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Coronavirus live news: China reports highest daily cases for five weeks as New York deaths slow Coronavirus live news: China reports highest daily cases for five weeks as New York deaths slow
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All but 10 of China’s 108 new infections are imported: WHO official warns Covid-19 will ‘stalk’ human race; global cases pass 1.8m. Follow the latest updatesAll but 10 of China’s 108 new infections are imported: WHO official warns Covid-19 will ‘stalk’ human race; global cases pass 1.8m. Follow the latest updates
‘He’s making a very dangerous bet’: Medical experts fear Bolsonaro is dragging Brazil towards coronavirus calamity
Medical experts have said they fear that Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, could be hastening the country’s march towards a devastating public health crisis like those to have hit northern Italy and New York, write Tom Phillips and Dom Phillips in Rio.
Bolsonaro is one of just four world leaders still downplaying the threat of coronavirus to public health, alongside the authoritarian presidents of Nicaragua, Belarus and Turkmenistan.
Over Easter, Brazil’s far-right leader repeatedly sniffed at his own health ministry’s distancing recommendations by going out for doughnuts, glad-handing fans and proclaiming: “No one will hinder my right to come and go.”During one outing, Bolsonaro was filmed wiping his nose with his wrist before shaking an elderly lady’s hand.
Specialists in public health and infectious diseases believe such behaviour is eroding the only measures standing between Brazil – which has suffered more than 1,000 Covid-19 deaths – and a healthcare calamity.
“It’s as if everybody’s on the same train heading towards a cliff-edge and someone says: ‘Look out! There’s a cliff!’ And the passengers shout: ‘Oh no there isn’t!’ And the train driver says: ‘Yeah, there’s nothing there!’” said Ivan França Junior, an epidemiologist from the University of São Paulo’s faculty of public health. “My sadness stems from seeing avoidable deaths that we are not going to avoid.”
Andrea Bocelli sang in a closed Duomo Cathedral in Milan, Italy on Sunday as part of a ‘Music for Hope’ event designed to bring people together during the coronavirus outbreak. The Italian tenor sang four hymns and finished with a moving rendition of Amazing Grace in an online concert broadcast worldwide on Easter Sunday:
Kia Motors Corp told its labour union in South Korea that it wants to suspend operations at three of its domestic factories as the coronavirus outbreak weighs on exports to Europe and the United States, a union official said on Monday.Kia Motors Corp told its labour union in South Korea that it wants to suspend operations at three of its domestic factories as the coronavirus outbreak weighs on exports to Europe and the United States, a union official said on Monday.
The union has not yet decided whether to accept the plan - under which operations would be suspended from April 23-29 - because negotiations over pay are ongoing, the official said. “Kia Motors is currently reviewing the suspension of some of its plants in Korea in response to declining global demand due to Covid-19. However, a decision has not been made at this time,” Kia Motors said in a statement. Kia Motors’ share price fell 3.4% and that of affiliate Hyundai Motor Co declined 2% in a wider market that was 0.7% lower in morning trade. South Korea’s exports for the first 10 days of April plunged 18.6% from the same period a year earlier, far below the 20.8% jump over March 1-10. Shipments of vehicles and vehicle components during the period tumbled 7.1% and 31.8% respectively.The union has not yet decided whether to accept the plan - under which operations would be suspended from April 23-29 - because negotiations over pay are ongoing, the official said. “Kia Motors is currently reviewing the suspension of some of its plants in Korea in response to declining global demand due to Covid-19. However, a decision has not been made at this time,” Kia Motors said in a statement. Kia Motors’ share price fell 3.4% and that of affiliate Hyundai Motor Co declined 2% in a wider market that was 0.7% lower in morning trade. South Korea’s exports for the first 10 days of April plunged 18.6% from the same period a year earlier, far below the 20.8% jump over March 1-10. Shipments of vehicles and vehicle components during the period tumbled 7.1% and 31.8% respectively.
In Australia, health minister Greg Hunt says the country now has 6,335 people diagnosed with Covid-19.In Australia, health minister Greg Hunt says the country now has 6,335 people diagnosed with Covid-19.
Of those: 61 people have died; 238 people are in hospital; 81 are in intensive care; 35 are on ventilators and more than half have recovered.Of those: 61 people have died; 238 people are in hospital; 81 are in intensive care; 35 are on ventilators and more than half have recovered.
He added that the country is beginning to see a flattening of the curve:He added that the country is beginning to see a flattening of the curve:
Walt Disney World in Florida plans to furlough 43,000 workers, the New York Times reports:Walt Disney World in Florida plans to furlough 43,000 workers, the New York Times reports:
El Salvador’s congress on Sunday extended a national emergency law that allows the government to prolong certain health measures aimed at curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus in the Central American country, Reuters reports. The extension will give lawmakers an additional four days.El Salvador’s congress on Sunday extended a national emergency law that allows the government to prolong certain health measures aimed at curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus in the Central American country, Reuters reports. The extension will give lawmakers an additional four days.
Lawmakers reached no agreement on a separate law that suspends some constitutional guarantees, such as free movement and the right to gather. It is due to expire by the end of Monday. As of Sunday, El Salvador, a country of some 6.5 million people had 125 cases of coronavirus, and six deaths.Lawmakers reached no agreement on a separate law that suspends some constitutional guarantees, such as free movement and the right to gather. It is due to expire by the end of Monday. As of Sunday, El Salvador, a country of some 6.5 million people had 125 cases of coronavirus, and six deaths.
Donald Trump took to Twitter an hour ago to respond to a damning New York Times investigation that found that US public health adviser Dr Anthony Fauci and other Trump administration officials recommended the implementation of physical distancing to combat the coronavirus in February, but were rebuffed for almost a month.Donald Trump took to Twitter an hour ago to respond to a damning New York Times investigation that found that US public health adviser Dr Anthony Fauci and other Trump administration officials recommended the implementation of physical distancing to combat the coronavirus in February, but were rebuffed for almost a month.
Dr Fauci appeared on CNN’s State of the Union program on Sunday to confirm the report.Dr Fauci appeared on CNN’s State of the Union program on Sunday to confirm the report.
The global number of confirmed cases has passed 1.8 million, reaching 1,848,503, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker. There have been 114,185 deaths globally.The global number of confirmed cases has passed 1.8 million, reaching 1,848,503, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker. There have been 114,185 deaths globally.
China reported the highest daily infections in over five weeks. Mainland China reported 108 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, up from 99 a day earlier and 46 reported on Friday.China reported the highest daily infections in over five weeks. Mainland China reported 108 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, up from 99 a day earlier and 46 reported on Friday.
Top oil-producing countries agreed Sunday on “historic” output cuts in a bid to boost plummeting oil prices due to the new coronavirus crisis and a Russia-Saudi price war.Top oil-producing countries agreed Sunday on “historic” output cuts in a bid to boost plummeting oil prices due to the new coronavirus crisis and a Russia-Saudi price war.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday refused to accept the resignation of his interior minister over an abrupt nationwide lockdown that triggered a spate of panic-buying.Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday refused to accept the resignation of his interior minister over an abrupt nationwide lockdown that triggered a spate of panic-buying.
Boris Johnson has been discharged from hospital. He thanked the NHS for “saving [his] life” after leaving St Thomas’ hospital in south London where he had been hospitalised for a week.Boris Johnson has been discharged from hospital. He thanked the NHS for “saving [his] life” after leaving St Thomas’ hospital in south London where he had been hospitalised for a week.
The UK government is facing mounting criticism over its coronavirus response, particularly over its failure to secure enough personal protective equipment and tests for NHS and care workers as the country’s death toll passed 10,000. This follows a warning that that the UK could experience the highest coronavirus death toll in Europe.The UK government is facing mounting criticism over its coronavirus response, particularly over its failure to secure enough personal protective equipment and tests for NHS and care workers as the country’s death toll passed 10,000. This follows a warning that that the UK could experience the highest coronavirus death toll in Europe.
Thousands of displaced Syrians have begun returning to Idlib, some driven by fear of the spread of the coronavirus to camps near the Turkish border.Thousands of displaced Syrians have begun returning to Idlib, some driven by fear of the spread of the coronavirus to camps near the Turkish border.
Italy’s death toll has continued to slow, as did France’s death toll. Spain’s daily death toll has risen after falling for three days in a row.Italy’s death toll has continued to slow, as did France’s death toll. Spain’s daily death toll has risen after falling for three days in a row.
New York’s death toll has slowed, with governor Andrew Cuomo announcing there have been 758 deaths in the state in the last day, down from 783 the day before.New York’s death toll has slowed, with governor Andrew Cuomo announcing there have been 758 deaths in the state in the last day, down from 783 the day before.
France to isolate 1,900 sailors after virus-hit naval ship docks. France on Sunday began an unprecedented operation to isolate 1,900 sailors after 50 naval personnel tested positive for Covid-19 aboard its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle.France to isolate 1,900 sailors after virus-hit naval ship docks. France on Sunday began an unprecedented operation to isolate 1,900 sailors after 50 naval personnel tested positive for Covid-19 aboard its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle.
Italy has ordered 149 migrants onboard a rescue ship off its coast to be quarantined and tested for the coronavirus before they can disembark.Italy has ordered 149 migrants onboard a rescue ship off its coast to be quarantined and tested for the coronavirus before they can disembark.
China has vowed to improve treatment of Africans in the southern city of Guangzhou following international pressure. Facing accusations of discrimination linked to the pandemic, China said it rejected all “racist and discriminatory” remarks.China has vowed to improve treatment of Africans in the southern city of Guangzhou following international pressure. Facing accusations of discrimination linked to the pandemic, China said it rejected all “racist and discriminatory” remarks.
Senior US public health officials have pushed back on Donald Trump’s eagerness to reopen the country quickly, as a senior World Health Organization figure warned that Covid-19 “is going to be a virus that stalks the human race for quite a long time to come”.Senior US public health officials have pushed back on Donald Trump’s eagerness to reopen the country quickly, as a senior World Health Organization figure warned that Covid-19 “is going to be a virus that stalks the human race for quite a long time to come”.
A federal judge on Sunday ruled that Alabama cannot ban abortions as part of the states response to coronavirus, AP reports. US District Judge Myron Thompson issued a preliminary injunction sought by clinics to prevent the state from forbidding abortions as part of a ban on elective medical procedures during the Covid-19 pandemic. Thompson said abortion providers can decide whether a procedure can wait. The ruling was a victory for abortion rights advocates who are fighting efforts in Texas, Ohio, Alabama and other states to prohibit abortion services during the Covid-19 pandemic. States have argued they need to conserve medical equipment and potential hospital beds during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization is being urged to declare abortion an essential health service during the coronavirus pandemic.A federal judge on Sunday ruled that Alabama cannot ban abortions as part of the states response to coronavirus, AP reports. US District Judge Myron Thompson issued a preliminary injunction sought by clinics to prevent the state from forbidding abortions as part of a ban on elective medical procedures during the Covid-19 pandemic. Thompson said abortion providers can decide whether a procedure can wait. The ruling was a victory for abortion rights advocates who are fighting efforts in Texas, Ohio, Alabama and other states to prohibit abortion services during the Covid-19 pandemic. States have argued they need to conserve medical equipment and potential hospital beds during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization is being urged to declare abortion an essential health service during the coronavirus pandemic.
In guidance notes issued last week, the WHO advised all governments to identify and prioritise the health services each believed essential, listing reproductive health services as an example.In guidance notes issued last week, the WHO advised all governments to identify and prioritise the health services each believed essential, listing reproductive health services as an example.
Clinical guidelines published by the organisation last month said that women’s right to sexual and reproductive healthcare “should be respected irrespective of Covid-19 status, including access to contraception and safe abortion”.Clinical guidelines published by the organisation last month said that women’s right to sexual and reproductive healthcare “should be respected irrespective of Covid-19 status, including access to contraception and safe abortion”.
Have tips, news, comments, questions or jokes? Get in touch with me directly any time on Twitter @helenrsullivan.Have tips, news, comments, questions or jokes? Get in touch with me directly any time on Twitter @helenrsullivan.
Tornadoes and storms hit US south as six killed in Mississippi
A tornado strike destroyed homes and left a trail of devastation across large parts of the US south on Sunday, as forecasters warned that a powerful Easter storm could affect more than a dozen states and millions of people before the early hours of Monday.
By Sunday evening, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency had confirmed at least six fatalities in the state from the severe weather. Mississippi governor Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency after saying several tornadoes had struck the state.
In northern Louisiana, up to 300 homes and other buildings were damaged. Utility companies reported thousands of power outages.
The storm provided a dilemma for public safety officials trying to find a balance between wanting people to stay in lockdown for the coronavirus pandemic and wanting them to leave their homes for shelter if conditions worsened.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday refused to accept the resignation of his interior minister over an abrupt nationwide lockdown that triggered a spate of panic-buying, AFP reports.
Suleyman Soylu came in for fierce criticism after the 48-hour shutdown to counter the spread of the coronavirus was announced on Friday night with just two hours’ notice. The declaration sent thousands flocking to markets and bakeries in defiance of social distancing rules.
Reacting to the chaotic scenes on Friday, Soylu said the lockdown had been on the “instructions” of the president. But on Sunday the powerful 50-year-old interior minister accepted “entire responsibility for the implementation of this measure”, which he said had been carried out “in good faith”.
Erdogan however refused to accept Soylu’s resignation. “He is going to continue to carry out his functions,” he added.
After the initial chaos, the shutdown, which ended at midnight on Sunday, was generally respected.
Turkey has nearly 57,000 Covid-19 infections and around 1,200 have died, according to the latest health ministry figures.
US public health adviser Dr Anthony Fauci appeared on CNN’s State of the Union program on Sunday to confirm a bombshell New York Times report which said he and other Trump administration officials recommended the implementation of physical distancing to combat the coronavirus in February, but were rebuffed for almost a month.
You can watch the edited interview below:
What happens to people’s lungs when they get coronavirus?
What became known as Covid-19, or the coronavirus, started in late 2019 as a cluster of pneumonia cases with an unknown cause. The cause of the pneumonia was found to be a new virus – severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or Sars-CoV-2. The illness caused by the virus is Covid-19.
Now declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the majority of people who contract Covid-19 suffer only mild, cold-like symptoms.
The WHO says about 80% of people with Covid-19 recover without needing any specialist treatment. Only about one person in six becomes seriously ill “and develops difficulty breathing”.
So how can Covid-19 develop into a more serious illness featuring pneumonia, and what does that do to our lungs and the rest of our body?
African ambassadors in China have written to the country’s foreign minister over what they call discrimination against Africans as the country seeks to prevent a resurgence of the coronavirus.
Several African countries have separately also demanded that China address their concerns that Africans, in particular in the southern city of Guangzhou, are being mistreated and harassed, Reuters reports. China has denied any discrimination. In recent days Africans in Guangzhou have reported being ejected from their apartments by their landlords, being tested for coronavirus several times without being given results and being shunned and discriminated against in public. Such complaints have been made in local media, and on social media.
The ambassadors’ note said such “stigmatisation and discrimination” created the false impression that the virus was being spread by Africans. “The Group of African Ambassadors in Beijing immediately demands the cessation of forceful testing, quarantine and other inhuman treatments meted out to Africans,” it said. The note was sent to State Councilor Wang Yi, the Chinese government’s top diplomat, copying the chair of the African Union, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and all African foreign ministers.
More on the latest figures from mainland China now – where the highest number of daily infections in more than five weeks, was recorded on Sunday, with 108 new Covid-19 cases. Saturday’s figure was 99, which had nearly doubled the 46 reported on Friday.
Chinese authorities are increasing restrictions and monitoring in the northern regions bordering Russia, after a rise in people with Covid-19 crossing the border.
Heilongjiang’s capital, Harbin, as well as the border city of Suifenhe now require all arrivals to quarantine for 28 days and undergo testing. Under the new restrictions residential units in Harbin where people have been confirmed to have the virus, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, are to be locked down for 14 days.
Suifenhe, which has extended the closure of its Russian border and Wuhan-style restrictions, was one of the few routes for people to return to China from Russia after Russia stopped all flights and closed its land border to incoming traffic.
“Of course people want to come back to China. I’ve been to markets in Russia where Chinese people do business. It’s messy and crowded, no one can be safe from infection there,” a Suifenhe fruit-seller, who goes by a single name Ming, told Reuters.
“If the border were to be reopened next week as previously announced, then our city will be stuck with this partial lockdown for the rest of the year.”
Also in focus this week for global markets: US companies will announce their earnings, starting from big banks. China will on Tuesday release its trade data and on Friday release its closely watched gross domestic product data.
In foreign exchange markets, risk-sensitive currencies were softer while the safe-haven dollar and the yen found support. The Australian dollar fell 0.3% to $0.6303 while the Mexican peso dropped 0.4% to 23.430 per dollar. The euro stood flat at $1.0934 and the yen gained 0.15% to 108.34 to the dollar.
Oil prices and US stock futures dipped in early Monday trade as a landmark agreement by OPEC and its allies to slash output by a record amount failed to give investors any cause for lasting optimism about the economic outlook, Reuters reports.
US S&P 500 mini futures dropped 1.54%, erasing a brief gain to a one-month high made right after the start of trading. Nikkei futures traded in Chicago suggest Tokyo’s benchmark is likely to slip about 0.2%. US crude futures dropped to $22.67 per barrel, down 0.4% as they quickly erased earlier gains to hit the lowest level since 2 April. Brent futures were down 0.67% at $31.27 per barrel, having risen to $33.99. A group of oil producing countries known as OPEC+, which includes Russia, said it had agreed to reduce output by 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) for May-June, after four days of marathon talks. A bigger question for investors, however, is whether the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has ravaged global economic growth, will soon peak in the United States and Europe, as had been hoped. “While panic selling we saw last month has faded, not many investors would want to chase stock prices higher given we are about to see more evidence of economic downturns,” said Masahiro Ichikawa, senior strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management.
Mexican health officials reported on Sunday 442 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 23 new deaths, bringing the country’s total to 4,661 cases and 296 deaths.
However, Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell said last week the country might have 26,500 people infected. Citing government models, Lopez-Gatell said many who are infected likely did not have symptoms or were not diagnosed.
Iran: Covid-19 outbreak delays investigation into downed Ukrainian flight
The Covid-19 pandemic will delay the investigation into the downing of a Ukrainian international flight over Iran, after Canada asked Tehran to delay downloading data on the black boxes due to coronavirus travel restrictions.
Iran agreed in March to hand over the black boxes from Flight 752 to Ukraine or France for analysis – a move welcomed by Canada and Ukraine.
Last week, Iran contacted the countries involved to ask when they could send experts to help download the data off the black boxes, according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB).
While stressing that the concerned countries were “anxious for the download and analysis of the recorders to proceed”, TSB president Kathy Fox said they all “provided a consistent response, indicating that travelling was impossible at this time, and likely for some time to come” due to restrictions imposed due to the pandemic.
The Iranian military has admitted that the plane was shot down due to “human error”. Of the 176 victims, 57 were Canadian citizens and 29 were permanent residents in Canada.