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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
UK government ministers are being pressed to reveal the full details of how they missed out on four opportunities to join an EU medical supplies consortium, in the wake of a U-turn by the top civil servant in the Foreign Office over comments suggesting it was a “political decision”, Patrick Wintour and Daniel Boffey write.
The Labour MP Chris Bryant, who sits on the foreign affairs select committee, said on Wednesday that he “feared the government was involved in a full-on cover-up” over how it came to miss out on four rounds of procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators and laboratory supplies launched by the EU in late February and March.
UK officials failed to take up an invitation to join the steering committee of participating countries that issues orders for medical equipment until 19 March – after the bulk purchases had been made.
Bryant said he feared either Foreign Office ministers or the prime minister decided not to be associated with any EU scheme for political reasons “even though it was patently in the interests of the NHS and its staff to explore every possible avenue to acquire masks, gowns and ventilator equipment, as fast and most effectively as possible”.
Egypt’s parliament has approved amendments to the country’s emergency laws that give expanded powers to the presidency and the military prosecution as authorities try to counter the epidemic.Egypt’s parliament has approved amendments to the country’s emergency laws that give expanded powers to the presidency and the military prosecution as authorities try to counter the epidemic.
The amendments allow the state to take and enforce a series of measures, some of which have already been deployed. These include suspending schools, banning public or private gatherings, quarantining returning travellers, prohibiting the export of certain goods and placing restrictions on the trade or transfer of commodities, according to a parliamentary report on the amendments.The amendments allow the state to take and enforce a series of measures, some of which have already been deployed. These include suspending schools, banning public or private gatherings, quarantining returning travellers, prohibiting the export of certain goods and placing restrictions on the trade or transfer of commodities, according to a parliamentary report on the amendments.
The state will also be allowed to direct private hospitals and their staff to help with general healthcare for a specific period, and to convert schools, companies and other publicly-owned sites into field hospitals.The state will also be allowed to direct private hospitals and their staff to help with general healthcare for a specific period, and to convert schools, companies and other publicly-owned sites into field hospitals.
The family of the acclaimed physicist Stephen Hawking has donated his ventilator to a hospital that had treated him in Cambridge. The hospital said:The family of the acclaimed physicist Stephen Hawking has donated his ventilator to a hospital that had treated him in Cambridge. The hospital said:
His daughter, Lucy Hawking, described the care her father received there as “brilliant, dedicated and compassionate”, it said.His daughter, Lucy Hawking, described the care her father received there as “brilliant, dedicated and compassionate”, it said.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to the Hawking family for supporting us at this challenging time,” said the hospital, which is a world-leading centre for heart and lung transplants.“We’d like to say a huge thank you to the Hawking family for supporting us at this challenging time,” said the hospital, which is a world-leading centre for heart and lung transplants.
The medical equipment was bought by Hawking himself, the BBC reported, and after checks had been added to the hospital’s fleet.The medical equipment was bought by Hawking himself, the BBC reported, and after checks had been added to the hospital’s fleet.
Bahrain has extended its lockdown measures for two more weeks, from 23 April until 7 May, its state news agency has reported.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.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 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 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.