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Coronavirus live news: Spain in ‘stabilisation phase’ but US sees 2,000 deaths in a day Coronavirus live news: Spain in ‘stabilisation phase’ but US sees 2,000 deaths in a day
(32 minutes later)
India extends lockdown, while IHME revises down forecast for number of deaths in the UKIndia extends lockdown, while IHME revises down forecast for number of deaths in the UK
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The Spanish government has defended its decision to allow some non-essential workers to return to their jobs in factories and construction sites this coming week despite warnings that any relaxation of confinement measures could lead to a rise in contagion.The World Health Organization has said there could be a “deadly resurgence” of the coronavirus if countermeasures are lifted too soon, while one of the Spanish government’s own experts has said he thought it would have been “sensible” to keep non-essential workers at home for longer.Speaking on Saturday afternoon, the country’s health minister, Salvador Illa, said Spain remained in strict lockdown and that people were only allowed out to go to work or to buy food or medicines. “We still have very, very drastic restrictions in place,” he added.Illa said that the ban on non-essential workers leaving their homes to work had only ever been a temporary measure intended to reduce the pressure on Spain’s overstretched intensive care units.The minister insisted that all decisions were “taken on the basis of consensus” and said the government followed the recommendations of experts.Illa also said the current lockdown could go on for a few more weeks at least. “As the prime minister has already said, it’s very probable that these measures will be in force beyond 26 April,” he said. “Spain is not de-escalating; we remain in lockdown.”He said the government was following the disease’s movement on a daily basis and adapting its response accordingly. “We are maintaining the current measures - and haven’t ruled anything out,” he said.“The information we have at the moment confirms a slowing down of the disease and the growth in new cases is much lower than it was last week, or two weeks ago, or a month ago. “But today we still have 4,380 new cases and that means we need to stay in lockdown. We know this is a big sacrifice for everyone, but it’s one that has to be made. If the epidemic carries on going in the same direction, we may be able to alter the response, but it will always be done prudently, cautiously, and on the basis of the scientific evidence we have.”
The Spanish government has advised people to maintain careful social distancing as some of those who cannot work from home begin to resume their jobs. It has also said face-masks will be handed out at metro and rail stations.
In Egypt, police used tear gas to disperse a group of villagers who tried to stop the burial of a physician who died from the Covid-19. The villagers feared that the burial would spread contagion.
Residents of the village of Shubra el-Bahou in the Nile Delta blocked the road to the cemetery to prevent the physician’s burial, according to Egyptian officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.The physician died at a quarantined hospital in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia and her body was being transferred to her husband’s village for burial. The officials say police fired tear gas after the villagers halted the ambulance carrying the body. There were no reports of any serious injuries.Ahmed el-Sayed, a village resident, said the police intervened after security and health officials failed to persuade the villagers to open the road. Egypt has reported 135 fatalities among around 1,800 confirmed cases.
Iran has started reopening government offices after a brief nationwide lockdown to help contain the worst coronavirus outbreak which has killed more than 4,300 people in the country.Authorities had ordered most government agencies and all non-essential businesses to remain closed for a week after the Nowruz holiday ended on Apr. 4.Government offices outside Iran’s capital, Tehran, reopened Saturday with a third of all employees working from home, state media reported. Women who have young children were given priority in deciding who works remotely. Businesses in Tehran will be allowed to reopen next Saturday, provided they register with authorities and follow guidelines on social distancing set out by the Health Ministry. The Health Ministry meanwhile reported another 125 deaths, bringing the overall toll to 4,357. Iran has reported more than 70,000 confirmed cases, and authorities say more than 40,000 have recovered.For weeks, Iran declined to impose the kind of wide-scale lockdowns adopted by other Middle Eastern countries, even as the number of confirmed cases and fatalities steadily climbed.
Authorities have defended their response, saying they have to consider the economic impact of any quarantine measures since the country is under severe US sanctions. The US has offered humanitarian aid to help Iran combat the outbreak, but Iran’s leaders have rejected it, instead demanding that the sanctions be lifted.
European countries are trying to keep people from traveling as the weather heats up for Easter.In Asia, South Korea announced plans to strap tracking wristbands on people who defy quarantine orders. The Japanese government appealed to the public nationwide to avoid bars, clubs and restaurants, broadening a measure announced earlier for seven urban areas, including Tokyo.In Europe, Italian authorities stepped up checks, particularly around the northern Lombardy region, which has borne the brunt of the Covid-19 outbreak. Roadblocks were set up on main thoroughfares in and out of Milan and along highway exits to discourage people from going on holiday trips.“Don’t do silly things,” said Domenico Arcuri, Italy’s special commissioner for the virus emergency. Don’t go out, continue to behave responsibly as you have done until today, use your head and your sense of responsibility.” He added: “The virus has not been defeated, but we are on the right path. We see the indicators but not the end of the tunnel. In fact, the end of the tunnel is still far away.”In Spain, which recorded its smallest day-to-day increase in deaths in nearly three weeks, of 510, police set up thousands of roadblocks around the country.In Britain, police were urged to keep a close watch on gatherings in parks and at the seaside on what was set to be the hottest day of the year. Police seized a motorcycle from a rider making a non-essential journey in central England.
The New York City mayor, Bill de Blasio, said on Saturday public schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year as the city battles the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. “Having to tell you that we cannot bring our schools back for the remainder of this school year is painful, but I can also tell you it is the right thing to do,” he told a news conference. De Blasio had ordered public schools shut beginning March 16 to curb the spread of the disease, with an initial goal of reopening by 20 April. But the mayor said it soon became clear that date goal was unrealistic as the city emerged as a major US coronavirus hotspot.
Singapore’s health ministry has confirmed 191 new coronavirus cases, taking the total infections to 2,299.
Elsewhere, New York city mayor Bill De Blasio said public schools would remain closed for the remainder of the year.
The Chinese customs agency has announced it will be doing quality control on certain medical items for export, including ventilators, hospital gowns and N95 respirators.The Chinese customs agency has announced it will be doing quality control on certain medical items for export, including ventilators, hospital gowns and N95 respirators.
The new policy follows complaints from some countries over the quality of the medical equipment that China has been sending out. It was announced by China’s General Administration of Customs on Friday.The new policy follows complaints from some countries over the quality of the medical equipment that China has been sending out. It was announced by China’s General Administration of Customs on Friday.
Up until now, the agency has been solely responsible for checking numbers, intellectual property issues, and documents. From now on, they will also check the quality of consignments.Up until now, the agency has been solely responsible for checking numbers, intellectual property issues, and documents. From now on, they will also check the quality of consignments.
There were immediate delays to exports, according to the New York Times, as manufacturers tried to understand how to comply.There were immediate delays to exports, according to the New York Times, as manufacturers tried to understand how to comply.
In Australia earlier this month, border forces began intercepting deliveries of some faulty Chinese equipment. Meanwhile, authorities in Spain, Turkey and the Netherlands said that some of the Chinese equipment they were receiving was below standard or defective.In Australia earlier this month, border forces began intercepting deliveries of some faulty Chinese equipment. Meanwhile, authorities in Spain, Turkey and the Netherlands said that some of the Chinese equipment they were receiving was below standard or defective.
Traffic fatalities were down nearly 40% in France from last year thanks to nationwide coronavirus lockdown measures that have kept millions of cars, pedestrians and cyclists off the roads.Traffic fatalities were down nearly 40% in France from last year thanks to nationwide coronavirus lockdown measures that have kept millions of cars, pedestrians and cyclists off the roads.
France’s 67 million citizens have been ordered to stay indoors since 17 March, with most people only permitted to leave the house for essentials outings.France’s 67 million citizens have been ordered to stay indoors since 17 March, with most people only permitted to leave the house for essentials outings.
Cross-country travel is also restricted as the country seeks to halt the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed more than 13,000 out of at least 124,000 infected.Cross-country travel is also restricted as the country seeks to halt the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed more than 13,000 out of at least 124,000 infected.
Interesting article today on the Guardian about how from Berlin to Bogotá, there are new footpaths and bike lanes as world cities turn their streets over to walkers and cyclists.Interesting article today on the Guardian about how from Berlin to Bogotá, there are new footpaths and bike lanes as world cities turn their streets over to walkers and cyclists.
The death toll from coronavirus in the UK rose by 917 to 9,875 people as of 4pm GMT on 10 April, health officials said on Saturday.The death toll from coronavirus in the UK rose by 917 to 9,875 people as of 4pm GMT on 10 April, health officials said on Saturday.
• There are now more than 500,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, according to Johns Hopkins University. It also becomes the first country in the world to register more than 2,000 deaths from the virus in a single day, bringing its total death toll to more than 18,000.
• Unclaimed victims are being buried in unmarked mass graves on Hart Island in New York, officials confirm. Authorities have used the site for more than 150 years to bury unclaimed bodies, unidentified people and residents whose families could not afford a private burial.
• Some 103,000 people have died worldwide from the coronavirus in 193 countries and territories, according to an AFP tally at 1100 GMT Saturday based on official sources. There have been more than 1,700,770 reported infections.
• Italy has had the highest death toll with 18,849, followed by the US, Spain with 16,353, France with 13,197 and Britain with 8,958. Spain has registered a fall in its daily death toll for a third consecutive day with 510 people dying in the last 24 hours.
• The World Health Organization warns that prematurely lifting lockdown restrictions could spark a dangerous resurgence of the disease. Turkey ordered citizens to stay home for 48 hours across 31 cities including Istanbul and Ankara, starting midnight Friday.
• Yemen has reported its first case, in a southern government-controlled province, raising fears of an outbreak in the war-torn country.
• Google and Apple announce they have teamed up for a joint initiative to develop a coronavirus smartphone “contact tracing” tool that could potentially alert people when they have crossed paths with an infected person.
In England a further 823 people have died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the death toll to 8,937.
The patients were aged between 11 and 102 years old and 33 of the 823 patients (aged between 29 and 94 years old) had no known underlying health condition.
Read more updates on the UK live blog.
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Authorities across Europe are attempting to prevent people from travelling during the sunny Easter weather.
Italian authorities have stepped up checks, particularly around the northern Lombardy region, which has borne the brunt of the outbreak, Reuters reported.
Roadblocks were set up on main thoroughfares in and out of Milan and along highway exits to discourage people from going on holiday trips.
Domenico Arcuri, Italy’s special commissioner for the virus emergency, said:
In Spain, which recorded its smallest day-to-day increase in deaths in nearly three weeks, police set up thousands of roadblocks around the country.
Some countries are already planning small first steps out of the shutdown and Austria aims to reopen small shops on Tuesday.
Spain is preparing to start rolling back the strictest of its measures on Monday, when authorities will allow workers in some nonessential industries to return to factories and construction sites after a nearly complete two-week stoppage.
Health minister Salvador Illa said the government will distribute reusable masks at subway stations and other public transportation hubs.
“We think that with these measures we will prevent a jump in infections,” he said.
China is cracking down on publication of academic research about the origins of the novel coronavirus, in what is likely to be part of a wider attempt to control the narrative surrounding the pandemic, documents published online by Chinese universities appear to show.
Two websites for leading Chinese universities appear to have recently published and then removed pages that reference a new policy requiring academic papers dealing with Covid-19 to undergo extra vetting before they are submitted for publication.
Prof Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute in London, said the Chinese government had had a heavy focus on how the evolution and management of the virus is perceived since the early days of the outbreak.
New York City 911 emergency operators are picking up new calls every 15 seconds as the service is placed under unprecedented strain.
The system in the US city is so overwhelmed, the Associated Press reported, and the city has started sending text and tweet alerts urging people to only call 911 for life-threatening emergencies.
The Fire Department said it has averaged more than 5,500 ambulance requests each day, about 40% higher than usual, eclipsing the total call volume on September 11 2001.
“When you hang up with one call, another one needs to be attended to immediately,” 911 operator Monique Brown said, “there’s no time for a minutes rest.”“We just pick up call after call after call,” said paramedic Ravi Kailayanathan.
Thanks Sarah.
Boris Johnson’s fiance, environmental campaigner and former Tory press officer Carrie Symonds, sent him letters and baby scans to lift his spirits during his time in intensive care, a Downing Street source has confirmed.
He received daily updates, including images of their unborn child, as he struggled with coronavirus at St Thomas’ hospital in central London.
Symonds, who is due to give birth in two months, and has also been ill with coronavirus-like symptoms in recent weeks, has not been tested. The two have reportedly not seen each other since he was admitted to hospital.
I am passing the live blog over to my colleague Mattha Busby now who will be running it for a short while so I can take a lunch break. Thanks everyone.
The British prime minister, Boris Johnson, is making “very good progress” in his recovery from Covid-19, his office said on Saturday. Johnson was moved out of intensive care after three nights on Thursday, and Downing Street said on Friday he had managed to start walking, although his recovery was at an early stage. “The prime minister continues to make very good progress,” a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Netherlands rose by 1,316 on Saturday to 24,413, health authorities said, with 132 new deaths. The country’s cumulative death toll is 2,643, the Netherlands’ National Institute for Health (RIVM) said in its daily update.