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Coronavirus live news: South Korea records no new domestic cases for first time since February Coronavirus live news: South Korea records no new domestic cases for first time since February
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Trump claims China wants to block his re-election; 100 cases of unusual illness among children in at least six countries; UK deaths top Spain and FranceTrump claims China wants to block his re-election; 100 cases of unusual illness among children in at least six countries; UK deaths top Spain and France
The Guardian’s excellent data team, specifically Caelainn Barr and Pamela Duncan, have tried to unpick the figures surrounding Covid-19 related deaths in the UK and this piece is really worth a read.
Thanks so much to my colleague Jess Murray for her efforts this morning, I’ll be looking after the global live blog for the next 8 hours or so.
If you have tips and suggestions, or think we’ve missed a story please do get in touch. We appreciate our readers from all over the globe and love it when you get in touch. Personally, I particularly like the kind messages...but welcome constructive criticism too!
I’m on alexandra.topping@theguardian.com and @lexytopping on Twitter. My DMs are open.
I’m signing off now and handing over to my colleague Lexy Topping who will be running things for the next few hours.
Thanks for everyone for reaching out with their suggestions and comments, I really appreciate it.
The death toll from the outbreak of Covid-19 in Iran increased by 71 in the past 24 hours to 6,028, health ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said on Thursday.
The total number of diagnosed cases of the coronavirus in Iran, one of the Middle Eastern countries hardest hit by the outbreak, has reached 94,640, he said.
In his final message, Kluge said Covid-19 “is not going away any time soon” and healthcare systems must adapt accordingly.In his final message, Kluge said Covid-19 “is not going away any time soon” and healthcare systems must adapt accordingly.
He said the new Covid-19 Health System Response Monitor, launched by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, is collating evidence of how health systems are responding to the pandemic.He said the new Covid-19 Health System Response Monitor, launched by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, is collating evidence of how health systems are responding to the pandemic.
At the daily WHO briefing, Kluge said the WHO remains worried about interruptions to routine vaccinations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic which could result in “collateral damage” to children and vulnerable groups. At the daily WHO briefing, Kluge said the WHO remained worried about interruptions to routine vaccinations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which could result in “collateral damage” to children and vulnerable groups.
He warned that measles continues to spread in some parts of Europe, affecting over 6,000 people in the first two months of this year.He warned that measles continues to spread in some parts of Europe, affecting over 6,000 people in the first two months of this year.
Of the 44 countries in the European region that have implemented domestic movement restrictions, 21 countries have started easing some of these measures, and a further 11 are planning to do so in the coming days, said Hans Kluge, regional director of the World Health Organization in Europe.Of the 44 countries in the European region that have implemented domestic movement restrictions, 21 countries have started easing some of these measures, and a further 11 are planning to do so in the coming days, said Hans Kluge, regional director of the World Health Organization in Europe.
Speaking at a daily WHO press briefing, Kluge said countries must remain cautious.Speaking at a daily WHO press briefing, Kluge said countries must remain cautious.
He said it was important that during the transition period, healthcare systems have the capacity to “operate along a dual track”, delivering regular health services while also able to respond aggressively to the virus when needed.He said it was important that during the transition period, healthcare systems have the capacity to “operate along a dual track”, delivering regular health services while also able to respond aggressively to the virus when needed.
The regional president of Madrid has been criticised after defending her administration’s decision to contract fast food companies to feed children from low-income families during Spain’s coronavirus lockdown.The regional president of Madrid has been criticised after defending her administration’s decision to contract fast food companies to feed children from low-income families during Spain’s coronavirus lockdown.
Children in and around the capital who are normally eligible for free school meals have been receiving pizza and sandwiches from well-known Spanish chains despite worries from nutritionists.Children in and around the capital who are normally eligible for free school meals have been receiving pizza and sandwiches from well-known Spanish chains despite worries from nutritionists.
Speaking in the regional assembly on Wednesday, Isabel Díaz Ayuso accused her political opponents of using the issue to try to score cheap points. She said:Speaking in the regional assembly on Wednesday, Isabel Díaz Ayuso accused her political opponents of using the issue to try to score cheap points. She said:
The regional premier took careful aim at critics in the far-left, anti-austerity Unidas Podemos party, claiming that if they were in power, children in Madrid would be eating “Venezuelan meals – which is to say nothing at all”.The regional premier took careful aim at critics in the far-left, anti-austerity Unidas Podemos party, claiming that if they were in power, children in Madrid would be eating “Venezuelan meals – which is to say nothing at all”.
Nutritionists, however, remain unimpressed by such arguments.Nutritionists, however, remain unimpressed by such arguments.
“So, 100% of kids love pizza,” the nutritionist and dietician Julio Basulto wrote on Twitter.“So, 100% of kids love pizza,” the nutritionist and dietician Julio Basulto wrote on Twitter.
“Sure they do. But they also love sweets, cakes, ice creams, chocolates, Doritos and Red Bull.”“Sure they do. But they also love sweets, cakes, ice creams, chocolates, Doritos and Red Bull.”
Basulto said that while the odd pizza did not harm, a steady diet of them would lead to an unbalanced diet.Basulto said that while the odd pizza did not harm, a steady diet of them would lead to an unbalanced diet.
He also pointed out that the governments of other Spanish regions had found ways to feed children from poorer families without resorting to fast-food chains.He also pointed out that the governments of other Spanish regions had found ways to feed children from poorer families without resorting to fast-food chains.
The number of fatalities related to Covid-19 recorded overnight in Spain fell to 268, the lowest tally in nearly six weeks, the country’s health ministry said. The number of fatalities related to Covid-19 recorded overnight in Spain fell to 268, the lowest in nearly six weeks, the country’s health ministry said.
The overall death toll rose to 24,543 on Thursday, up from 24,275 on the previous day, the ministry said.The overall death toll rose to 24,543 on Thursday, up from 24,275 on the previous day, the ministry said.
The number of cases registered in the country rose to 213,435 from 212,917 the day before.The number of cases registered in the country rose to 213,435 from 212,917 the day before.
Japan Airlines’ annual net profit plunged nearly 65%, the company said on Thursday, as it faced the “unprecedented” impact of the coronavirus pandemic on aviation demand.Japan Airlines’ annual net profit plunged nearly 65%, the company said on Thursday, as it faced the “unprecedented” impact of the coronavirus pandemic on aviation demand.
JAL said net profit for the fiscal year ending in March fell 64.6% to 53.4bn yen ($500m) on annual sales of 1.4trn yen, down 5.1%.JAL said net profit for the fiscal year ending in March fell 64.6% to 53.4bn yen ($500m) on annual sales of 1.4trn yen, down 5.1%.
The results were largely in line with a profit warning the airline issued last week.The results were largely in line with a profit warning the airline issued last week.
JAL said demand had plunged owing to entry bans around the world, the cancellation of major domestic events, and a state of emergency in Japan with authorities urging citizens not to travel.JAL said demand had plunged owing to entry bans around the world, the cancellation of major domestic events, and a state of emergency in Japan with authorities urging citizens not to travel.
“Our group is facing an unprecedented situation,” the company said in a statement.“Our group is facing an unprecedented situation,” the company said in a statement.
For now, JAL plans to cut its number of flights by 90% on international routes and by more than 60% on domestic routes from its flight schedule announced before the pandemic.For now, JAL plans to cut its number of flights by 90% on international routes and by more than 60% on domestic routes from its flight schedule announced before the pandemic.
But the firm said it remained optimistic about the outlook. It said:But the firm said it remained optimistic about the outlook. It said:
Indonesia confirmed 347 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, taking the total in the south-east Asian country above 10,000 for the first time with 10,118 infections, said the health ministry official Achmad Yurianto.Indonesia confirmed 347 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, taking the total in the south-east Asian country above 10,000 for the first time with 10,118 infections, said the health ministry official Achmad Yurianto.
Yurianto reported eight new deaths, taking the total fatalities to 792, while 1,522 have recovered.Yurianto reported eight new deaths, taking the total fatalities to 792, while 1,522 have recovered.
More than 72,300 people have been tested.More than 72,300 people have been tested.
The spread of Covid-19 has been contained in the Czech Republic and the government will continue to cautiously open up the economy, the health minister, Adam Vojtěch, said on Thursday.The spread of Covid-19 has been contained in the Czech Republic and the government will continue to cautiously open up the economy, the health minister, Adam Vojtěch, said on Thursday.
The country has seen the number of new cases drop below 100 for the past eight consecutive days, and the number of active cases has also been on the decline.The country has seen the number of new cases drop below 100 for the past eight consecutive days, and the number of active cases has also been on the decline.
The ministry said the reproduction rate of the virus had dropped to 0.7, which means every newly infected person passes the infection to fewer than one other person.The ministry said the reproduction rate of the virus had dropped to 0.7, which means every newly infected person passes the infection to fewer than one other person.
There were 7,581 cases in the country as of Thursday morning, and 227 deaths.There were 7,581 cases in the country as of Thursday morning, and 227 deaths.
Positive developments have prompted the government to start reopening shops and services as well as non-urgent medical care, as doctors fear the impact of neglect in standard care.Positive developments have prompted the government to start reopening shops and services as well as non-urgent medical care, as doctors fear the impact of neglect in standard care.
Vojtěch told a press conference:Vojtěch told a press conference:
The country has also seen a decline in the number of hospitalised patients, to 348 on Wednesday from a peak of 446 on 9 April.The country has also seen a decline in the number of hospitalised patients, to 348 on Wednesday from a peak of 446 on 9 April.
The government, under pressure from businesses and the general population, has lifted most limits on movement and sped up reopening shops and services.The government, under pressure from businesses and the general population, has lifted most limits on movement and sped up reopening shops and services.
Stores of up to 2,500 square metres reopened on Monday.Stores of up to 2,500 square metres reopened on Monday.
The head of the health ministry’s epidemiological advisory team, Rastislav Mad’ar, has cautioned about the faster relaxations, saying they may be risky.The head of the health ministry’s epidemiological advisory team, Rastislav Mad’ar, has cautioned about the faster relaxations, saying they may be risky.
Schools are not to reopen fully until September, and the government is also keeping in place an obligation to wear face masks in public and a ban on large public gatherings.Schools are not to reopen fully until September, and the government is also keeping in place an obligation to wear face masks in public and a ban on large public gatherings.
The government is hoping a system of tracing and testing contacts of infected people, newly boosted by an army of testers, mobile apps and location data from phones and payment card transactions, will be enough to contain any flare-ups without the need to reintroduce blanket restrictions.The government is hoping a system of tracing and testing contacts of infected people, newly boosted by an army of testers, mobile apps and location data from phones and payment card transactions, will be enough to contain any flare-ups without the need to reintroduce blanket restrictions.
Malaysian health authorities reported 57 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, raising the cumulative total to 6,002 cases.Malaysian health authorities reported 57 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, raising the cumulative total to 6,002 cases.
The health ministry also reported two new deaths, bringing the total fatalities to 102.The health ministry also reported two new deaths, bringing the total fatalities to 102.
Schools in Hungary will remain closed until the end of May and events with more than 500 participants cannot be held until 15 August, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, said on Thursday.Schools in Hungary will remain closed until the end of May and events with more than 500 participants cannot be held until 15 August, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, said on Thursday.
Orbán announced on Wednesday that some restrictions outside Budapest imposed to contain the coronavirus outbreak will be lifted, starting next week.Orbán announced on Wednesday that some restrictions outside Budapest imposed to contain the coronavirus outbreak will be lifted, starting next week.
Existing restrictions will continue for now in the capital, which has reported the highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths in the country.Existing restrictions will continue for now in the capital, which has reported the highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths in the country.
The German government’s disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), this morning announced the latest reproduction number of the novel coronavirus as 0.75.Lothar Wieler, the RKI’s president, said the latest official data showed a “pleasing development”, indicating the spread of the virus in Germany was slowing down.The basic reproduction rate (R), which indicates how many new cases one infected person generates on average, had been announced as edging up to one in Monday’s report – causing concern as it seemed to suggest the spread of the virus was regaining momentum.The RKI, which uses a method called nowcasting to estimate the R number, said while it had in recent days tweaked the method by which it estimated the number of new infections, the reproduction numbers from the start and the end of the week were still comparable.Germany on Thursday recorded a total of 159,119 confirmed Covid-19 infections, an increase of 1,478 compared with yesterday.Wieler said the capacity for testing for the virus had been ramped up in Germany, to 860,000 tests a week.The German government’s disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), this morning announced the latest reproduction number of the novel coronavirus as 0.75.Lothar Wieler, the RKI’s president, said the latest official data showed a “pleasing development”, indicating the spread of the virus in Germany was slowing down.The basic reproduction rate (R), which indicates how many new cases one infected person generates on average, had been announced as edging up to one in Monday’s report – causing concern as it seemed to suggest the spread of the virus was regaining momentum.The RKI, which uses a method called nowcasting to estimate the R number, said while it had in recent days tweaked the method by which it estimated the number of new infections, the reproduction numbers from the start and the end of the week were still comparable.Germany on Thursday recorded a total of 159,119 confirmed Covid-19 infections, an increase of 1,478 compared with yesterday.Wieler said the capacity for testing for the virus had been ramped up in Germany, to 860,000 tests a week.
476,000 tests were carried out last week, out of which 5.4% were positive.476,000 tests were carried out last week, out of which 5.4% were positive.