirus, though oil prices were rocked after a meeting of top producers was delayed.
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.
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.
Here’s the evolution of hospital admissions over the last seven days, plus intensive care (IC) admissions.
05/04: +748 (+140 in IC)
04/04: +711 (+176 in IC)
03/04: +1,186 (+263 in IC)
02/04: +1,607 (+382 in IC)
01/04: +1,882 (+452 in IC)
31/03: +1,749 (+458 in IC)
30/03: +1,654 (+475 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.
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 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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
‘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.
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.
UK 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.
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.
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.