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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
(32 minutes later)
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
A federal judge has ruled that Alabama cannot ban abortions as part of the state’s response to the coronavirus.
The US district judge Myron Thompson on Sunday 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 outbreak. He said abortion providers could decide whether a procedure could wait.
In the Alabama court judgement, Thompson said that based on the current record, the defendants’ efforts to combat Covid-19 did not outweigh the lasting harm imposed by the denial of an individual’s right to terminate her pregnancy, by an undue burden or increase in risk on patients imposed by a delayed procedure, or by the cloud of unwarranted prosecution against providers.
Authorities in northern Vietnam have ordered people working at a unit of Samsung Display factory in the country to be quarantined after a worker there tested positive for the new coronavirus.
A 25-year-old worker of the EQC-SI unit of the Samsung Display factory in Bac Ninh province tested positive on Sunday, according to a statement released on Monday by the anti-COVID-19 task force of neighbouring Bac Giang province.
Samsung confirmed the case, but said Samsung Display’s production lines in Vietnam had not been affected.
Ministers ‘must be open with NHS about PPE shortages’
Ministers must admit when the NHS is heading for shortages of personal protective equipment for staff, even if opponents “weaponise” such openness, an influential hospital boss is urging.
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, wants the government to start alerting health service trusts when they are about to face a lack of equipment such as the ongoing dearth of gowns and visors that frontline staff need to repel Covid-19.
Writing for the Guardian about PPE shortages, Hopson says: “National NHS leaders will continue their massive efforts to fill current PPE gaps. But trust leaders believe that they should be included earlier in helping to find the solutions. For example, if there is going to be a stock shortage of a particular item, then far better to know about it well in advance.
A “stay home” message posted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Twitter has fuelled anger, with some saying it was insensitive to to people who cannot rest at home because the government’s social distancing measures are voluntary and don’t come with compensation, AP reports. The one-minute video released Sunday shows Abe sitting at home, expressionless, cuddling his dog, reading a book, sipping from a cup and clicking on a remote control. Entertainer Gen Hoshino appeared in part of the video but later said the clip of him strumming on a guitar at home was used without his permission. Japan had 7,255 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 114 deaths, according to the latest figures Monday.
Ten foreigners who broke a coronavirus lockdown in Rishikesh, the Indian town made famous by the Beatles, were forced to repent by writing “I am so sorry” - 500 times, officials said Sunday.
The nationwide lockdown was imposed near the end of March, with residents permitted to leave their homes only for essential services such as buying groceries and medicine.
The travellers - from Israel, Mexico, Australia and Austria - were caught taking a walk in Rishikesh, where the Beatles sought spirituality at an Ashram in 1968.
Local police officer Vinod Sharma said they were each made to write “I did not follow the rules of lockdown so I am so sorry” 500 times.
More than 700 foreign tourists from the US, Australia, Mexico and Israel staying in the area had flouted the lockdown rules, Sharma said, adding the unusual punishment was handed out to teach them a lesson.
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When Covid-19 came to Nepal, AP reports, attention turned to an unlikely group of victims: hundreds of monkeys, cows and pigeons:
India is planning to restart some manufacturing after 15 April to help offset the economic damage of a nationwide coronavirus lockdown, two government sources have told Reuters, even as it weighs extending the lockdown. The 21-day lockdown of India’s more than 1.3 billion people is due to end on Tuesday.India is planning to restart some manufacturing after 15 April to help offset the economic damage of a nationwide coronavirus lockdown, two government sources have told Reuters, even as it weighs extending the lockdown. The 21-day lockdown of India’s more than 1.3 billion people is due to end on Tuesday.
One of the sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had directed some ministries to come up with plans to open up some crucial industries.One of the sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had directed some ministries to come up with plans to open up some crucial industries.
The sources, who spoke to Reuters on Sunday, asked not to be identified as the plans are still under discussion. Separately, in a letter seen by Reuters, the industries ministry has recommended restarting some manufacturing in the autos, textiles, defence, electronics and other sectors. India’s economy, which was already growing at its slowest pace in six years before the onset of the coronavirus, is set to take a severe hit amid the lockdown, say economists.The sources, who spoke to Reuters on Sunday, asked not to be identified as the plans are still under discussion. Separately, in a letter seen by Reuters, the industries ministry has recommended restarting some manufacturing in the autos, textiles, defence, electronics and other sectors. India’s economy, which was already growing at its slowest pace in six years before the onset of the coronavirus, is set to take a severe hit amid the lockdown, say economists.
Germany’s number of confirmed coronavirus infections has risen by 2,537 to 123,016, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Monday. That was lower than a 2,821 increase reported on Sunday, and marked the third decline after four days of increases. The reported death toll has risen by 126 to 2,799.Germany’s number of confirmed coronavirus infections has risen by 2,537 to 123,016, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Monday. That was lower than a 2,821 increase reported on Sunday, and marked the third decline after four days of increases. The reported death toll has risen by 126 to 2,799.
Meanwhile in France, President Emmanuel Macron is on Monday expected to warn the country its lockdown to combat the coronavirus must go on for several more weeks at least.Meanwhile in France, President Emmanuel Macron is on Monday expected to warn the country its lockdown to combat the coronavirus must go on for several more weeks at least.
At just after 8.00pm (1800 GMT), Macron will give his third prime-time televised address to the nation on the epidemic from the Elysée palace. In his last, he announced the nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of the virus from 17 March.At just after 8.00pm (1800 GMT), Macron will give his third prime-time televised address to the nation on the epidemic from the Elysée palace. In his last, he announced the nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of the virus from 17 March.
This speech will come after the first indications of a tentative easing of the crisis in France and that the lockdown is starting to have an effect, with the epidemic starting to plateau, albeit at a high level.This speech will come after the first indications of a tentative easing of the crisis in France and that the lockdown is starting to have an effect, with the epidemic starting to plateau, albeit at a high level.
France on Sunday reported a lower number of Covid-19 fatalities over the last 24 hours, with 315 deaths in hospital over the last day, compared with 345 the previous day.France on Sunday reported a lower number of Covid-19 fatalities over the last 24 hours, with 315 deaths in hospital over the last day, compared with 345 the previous day.
Its death total toll from the coronavirus epidemic, including those who have died in nursing homes, now stands at 14,393, the health ministry said.Its death total toll from the coronavirus epidemic, including those who have died in nursing homes, now stands at 14,393, the health ministry said.
But officials have warned that the situation remains serious - especially in the Ile-de-France region around Paris - with no rapid return to normal in sight.But officials have warned that the situation remains serious - especially in the Ile-de-France region around Paris - with no rapid return to normal in sight.
The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has slowed in some of the worst-hit countries, with Spain readying Monday to reopen parts of its economy as governments grapple with a once-in-a-century recession, AFP reports.The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has slowed in some of the worst-hit countries, with Spain readying Monday to reopen parts of its economy as governments grapple with a once-in-a-century recession, AFP reports.
Italy, France and the US have all reported a drop in Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours - with Italy, the European nation most afflicted by the disease, reporting its lowest toll in more than three weeks.Italy, France and the US have all reported a drop in Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours - with Italy, the European nation most afflicted by the disease, reporting its lowest toll in more than three weeks.
Spain’s death toll has fallen over recent days, but as a small bump in deaths was reported on Sunday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned that the locked-down country was “far from victory”.Spain’s death toll has fallen over recent days, but as a small bump in deaths was reported on Sunday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned that the locked-down country was “far from victory”.
“We are all keen to go back out on the streets... but our desire is even greater to win the war and prevent a relapse,” he said, as some companies were set to resume operations at the end of a two-weeks halt of all non-essential activity.“We are all keen to go back out on the streets... but our desire is even greater to win the war and prevent a relapse,” he said, as some companies were set to resume operations at the end of a two-weeks halt of all non-essential activity.
A reminder to our readers in Australia (and wherever you are in the globe, really), that our brilliant Australian audio team produce daily podcast episodes of Full Story specifically about the coronavirus. You can find them here.A reminder to our readers in Australia (and wherever you are in the globe, really), that our brilliant Australian audio team produce daily podcast episodes of Full Story specifically about the coronavirus. You can find them here.
To get started, try this episode:To get started, try this episode:
You should also subscribe to the Guardian’s terrific global podcast, produced out of London, Today in Focus.You should also subscribe to the Guardian’s terrific global podcast, produced out of London, Today in Focus.
For a taster of that one, have a listen to this two-parter marking 100 days since the virus was first reported.For a taster of that one, have a listen to this two-parter marking 100 days since the virus was first reported.
‘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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.