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Coronavirus live news: world has 'a long way to go', warns WHO chief Coronavirus live news: world has 'a long way to go', warns WHO chief
(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
Bahrain has extended its lockdown measures for two more weeks, from 23 April until 7 May, its state news agency has reported.
Those measures include closing all cinemas, sports centres, gyms, salons, and restricting restaurants operations to food delivery and takeaway only, among other measures. Bahrain has registered 2,009 cases, with a death tally that stands at seven.
The footballer Gareth Bale will hand over £1m to fund the fight in Wales and Spain.
The Real Madrid forward and his wife Emma have made a £500,000 donation to help NHS staff fighting the crisis in Cardiff and will follow that up with a further £500,000 for the health service in Madrid, where he and his family have been on lockdown since 14 March.
The director general of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has warned that complacency is the “greatest danger” facing countries in the fight against the pandemic:The director general of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has warned that complacency is the “greatest danger” facing countries in the fight against the pandemic:
Marianne Faithfull has been discharged from hospital after she was admitted for treatment while displaying symptoms of Covid-19. The singer spent nearly three weeks in hospital. Her agent said:Marianne Faithfull has been discharged from hospital after she was admitted for treatment while displaying symptoms of Covid-19. The singer spent nearly three weeks in hospital. Her agent said:
Finland will adopt a hybrid strategy it hopes will allow a semblance of normality while still containing the outbreak, its prime minister, Sanna Marin, has said.Finland will adopt a hybrid strategy it hopes will allow a semblance of normality while still containing the outbreak, its prime minister, Sanna Marin, has said.
She said the strategy would involve Finland gradually scaling back the restrictions in place to contain the virus while further increasing testing.She said the strategy would involve Finland gradually scaling back the restrictions in place to contain the virus while further increasing testing.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 802,583 cases as of Tuesday; an increase of 26,490 from Monday. It said the number of deaths had risen by 2,817 to 44,575.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 802,583 cases as of Tuesday; an increase of 26,490 from Monday. It said the number of deaths had risen by 2,817 to 44,575.
The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states.The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states.
MIA has claimed that British Vogue magazine has cancelled a feature about her because of comments she made on vaccination in the coronavirus pandemic, reports Laura Snapes, the Guardian’s deputy music editor.MIA has claimed that British Vogue magazine has cancelled a feature about her because of comments she made on vaccination in the coronavirus pandemic, reports Laura Snapes, the Guardian’s deputy music editor.
Last month, the Sri Lankan musician, whose real name is Mara Arulpragasam, said she would “choose death” over a vaccine for the coronavirus.Last month, the Sri Lankan musician, whose real name is Mara Arulpragasam, said she would “choose death” over a vaccine for the coronavirus.
On Wednesday, the 44-year-old posted on her Instagram page screenshots of a text conversation with an unidentified person who said that the editor of British Vogue, Edward Enninful, had withdrawn his offer for a feature. She has since removed the post.On Wednesday, the 44-year-old posted on her Instagram page screenshots of a text conversation with an unidentified person who said that the editor of British Vogue, Edward Enninful, had withdrawn his offer for a feature. She has since removed the post.
The message quoted a Vogue editor as saying:The message quoted a Vogue editor as saying:
It seems that everyone got something different out of today’s World Health Organization coronavirus press conference. Reuters focused on the funding issues caused by Donald Trump’s decision to withhold US payments to the global health body. The agency reports:It seems that everyone got something different out of today’s World Health Organization coronavirus press conference. Reuters focused on the funding issues caused by Donald Trump’s decision to withhold US payments to the global health body. The agency reports:
More than a dozen government-backed hacking groups are using the coronavirus pandemic as cover for phishing and malware attempts, according to security experts at Google.More than a dozen government-backed hacking groups are using the coronavirus pandemic as cover for phishing and malware attempts, according to security experts at Google.
Google said its Threat Analysis Group found hackers targeting international health organisations, including activity that corroborated a Reuters report from early April that the World Health Organization was targeted.Google said its Threat Analysis Group found hackers targeting international health organisations, including activity that corroborated a Reuters report from early April that the World Health Organization was targeted.
The WHO and other organisations at the centre of a global effort to contain the coronavirus have come under a sustained digital bombardment by hackers seeking information about the outbreak.The WHO and other organisations at the centre of a global effort to contain the coronavirus have come under a sustained digital bombardment by hackers seeking information about the outbreak.
Google said it has detected 18m malware and phishing Gmail messages each day related to the coronavirus outbreak.Google said it has detected 18m malware and phishing Gmail messages each day related to the coronavirus outbreak.
However, it said the number of phishing attacks was not in itself unusual, adding in the blog post published on Wednesday:However, it said the number of phishing attacks was not in itself unusual, adding in the blog post published on Wednesday:
Turkey has its coronavirus outbreak under control, the health minister, Dr Fahrettin Koca, said on Wednesday as data showed deaths from the virus increasing by 117 to 2,376 with 3,083 confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, Reuters reports.Turkey has its coronavirus outbreak under control, the health minister, Dr Fahrettin Koca, said on Wednesday as data showed deaths from the virus increasing by 117 to 2,376 with 3,083 confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, Reuters reports.
The total number of cases in the country stood at 98,674, the data showed.The total number of cases in the country stood at 98,674, the data showed.
A total of 16,477 people have recovered from the virus so far, while the number of tests carried out over the past 24 hours stood at 37,535.A total of 16,477 people have recovered from the virus so far, while the number of tests carried out over the past 24 hours stood at 37,535.
The coronavirus was killing Americans in the US weeks before health officials, doctors or the government realised, it emerged early on Wednesday, reports Joanna Walters in New York.The coronavirus was killing Americans in the US weeks before health officials, doctors or the government realised, it emerged early on Wednesday, reports Joanna Walters in New York.
Health officials now say two people died from Covid-19 in California in early February before the first reported death from the disease in the US.Health officials now say two people died from Covid-19 in California in early February before the first reported death from the disease in the US.
Santa Clara county officials, in northern California, said they now know the people died at their homes on 6 and 17 February. The first official recorded death in the US from the virus was reported on 29 February in Kirkland, in the state of Washington.Santa Clara county officials, in northern California, said they now know the people died at their homes on 6 and 17 February. The first official recorded death in the US from the virus was reported on 29 February in Kirkland, in the state of Washington.
The medical examiner-coroner of Santa Clara county received confirmation on Tuesday that tissue samples obtained during autopsies and sent to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested positive for the virus, officials said.The medical examiner-coroner of Santa Clara county received confirmation on Tuesday that tissue samples obtained during autopsies and sent to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested positive for the virus, officials said.
A third such death had occurred on 6 March. Santa Clara county is south of San Francisco and includes San Jose.A third such death had occurred on 6 March. Santa Clara county is south of San Francisco and includes San Jose.
“These three individuals died at home during a time when very limited testing was available only through the CDC,” the Santa Clara county health department said in a statement.“These three individuals died at home during a time when very limited testing was available only through the CDC,” the Santa Clara county health department said in a statement.
“Testing criteria set by the CDC at the time restricted testing to only individuals with a known travel history and who sought medical care for specific symptoms. As the medical examiner-coroner continues to carefully investigate deaths throughout the county, we anticipate additional deaths from Covid-19 will be identified,” the statement added.“Testing criteria set by the CDC at the time restricted testing to only individuals with a known travel history and who sought medical care for specific symptoms. As the medical examiner-coroner continues to carefully investigate deaths throughout the county, we anticipate additional deaths from Covid-19 will be identified,” the statement added.
One of the main themes at today’s World Health Organization press conference is the major role that US experts and officials play inside the WHO, writes Julian Borger, the Guardian’s world affairs editor.
This follows multiple accusations from Donald Trump and his officials that the WHO was privy to information about Covid-19 that it hid from the US.
The Guardian reported on Saturday that there were more than a dozen officials from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) embedded in the WHO in January and February.
Today, the head of the WHO health emergencies programme, Michael Ryan, said there were 31 US nationals on his team and pointed to Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO technical lead on Covid-19 also sitting on the podium, who is a US epidemiologist.
The WHO director, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the close association with CDC and having CDC staff at WHO headquarters in Geneva meant there was “nothing hidden from the US, from day one, because these are Americans who are working with us, and it just comes naturally.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Netherlands rose by 708 to 34,842, health authorities said on Wednesday, with 138 new deaths, Reuters reports.
The country’s death toll stands at 4,054, the Netherlands Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said in its daily update. The RIVM repeated the actual numbers are probably higher, as not all likely cases are tested.
The spokesman for Belgium’s coronavirus task force has pushed back against his country’s being singled out by the US government as the worst-affected in the world by coronavirus.
On Saturday, the White House highlighted Belgium as having the highest deaths per 100,000 population, at 45.20 ahead of badly hit Spain and Italy and four times the rate of the US.
But Steven van Gucht, a virologist who is the public face of his country’s coronavirus response, told Reuters the comparison was unfair.
Belgium is one of few countries in Europe that includes the deaths of non-hospitalised people suspected of having Covid-19. For most countries, the death toll counts only patients in hospital who tested positive for the virus.
On Wednesday, Belgium reported 933 new cases and 264 new deaths from Covid-19, bringing to a total of 41,889 confirmed cases and 6,262 deaths.
However, 52% of the fatalities included in Belgium’s death toll are patients in nursing homes. Of those, only 4.5% are confirmed to have had Covid-19, with the rest just suspected cases.
For a more accurate comparison with other countries, Van Gucht said the Belgian death rate should be divided by two.
The mayor of one of the largest cities in the Caribbean has come up with a novel way to enforce social distancing: ordering fire crews to drench anyone seen within two metres of anyone else, Tom Phillips, the Guardian’s Latin America correspondent, reports.
Abel Martínez, the mayor of Santiago in the Dominican Republic, sent two fire trucks out onto the city’s streets on Tuesday equipped with water hoses and loudspeakers.
“Attention. Warning. If you don’t stay two metres apart they will start to shoot water to separate you,” the speakers tell passersby as the hose is trained on them.
“Respect distancing. This is your last warning. They are ready to soak you!”
Images of the fire trucks moving through Santiago do not show them following through on the threat.
Italy reported 437 new deaths from coronavirus on Tuesday, 97 less than on Monday, bringing the death toll to 25,085, reports Angela Giuffrida, the Guardian’s Rome correspondent.
The number of people currently infected with the virus fell for the third day in a row, by 10 to 107,699, while there was a record jump of 2,943 in the number of people to have recovered.
Italy’s total cases to date, including the victims and 54,543 survivors, rose by 3,370 to 187,327.
On Wednesday afternoon, the regional government of Madrid said that 11,852 people in the area had died from the coronavirus, or while showing symptoms consistent with the disease, since 8 March, reports Sam Jones, the Guardian’s Madrid correspondent.
The figures, which include deaths at home and in care homes, are far higher than the 7,577 deaths it has reported to the central government, which compiles the nationwide toll in Spain.
This is because Spain’s health ministry logs only the deaths of people who have died in hospital after testing positive for Covid-19. According to the regional government, 5,558 people have died in care homes in and around Madrid since 8 March.
The family of a Bolsonarista congressman have been detained by police in Rio de Janeiro after taking a dip off Copacabana beach in violation of orders to stay indoors because of the coronavirus, Tom Phillips reports from Rio de Janeiro.
The wife and daughter of Luiz Lima - an avid supporter of Brazil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro - were reportedly spotted in the Atlantic waves on Tuesday during a police patrol and twice asked to remove themselves from the ocean.
When Lima’s family declined they were reportedly taken to a nearby police station where they and two others were fined under article 268 of the criminal code: disobeying government orders designed to prevent the introduction or spread of a contagious disease.
Lima was not happy.
He accused Rio’s governor - who has ordered beaches to be closed as part of a state-wide shutdown designed to slow the advance of Covid-19 - of behaving like a dictator.
In a Twitter video, Lima said: “Governor, forgive my language, but you’re a shit.”
Earlier this month Bolsonaro - who has faced global condemnation for undermining social distancing measures and downplaying the pandemic - attacked Rio’s supposedly “dictatorial” beach ban.
“There’s no problem going there at all,” claimed Bolsonaro.
The director general of the World Health Organization has said that there is still “a long way to go” in tackling the coronavirus crisis around the world.
Speaking at the WHO’s thrice-weekly press conference, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that while most national epidemics in western Europe had appeared to have stabilised or were declining, outbreaks appeared to be growing in Africa, central and south America, and eastern Europe.
And he warned against complacency, insisting that lockdown measures had no doubt helped curb the spread of the virus.
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Singapore has passed 10,000, despite concerted and strenuous attempts to contain the spread of the infection in the city state.
The milestone comes after Singapore’s ministry of health reported 1,016 new cases on Wednesday, the third day in a row that the city’s daily tally has exceeded 1,000, bringing the overall total in the city to 10,141.
The overwhelming majority - 967 - of the new cases were discovered among the migrant workers that Singapore relies on to carry out basic services in the city, suggesting that they had hitherto been overlooked in efforts to contain Covid-19.
The city also reported a 12th death from Covid-19. The victim, an 84-year-old woman, died on Tuesday night from complications due to the infection, the health ministry said.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organization, is about to begin his thrice-weekly press conference. You can tune in live on the player at the top of the blog.