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Coronavirus live news: UN warns of 'biblical' famine; first case seen in Palestinian refugees in Lebanon Coronavirus live news: UN warns of 'biblical' famine; first case seen in Palestinian refugees in Lebanon
(32 minutes later)
Trump to halt immigration for 60 days initially; 256m people could starve, says UN; cases worldwide pass 2.5 millionTrump to halt immigration for 60 days initially; 256m people could starve, says UN; cases worldwide pass 2.5 million
Spain has been in lockdown since 14 March, and the confinement is set to run until at least 9 May.
Some, however, have found an upside to being cooped up with their families and believe the lockdown has served to strengthen the sense of community.
“We have all got to know our neighbours in the building and the surrounding buildings better and are having fun sharing conversations, drinks and music through our balconies,” said Maite Domingo, who lives in central Barcelona with her two daughters Abril 14, and Martina, 12.
“We’ve even celebrated one of their birthdays and Martina played happy birthday on the piano for him.”
Miguel Vega, who has been in lockdown with his wife Purita and two teenage sons, said the emergency measures had reinforced the importance of family.
“I speak regularly with my mother and my sisters and I have the sensation that, living far away from each other, communication has been at times more significant and fluent than in the past,” he said.
“My mum, being alone and the most vulnerable, has taken the role of a protective parent again, which I find very sweet. I’ve had great conversations with neighbours I had never spoken to and have reconnected with long missed friends all around the world.”
Carmen Espinosa, who lives alone in a 47 square-metre apartment, said she had only been out for five shopping trips since mid-March.
“The hardest thing about confinement is loneliness, the lack of physical contact, the inability to walk down the street and enjoy nature, as well as the uncertainty about the immediate and not so immediate future,” she said.
“On the positive side, we’ve had a chance to reflect on how we live and want to live, to see the fragility of being a human being and to appreciate small gestures of affection, solidarity and the strength of cooperation.”
Three new confirmed cases of coronavirus were reported in Rwanda on Tuesday, bringing the total number in the country to 150, the World Health Organization reports.
So far 80 patients have recovered, including four in the past 24 hours, while the number of active cases is 66, according to the agency’s latest situation report from the country.
All active cases are in isolation in stable condition, and one patient is receiving oxygen as a precaution, the WHO said.
On Saturday, Rwanda’s health minister, Diane Gashumba, called on the public to stay home as much as possible and wear face masks in public places, as part of efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
Zambia has reported four new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours.
Germany’s confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 2,237 to 145,694, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Wednesday, marking a second consecutive day of new infections accelerating.Germany’s confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 2,237 to 145,694, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Wednesday, marking a second consecutive day of new infections accelerating.
The reported death toll rose by 281 to 4,879, the tally showed.The reported death toll rose by 281 to 4,879, the tally showed.
As Germany began relaxing its lockdown on Monday, chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans to remain “disciplined and watchful”, and warned that if attitudes towards the pandemic relaxed too quickly, another tougher lockdown may follow. As Germany began relaxing its lockdown on Monday, the chancellor, Angela Merkel, urged Germans to remain “disciplined and watchful”, and warned that if attitudes towards the pandemic relaxed too quickly, another tougher lockdown may follow.
Already there have been protests in the country against the measures, as well as so-called “vaccine terrorism”.Already there have been protests in the country against the measures, as well as so-called “vaccine terrorism”.
Iran reported 94 new deaths from coronavirus on Wednesday - the highest number in more than a week - and 1,194 new confirmed cases.Iran reported 94 new deaths from coronavirus on Wednesday - the highest number in more than a week - and 1,194 new confirmed cases.
The total death toll in the Islamic republic, which has so far suffered the Middle East’s worst Covid-19 outbreak, is 5,391, according to a health ministry official quoted by Reuters. The total number of people in the country who have been infected stands at 85,996.The total death toll in the Islamic republic, which has so far suffered the Middle East’s worst Covid-19 outbreak, is 5,391, according to a health ministry official quoted by Reuters. The total number of people in the country who have been infected stands at 85,996.
The latest figures from Iran come as the head of the Tehran emergency department said authorities in the country were prepared for a possible second-wave of infections.The latest figures from Iran come as the head of the Tehran emergency department said authorities in the country were prepared for a possible second-wave of infections.
Hello and happy Earth Day, this is Damien Gayle taking charge of the coronavirus live blog now, and taking you through the next eight hours or so of pandemic-related world news.Hello and happy Earth Day, this is Damien Gayle taking charge of the coronavirus live blog now, and taking you through the next eight hours or so of pandemic-related world news.
As usual you can contact me at damien.gayle@theguardian.com, or via Twitter direct message to @damiengayle.As usual you can contact me at damien.gayle@theguardian.com, or via Twitter direct message to @damiengayle.
Chinese doctors in Wuhan, where the coronavirus first emerged in December, say a growing number of cases in which people recover from the virus, but continue to test positive without showing symptoms, is one of their biggest challenges as the country moves into a new phase of its containment battle.Chinese doctors in Wuhan, where the coronavirus first emerged in December, say a growing number of cases in which people recover from the virus, but continue to test positive without showing symptoms, is one of their biggest challenges as the country moves into a new phase of its containment battle.
Those patients all tested negative for the virus at some point after recovering, but then tested positive again, some up to 70 days later, the doctors said.Those patients all tested negative for the virus at some point after recovering, but then tested positive again, some up to 70 days later, the doctors said.
Many have done so over 50-60 days.Many have done so over 50-60 days.
The prospect of people remaining positive for the virus, and therefore potentially infectious, is of international concern, as many countries seek to end lockdowns and resume economic activity as the spread of the virus slows.The prospect of people remaining positive for the virus, and therefore potentially infectious, is of international concern, as many countries seek to end lockdowns and resume economic activity as the spread of the virus slows.
Currently, the globally recommended isolation period after exposure is 14 days. The globally recommended isolation period after exposure is 14 days.
So far, there have been no confirmations of newly positive patients infecting others, according to Chinese health officials.So far, there have been no confirmations of newly positive patients infecting others, according to Chinese health officials.
China has not published precise figures for how many patients fall into this category. But disclosures by Chinese hospitals to Reuters, as well as in other media reports, indicate there are at least dozens of such cases.China has not published precise figures for how many patients fall into this category. But disclosures by Chinese hospitals to Reuters, as well as in other media reports, indicate there are at least dozens of such cases.
In South Korea, about 1,000 people have been testing positive for four weeks or more. In Italy, the first European country ravaged by the pandemic, health officials noticed that coronavirus patients could test positive for the virus for about a month. In South Korea, about 1,000 people have been testing positive for four weeks or more. In Italy, the first European country ravaged by the pandemic, health officials noticed coronavirus patients could test positive for the virus for about a month.
Reuters reported that one man in Wuhan, who appeared to be in his 50s, was still testing positive for Covid-19 more than two months after he first contracted it.Reuters reported that one man in Wuhan, who appeared to be in his 50s, was still testing positive for Covid-19 more than two months after he first contracted it.
He had been treated at two hospitals before being transferred to a quarantine centre set up in a cluster of apartment blocks in an industrial part of Wuhan.He had been treated at two hospitals before being transferred to a quarantine centre set up in a cluster of apartment blocks in an industrial part of Wuhan.
“I really can’t take it anymore,” he said“I really can’t take it anymore,” he said
The coronavirus death toll in Europe has passed 110,000 according to figures compiled by AFP news agency.The coronavirus death toll in Europe has passed 110,000 according to figures compiled by AFP news agency.
More than 10 million French employees are now “partially unemployed” and having most of their salaries paid for by the state, the French employment minister, Muriel Pénicaud, said on Wednesday.More than 10 million French employees are now “partially unemployed” and having most of their salaries paid for by the state, the French employment minister, Muriel Pénicaud, said on Wednesday.
The government scheme, described as the most generous in Europe, is being used by 820,000 French companies - 60% of those in the country - most of which have been forced to stop business because of the strict lockdown since 17 March.The government scheme, described as the most generous in Europe, is being used by 820,000 French companies - 60% of those in the country - most of which have been forced to stop business because of the strict lockdown since 17 March.
In the building and construction sector, 93% of the 1.2 million workers are currently on the scheme as well as 90% of those in the hotel and restaurant sector.In the building and construction sector, 93% of the 1.2 million workers are currently on the scheme as well as 90% of those in the hotel and restaurant sector.
Staff at companies deemed temporarily unemployed are receiving 84% of their salaries from the state as a measure to avoid mass lay-offs. The scheme includes those on permanent and short-term contracts of 12-months or more, but not freelancers.Staff at companies deemed temporarily unemployed are receiving 84% of their salaries from the state as a measure to avoid mass lay-offs. The scheme includes those on permanent and short-term contracts of 12-months or more, but not freelancers.
Pénicaud told BFMTV that 10.2 million workers were now on the scheme and that 98% of demands for “partial unemployment” payments were being settled with companies within 7-10 days.Pénicaud told BFMTV that 10.2 million workers were now on the scheme and that 98% of demands for “partial unemployment” payments were being settled with companies within 7-10 days.
The first case of Covid-19 among Palestinian refugees has been registered in Lebanon - a milestone moment that had been feared throughout the global pandemic.
The patient, an adult woman, was taken from the al-Jalil camp in the Bekaa Valley to a hospital in Beirut overnight.
A team from the state run Rafiq Hariri hospital is travelling to the camp to screen the woman’s relatives and anyone else she came into contact with while infected.
A total of 9,400 refugees are registered there, but the camp population is thought to be as low as 3,000.
Waves of departures to Gulf states and undocumented arrivals from Syria over the past nine years have made actual numbers difficult to discern.
An outbreak of the virus among the cramped and often unhygienic confines of refugee camps has been a nightmare scenario that the UN and NGOs have been preparing for as the virus has taken hold in much of the developed world.
Palestinians are routinely denied access to state care in Lebanon and Lebanese officials have expressed a reluctance to treat refugees afflicted by the virus.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which supports Palstinian refugees, is paying for the woman’s treatment and has said it will also do so for other infected patients.
Despite being nearly crippled by the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw funding, UNRWA has raised $14 million for it’s initial Covid response.
With much of that money now spent, and fears of infections now being realised, UNRWA leaders are about to launch a second appeal for funding.
Lebanon hosts around 475,000 Palestinian refugees living in 12 camps and 26 unofficial sites.
They are among the most impoverished people in the country, which is also believed to be playing host to up to one million Syrian refugees, many living in informal settlements, which are even harder for health authorities to manage.
A clinical test of a Covid-19 vaccine has been approved in Germany, the country’s Federal Institute for Vaccines has said.
In the first part of the trial, 200 healthy people between 18 and 55 will receive several variants of the vaccine.
The vaccine candidate was produced by biotech firm BioNTech, and is an RNA vaccine.
The French finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, has set up a working group to look into establishing further insurance cover for exceptional, one-off events such as pandemics, his department said on Wednesday.
The French move echoes a similar step taken this week by Britain, whose insurance industry is also going to work with the UK government-backed terrorism reinsurance fund Pool Re to develop insurance cover for pandemics.
Eight babies and toddlers at a Tokyo care centre have tested positive for the coronavirus after a staff member contracted the disease, its operator said on Wednesday.
Tokyo Saiseikai Central Hospital, which operates the facility, said the affected children had been hospitalised, while another 21 tested negative and were under observation.
The facility is for orphans or children separated from their parents because of possible abuse or neglect.
A staff member tested positive for the virus on 16 April, prompting tests for all the children, the hospital said in a brief statement, without disclosing further details.
Tests are being carried out on 46 staff members who are self-isolating at home.
The children who tested positive were not experiencing high fever, local media said.
Malaysia reported 50 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the cumulative total to 5,532.
The health ministry also reported one new death, bringing the total number of fatalities up to 93.
Spain recorded 435 deaths overnight, bringing the total death toll from Covid-19 to 21,717.
The figure was slightly up on recent days, but the number of new cases is continuing to fall.
Wednesday saw a 2.1% rise in cases over the previous day, with 4,211 new cases logged. To date, Spain has confirmed 208,389 cases of the virus.
The latest figures come as Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said the country was aiming to lift lockdown restrictions in the second half of May.
His government performed a u-turn on allowing children on to the streets, after it was fiercely criticised on Tuesday for saying children would be allowed out only to accompany a parent to buy food or medicine or go to the bank.
Following the backlash, the government changed tack, saying children under 14 would be allowed out for walks – if accompanied by a parent – from 26 April. Older teenagers will be allowed out alone to buy food or medicine.
The spread of the virus has led to the cancellation of Pamplona’s famous running of the bulls festival, while authorities in the small town of Buñol, near Valencia, said on Wednesday that the celebrated Tomatina tomato-throwing fiesta would not be held this August.
New advice on how to adapt Islamic religious practices during the coronavirus crisis have been released ahead of the holy month of Ramadan by international aid charity Islamic Relief, in a bid to stop the spread of the deadly virus in Muslim communities across the world.
Ramadan, expected to start on 23 April, is traditionally a time when communities and families come together, but the threat of Covid-19 means that in many places, festivities will need to be adapted or cancelled.
Atallah Fitzgibbon, faith partnership advisor at Islamic Relief Worldwide, said:
The guidance, developed in partnership with the British Board of Scholars and Imams and in consultation with the World Health Organization and international aid agencies, will be distributed to support faith leaders, mosques, funeral workers, health professionals and chaplains as well as aid and community workers across the world.
The Philippines’ health ministry on Wednesday reported nine new coronavirus deaths and 111 new confirmed infections.
In a bulletin, the health ministry said total deaths have increased to 446, while infections have risen to 6,710. But 39 more patients have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 693.
Meanwhile, Indonesia reported 283 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases to 7,418, a health ministry official said.
The official, Achmad Yurianto, said there were 19 new coronavirus deaths, taking the total to 635.
More than 47,300 people have been tested and 913 had recovered, he said.
In Beijing, officials dismissed the US state of Missouri’s move to sue the Chinese government over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak as “nothing short of absurdity” and lacking any factual or legal basis.
Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China’s coronavirus response was not under the jurisdiction of US courts, adding that it had provided updates on the outbreak to the United States since 3 January.
“Such abuse of litigation is not conducive to the epidemic response at home in the United States and also runs counter to international cooperation,” Geng told a daily briefing on Wednesday, speaking about Missouri’s move.
“What the United States should do is refute and reject such abuse of litigation.”
Chimène Keitner, an international law professor at the University of California, said: “If the United States wants to bring claims against China, it will have to do so in an international forum. There is no civil jurisdiction over such claims in US courts.”
Dutch brewer Heineken reported on Wednesday that first-quarter net profit plunged by 68.5%, impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The company said net profit fell to €94m ($102m) from €299m in the first quarter of 2019, as the volume of sales trickled off in March.
Heineken chief executive, Jean-François van Boxmeer, said measures to contain the crisis were “having a significant impact” on the company’s business.
“We have taken necessary measures to reduce our costs, secure additional financing and adapt to the fast changes,” a statement said.
But the group pledged that “until the end of 2020, it will not carry out structural layoffs, as a consequence of Covid-19”.
In addition, “the Executive Board and Executive Team have also collectively agreed to reduce their base salary by 20% between May and December 2020”.