This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/apr/11/coronavirus-live-news-trumps-biggest-decision-curbs-who-on

The article has changed 43 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 15 Version 16
Coronavirus live news: US cases pass 500,000 as Trump faces 'biggest decision' on curbs Coronavirus live news: US cases pass 500,000 as death toll in Spain falls for third day
(32 minutes later)
US president says he is ‘not determined’ to open up the country in May; global death toll passes 100,000 Global death toll passes 100,000, while IHME revises down forecast for number of deaths in the UK
France has decided to allow people outside to adopt a pet from animal shelters, despite strict home confinement measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The interior ministry announced Saturday that “tolerance will be granted” for the mercy missions from Thursday after a call from the Animal Protection Society (SPA).
The society shut its 62 centres to the public in line with official decrees to limit contact three weeks ago.
But on Monday the SPA urged a re-think and warned of overcrowding with thousands of animals waiting for a new home.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said it was looking into reports of some Covid-19 patients testing positive again after initially testing negative for the disease while being considered for discharge. South Korean officials on Friday reported 91 patients thought to be clear of the coronavirus had tested positive again. Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told a briefing that the virus may have been “reactivated” rather than the patients being re-infected. The Geneva-based WHO, asked about the report from Seoul, told Reuters in a brief statement: “We are aware of these reports of individuals who have tested negative for Covid-19 using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing and then after some days testing positive again. “We are closely liaising with our clinical experts and working hard to get more information on those individual cases. It is important to make sure that when samples are collected for testing on suspected patients, procedures are followed properly.”
In the UK, the health secretary Matt Hancock has said that 19 NHS workers have died during the coronavirus outbreak.
Rehana Azam, GMB National Secretary for Public Services, said:
The latest figures from Spain’s health ministry show that 510 people died between Friday and Saturday, the lowest single-day death toll since 23 March. To date, the country has recorded a total of 161,852 cases of the coronavirus and 16,353 deaths. The growth rate in new cases stands at around 3% - down from a daily average of 12% at the end of March and 20% in mid-March.The statistics suggest the lockdown measures are continuing to pay off and that the country is in the so-called “stabilisation phase”.Spain’s lockdown, which has been in place since a state of emergency was declared on 14 March, was once again extended this week and will remain in effect until at least 26 April. The prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, says another extension seems inevitable. “I’m sure that in two weeks’ time I’ll have to extend the state of emergency again,” he told parliament on Thursday.Despite the continuing general lockdown, from Monday or Tuesday next week, some non-essential workers will be allowed to begin returning to jobs in factories and construction sites and face masks will be handed out at metro and train stations.The ban on non-essential workers travelling to do their jobs was a two-week measure intended to ease pressure on the country’s overstretched intensive care units, and it elapsed on 9 April.
Spain’s health minister, Salvador Illa, has stressed that the nationwide lockdown remains in place and reminded people that the country would be “in a phase of very tough measures” until further notice.“Businesses that have been authorised to restart their activities may do so [from next week],” he said on Friday. “It means that Spaniards will be allowed on to the streets to go to work and to get basic items such as food and medicine, but for no other reasons.”According to media reports, at least one member of the government’s expert panel on the coronavirus has questioned the decision, saying he believes it would have been “sensible” to keep the ban on all non-essential work in force for longer.
Spain’s daily coronavirus death toll fell for the third day in a row on Saturday after 510 fatalities were reported in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said in a statement, marking the smallest overnight increase since 23 March. Total fatalities from the virus rose to 16,353, from 15,843 on Friday, the ministry said, while the number of confirmed cases climbed to 161,852 from 157,022.
Mali’s president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, has announced a coronavirus aid package for poor people and hard-hit firms, as cases continue to rise in the war-torn west African state.
The president warned on Friday that the country’s already war-battered economy was facing a shock, and declared a package worth some 500bn CFA francs ($832m).
“The government of Mali ... is willing to make the greatest sacrifice to lessen the negative impact of the pandemic on our economy and society,” Keita said in a televised address.
Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world and has been struggling since 2012 to quell a jihadist insurgency that has killed thousands of soldiers and civilians.
The conflict – which has left swathes of the country outside state control – has aggravated fears that Mali is ill prepared to tackle a large coronavirus outbreak.
Africans in southern China’s largest city say they have become targets of suspicion and subjected to forced evictions, arbitrary quarantines and mass coronavirus testing as the country steps up its fight against imported infections.
China says it has largely curbed its Covid-19 outbreak but a recent cluster of cases linked to the Nigerian community in Guangzhou sparked the alleged discrimination by locals and virus prevention officials.
Local authorities in the industrial centre of 15 million said at least eight people diagnosed with the illness had spent time in the city’s Yuexiu district, known as “Little Africa”.
Five were Nigerian nationals who faced widespread anger after reports surfaced that they had broken a mandatory quarantine and been to eight restaurants and other public places instead of staying home.
As a result, nearly 2,000 people they came into contact with had to be tested for Covid-19 or undergo quarantine, state media said.
Guangzhou had confirmed 114 imported coronavirus cases as of Thursday - 16 of which were Africans. The rest were returning Chinese nationals.
It has led to Africans becoming targets of suspicion, distrust and racism in China.
Several Africans told AFP they had been forcibly evicted from their homes and turned away by hotels.
“I’ve been sleeping under the bridge for four days with no food to eat... I cannot buy food anywhere, no shops or restaurants will serve me,” said Tony Mathias, an exchange student from Uganda who was forced from his apartment on Monday.
“We’re like beggars on the street,” the 24-year-old said.
Police in Guangzhou declined to comment when contacted by AFP.
In the UK, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has posted revised – and significantly lower – forecasts for the number of deaths in the UK related to Covid-19. These new forecasts are the result of more data, with the numbers moving from 66,000 cumulative deaths to 37,000. The revised estimates fall within the range of the previous forecasts.In the UK, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has posted revised – and significantly lower – forecasts for the number of deaths in the UK related to Covid-19. These new forecasts are the result of more data, with the numbers moving from 66,000 cumulative deaths to 37,000. The revised estimates fall within the range of the previous forecasts.
IHME said it saw fluctuations in its earlier estimates of US deaths, which have been revised to reflect increasing sources of data and the effects of physical distancing measures.IHME said it saw fluctuations in its earlier estimates of US deaths, which have been revised to reflect increasing sources of data and the effects of physical distancing measures.
The new forecasts included four additional days’ worth of reported daily deaths for the UK (6, 7, 8, 9 April). The slower increase in daily deaths reported has led IHME to project a peak of 1,674 daily deaths (estimate range of 651 to 4,143) and 37,494 cumulative deaths (estimate range of 26,149 to 62,519) through the first wave of the pandemic.The new forecasts included four additional days’ worth of reported daily deaths for the UK (6, 7, 8, 9 April). The slower increase in daily deaths reported has led IHME to project a peak of 1,674 daily deaths (estimate range of 651 to 4,143) and 37,494 cumulative deaths (estimate range of 26,149 to 62,519) through the first wave of the pandemic.
The Philippines reported 26 new coronavirus-related deaths on Saturday, taking the total to 247. It also confirmed 233 new infections bringing its total to 4,428. Seventeen more patients have recovered, the health ministry said in a bulletin, bringing the number of recoveries to 157.The Philippines reported 26 new coronavirus-related deaths on Saturday, taking the total to 247. It also confirmed 233 new infections bringing its total to 4,428. Seventeen more patients have recovered, the health ministry said in a bulletin, bringing the number of recoveries to 157.
Elsewhere, Malaysian health authorities reported 184 additional confirmed cases on Saturday, raising the cumulative tally to 4,530, the highest number for any country in southeast Asia.Elsewhere, Malaysian health authorities reported 184 additional confirmed cases on Saturday, raising the cumulative tally to 4,530, the highest number for any country in southeast Asia.
The latest data includes three new deaths, raising the total fatalities from the outbreak to 73. The ministry said 44% of all confirmed cases had recovered.The latest data includes three new deaths, raising the total fatalities from the outbreak to 73. The ministry said 44% of all confirmed cases had recovered.
An interesting article today, asking are state responses to the virus shifting the balance of power between China and the west?An interesting article today, asking are state responses to the virus shifting the balance of power between China and the west?
World-renowned British primatologist Jane Goodall says the coronavirus pandemic was caused by humanity’s disregard for nature and disrespect for animals.World-renowned British primatologist Jane Goodall says the coronavirus pandemic was caused by humanity’s disregard for nature and disrespect for animals.
Goodall, who is best known for trailblazing research in Africa that revealed the true nature of chimpanzees, pleaded for the world to learn from past mistakes to prevent future disasters.Goodall, who is best known for trailblazing research in Africa that revealed the true nature of chimpanzees, pleaded for the world to learn from past mistakes to prevent future disasters.
During a conference call ahead of the release of the new National Geographic documentary Jane Goodall: The Hope, the 82-year-old said everyone can make a difference:During a conference call ahead of the release of the new National Geographic documentary Jane Goodall: The Hope, the 82-year-old said everyone can make a difference:
Turkey hospital sees hope as 93-year-old patient dischargedTurkey hospital sees hope as 93-year-old patient discharged
Cheered by her doctors, Alye Gunduz was discharged from an Istanbul hospital after recovering from the coronavirus following 10 days of treatment.Cheered by her doctors, Alye Gunduz was discharged from an Istanbul hospital after recovering from the coronavirus following 10 days of treatment.
Her recovery from the disease offered some hope to health workers at Istanbul’s Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty hospital as they battle the outbreak, which risks hitting Turkey hard.Her recovery from the disease offered some hope to health workers at Istanbul’s Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty hospital as they battle the outbreak, which risks hitting Turkey hard.
“It is promising because patients at this age and with chronic diseases are most of the time unable to recover because they are at highest risk,” chief physician Zekayi Kutlubay told AFP.“It is promising because patients at this age and with chronic diseases are most of the time unable to recover because they are at highest risk,” chief physician Zekayi Kutlubay told AFP.
“A 93-year-old woman walking out of intensive care safe and sound is inspiring for us as well as for other coronavirus patients at her age.”“A 93-year-old woman walking out of intensive care safe and sound is inspiring for us as well as for other coronavirus patients at her age.”
South Korea announced plans on Saturday to strap tracking wristbands on people who defy quarantine orders, while Christians across the globe were urged to stay home over the Easter weekend as the coronavirus death toll passed 100,000. South Korean officials said stricter controls were required because some of the 57,000 people who are under orders to stay home have slipped out by leaving behind smartphones with tracking apps. Plans for broader use of wristbands were scaled back after objections by human rights and legal activists. Meanwhile, US health authorities reported more outbreaks in New York City and the surrounding region, an area with some 20 million people that accounts for more than half of the 500,000 American cases. Other hot spots are in Detroit, Louisiana and the capital, Washington. Worldwide, confirmed infections rose to 1.7 million, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. In China, where the pandemic began in December, the government reported three deaths and 46 additional cases in the 24 hours to midnight on Friday. The number of new daily cases has declined dramatically, allowing the ruling Communist Party to reopen factories and stores.China has reported 3,339 deaths and 81,953 confirmed infections, though critics say the real totals might be higher.South Korea announced plans on Saturday to strap tracking wristbands on people who defy quarantine orders, while Christians across the globe were urged to stay home over the Easter weekend as the coronavirus death toll passed 100,000. South Korean officials said stricter controls were required because some of the 57,000 people who are under orders to stay home have slipped out by leaving behind smartphones with tracking apps. Plans for broader use of wristbands were scaled back after objections by human rights and legal activists. Meanwhile, US health authorities reported more outbreaks in New York City and the surrounding region, an area with some 20 million people that accounts for more than half of the 500,000 American cases. Other hot spots are in Detroit, Louisiana and the capital, Washington. Worldwide, confirmed infections rose to 1.7 million, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. In China, where the pandemic began in December, the government reported three deaths and 46 additional cases in the 24 hours to midnight on Friday. The number of new daily cases has declined dramatically, allowing the ruling Communist Party to reopen factories and stores.China has reported 3,339 deaths and 81,953 confirmed infections, though critics say the real totals might be higher.
A German science writer has expressed disbelief that despite great wealth and technological capabilities, the US has “sleepwalked” into the coronavirus disaster.A German science writer has expressed disbelief that despite great wealth and technological capabilities, the US has “sleepwalked” into the coronavirus disaster.
Kai Kupferschmidt said: “No matter how long I live, I don’t think I will ever get over how the US, with all its wealth and technological capability and academic prowess, sleepwalked into the disaster that is unfolding.”His comment came as the United States passed 100,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, the illness caused by the virus, and was facing a critical lack of ventilators, face masks and testing. Now it is more than 500,000.Kai Kupferschmidt said: “No matter how long I live, I don’t think I will ever get over how the US, with all its wealth and technological capability and academic prowess, sleepwalked into the disaster that is unfolding.”His comment came as the United States passed 100,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, the illness caused by the virus, and was facing a critical lack of ventilators, face masks and testing. Now it is more than 500,000.
The global coronavirus death toll topped 100,000 as Easter weekend celebrations around the world kicked off in near-empty churches, with billions of people stuck indoors in an effort to halt the pandemic.The global coronavirus death toll topped 100,000 as Easter weekend celebrations around the world kicked off in near-empty churches, with billions of people stuck indoors in an effort to halt the pandemic.
Extraordinary measures from New York to Naples to New Delhi have seen businesses and schools closed, and the IMF has warned that the world now faces the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.Extraordinary measures from New York to Naples to New Delhi have seen businesses and schools closed, and the IMF has warned that the world now faces the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.
More than 102,000 people have died of Covid-19 with 1.7 million infections detected globally, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker, with nearly 70% of the fatalities in Europe.More than 102,000 people have died of Covid-19 with 1.7 million infections detected globally, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker, with nearly 70% of the fatalities in Europe.
The United States, now the centre of the pandemic, became the first country to record more than 2,000 virus deaths in one day and is closing in on Italy’s 18,849 fatalities - currently the highest national figure.The United States, now the centre of the pandemic, became the first country to record more than 2,000 virus deaths in one day and is closing in on Italy’s 18,849 fatalities - currently the highest national figure.
With more than half a million reported infections, the United States already has more coronavirus cases than anywhere else in the world.With more than half a million reported infections, the United States already has more coronavirus cases than anywhere else in the world.
Thanks to everyone emailing in today, great to hear what is happening where you are and get any news tips. Also – for those asking about my cat. Here is a photo of the overlord himself, who watches me as I blog. A little joy during a strange time.Thanks to everyone emailing in today, great to hear what is happening where you are and get any news tips. Also – for those asking about my cat. Here is a photo of the overlord himself, who watches me as I blog. A little joy during a strange time.
As ever please continue to get in touch ...As ever please continue to get in touch ...
Twitter: @sloumarshInstagram: sarah_marsh_journalistEmail: sarah.marsh@theguardian.comTwitter: @sloumarshInstagram: sarah_marsh_journalistEmail: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com
Indonesia confirmed 330 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, taking its tally to 3,842, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said. It also confirmed 21 virus-related deaths, taking the total to 327, Yurianto told a televised news conference.Indonesia confirmed 330 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, taking its tally to 3,842, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said. It also confirmed 21 virus-related deaths, taking the total to 327, Yurianto told a televised news conference.
In the UK, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was “insulting” to suggest health careworkers were “wasting” personal protective equipment. His comments come after the health secretary, Matt Hancock, reminded NHS workers not to “overuse” PPE and to follow the guidelines for its correct use. Starmer tweeted: “It is quite frankly insulting to imply frontline staff are wasting PPE. “There are horrific stories of NHS staff and care workers not having the equipment they need to keep them safe.In the UK, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was “insulting” to suggest health careworkers were “wasting” personal protective equipment. His comments come after the health secretary, Matt Hancock, reminded NHS workers not to “overuse” PPE and to follow the guidelines for its correct use. Starmer tweeted: “It is quite frankly insulting to imply frontline staff are wasting PPE. “There are horrific stories of NHS staff and care workers not having the equipment they need to keep them safe.
“The government must act to ensure supplies are delivered.”“The government must act to ensure supplies are delivered.”