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Coronavirus live news: Covid-19 outbreak increasing across Africa, WHO warns Coronavirus live news: Covid-19 outbreak increasing across Africa, WHO warns
(32 minutes later)
Denmark says partial easing of lockdown has not led to bigger spread of infection; Spain assigns time slots for outdoor activities; Italian PM warns against rushed, unilateral easing of restrictionsDenmark says partial easing of lockdown has not led to bigger spread of infection; Spain assigns time slots for outdoor activities; Italian PM warns against rushed, unilateral easing of restrictions
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa has announced its strategy to progressively lift lockdown measures imposed six weeks ago. The three-phase plan, starting on Monday, will open up different sectors of the economy every 15 days starting with small neighbourhood shops, hairdressers, car dealerships and bookshops. Germany is to re-open museums, galleries, zoos and playgrounds and allow religious services to resume in measures agreed by Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of 16 states. The states will ensure this will take place under strict conditions. Certain states have already allowed some of these activities to restart but restrictions will stay in force on people keeping physical distance from each other. Large-scale public gatherings will remain banned until the end of August.
Denmark says partial reopening has not accelerated virus spread
Authorities in Denmark, became the first country outside of Asia to ease lockdown measures a fortnight ago, said the spread of Covid-19 had not accelerated. Day care centres and schools began reopening in the Nordic country two weeks ago, followed by hairdressers and other small businesses on 20 April. The move came after the number of infections and deaths slowed.
Spain allocates times slots for outdoor activities, as death toll falls
Health authorities in Spain have said time slots for specific outdoor activities will be used to help the country avoid confusion and further contagion when adults are allowed out on Saturday to exercise for the first time since mid-March. Spain’s daily death toll fell to its lowest level in nearly six week, with 268 fatalities related to Covid-19 recorded overnight.
Eurozone records 3.8% slump, as ECB chief warns of worse to come
The head of the European Central Bank has warned that the eurozone could be on course for a 15% collapse in output in the second quarter as evidence of the economic toll caused by Covid-19 pandemic started to emerge, with France and Italy falling into recession.The head of the European Central Bank has warned that the eurozone could be on course for a 15% collapse in output in the second quarter as evidence of the economic toll caused by Covid-19 pandemic started to emerge, with France and Italy falling into recession.
Another 3.8 million Americans lose jobs as US unemployment continues to grow
Another 3.8 million people lost their jobs in the US last week as the coronavirus pandemic continued to batter the economy. The pace of layoffs appears to be slowing, but in just six weeks an unprecedented 30 million Americans have now sought unemployment benefits and the numbers are still growing.
Covid-19 outbreak increasing across Africa, WHO warns
World Health Organization officials in Africa have said the Covid-19 outbreak is still increasing across the continent despite widespread efforts at containment. Unlike developed countries that can rely on relatively well-resourced health systems to treat large numbers of sick people, most African nations are hoping they can slow the spread of the disease to protect very limited facilities.
Russian prime minister diagnosed with coronavirus
The Russian prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, has said he has been diagnosed with coronavirus and will self-isolate from the government in the country’s highest-profile case of the disease yet. Russia recorded a record daily rise in cases, taking the total of cases past 100,000. On Thursday 7,099 new cases were recorded, bringing the nationwide tally to 106,498.
UK prime minister says the country now ‘past the peak’
The UK prime minister, Boris Johnson – who was himself seriously ill with Covid-19 – said that the country has past its peak, and defended the decisions the UK government has taken. Speaking at the UK government’s daily press conference, Johnson said that the NHS has not been overwhelmed at any stage
Tajikistan reports first coronavirus cases
Tajikistan, which was thought to be one of the few countries untouched by coronavirus, has recorded its first coronavirus cases.
South Korea reports no new domestic cases for first time since 29 February.
South Korea reported on Thursday no new domestic coronavirus cases for the first time since its 29 February peak, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
War-torn Yemen reports first virus deaths.
The country reported its first two deaths and a new cluster of Covid-19 cases amid worries that the virus has been circulating undetected for some time and attempts at a humanitarian ceasefire to contain the new crisis are failing.
Czechs say coronavirus spread is contained as country reopens.
The Czech Republic has seen the number of new cases drop below 100 for the past eight consecutive days, and the government will continue to cautiously open up the economy, the health minister said.
Japan likely to extend nationwide state of emergency over the coronavirus.
Prime minister Shinzō Abe is expected to extend the measure until the end of May or until 6 June, as the country’s healthcare system continues to face an “extremely tough situation”, he said.
People out of work in Germany increased by 373,000 to 2.64 million in April.
Data from the labour office also showed the unemployment rate increased to 5.8%, up from 5% in March, as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
A British pharmaceutical company will know whether it’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate is effective by June or July.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said the company will continue working with Oxford Vaccine Unit to bring it to patients as soon as possible.
The French government has unveiled its coronavirus map dividing the country into “green” areas where lockdown regulations will be relaxed and “red” areas where strict measures will remain in place.
A number of departments were declared “orange” meaning they will be watched closely over the next week before being declared red or green on 7 May. France has been under one of the most strict lockdowns since noon on 17 March, with people facing heavy fines for leaving home without good reason. The lockdown is due to end on 11 May Three criteria were used to decide what people living in the 96 mainland departments and five overseas departments would be allowed to do when the national confinement finishes: the number of new Covid-19 cases in the previous seven days; the capacity of the department’s hospitals to deal with the epidemic; and the department’s ability to test, track and contain the virus. French health minister Olivier Véran said the maps were only indicative at this stage.
“The map changes nothing of the lockdown until 11 May. Don’t change what you are doing. Stay at home until 11 May,” Véran said. The definitive map used to determine who can do what and where after 11 May, will be published on 7 May.
The “gross” figure in the updated numbers is the number of new admissions to hospital or intensive care, the net number is the increase or reduction taking into account the number of people admitted against those who have died or been discharged. Jérôme Salomon, head of Publique Santé France, the French health authority, gave the updated figures. Number of cases: 129,181 Number in hospital: 26,283 (+1,048 gross, -551 net) Number in i/c: 4,019 (+121 gross, -188 net) Deaths in hospital: 15,244 (+191) Deaths in homes: 9,132 (+98) Total deaths: 24,376 (+289)
In Ghana, confirmed coronavirus cases have surged above 2,000, increasing 24% in a matter of days, health officials announced.
The Ghana Health Service reported 403 new cases, bringing the total to 2,074. The spike was announced ten days after President Nana Akufo-Addo eased a three-week lockdown in the capital of Accra and in the city of Kumasi.
Indian Ocean island nation of Comoros announced its first confirmed case, making it the 53rd of Africa’s 54 countries to report Covid-19. Only the small southern African kingdom of Lesotho has not reported a single case of the disease.
African nations have now reported more than 37,400 cases, including 1,598 deaths, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
In South Africa, which has the continent’s highest number of reported cases at 5,350, community health workers continued testing in Johannesburg.
The Portuguese prime minister, Antonio Costa, has announced its strategy to progressively lift lockdown measures imposed six weeks ago. The three-phase plan, starting on Monday, will open up different sectors of the economy every 15 days starting with small neighbourhood shops, hairdressers, car dealerships and bookshops.
The head of the European Central Bank has warned that the eurozone could be on course for a 15% collapse in output in the second quarter as evidence of the economic toll caused by Covid-19 pandemic started to emerge, with France and Italy falling into recession.
After news that the 19-nation monetary union area had contracted a record 3.8% in the first three months of 2020, Christine Lagarde said much worse was possible in the April to June period, when the impact of lockdown restrictions would be most severe.After news that the 19-nation monetary union area had contracted a record 3.8% in the first three months of 2020, Christine Lagarde said much worse was possible in the April to June period, when the impact of lockdown restrictions would be most severe.
Read the full story here:Read the full story here:
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has said he has been diagnosed with coronavirus and will self-isolate from the government in the country’s highest-profile case of the disease yet, reports the Guardian’s Andrew Roth in Moscow. The Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin has said he has been diagnosed with coronavirus and will self-isolate from the government in the country’s highest-profile case of the disease yet, reports the Guardian’s Andrew Roth in Moscow.
Mishustin disclosed that he was infected during a video call with Vladimir Putin, Russian state news agencies reported on Thursday evening. It wasn’t immediately clear how severe Mishustin’s case of the disease was, although one news agency reported that he had an elevated temperature of 39 degrees.Mishustin disclosed that he was infected during a video call with Vladimir Putin, Russian state news agencies reported on Thursday evening. It wasn’t immediately clear how severe Mishustin’s case of the disease was, although one news agency reported that he had an elevated temperature of 39 degrees.
Mishustin has been tasked with leading the government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, which surpassed 100,000 cases in Russia on Thursday. First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov would take on his duties in his absence, Mishustin said. Mishustin has been tasked with leading the government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, which surpassed 100,000 cases in Russia on Thursday. First deputy prime minister Andrei Belousov would take on his duties in his absence, Mishustin said.
“Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, I have just found out that the tests I gave for coronavirus have come back positive. Accordingly... I will go into self-isolation, fulfilling my doctors’ orders. This is necessary to do in order to protect my colleagues,” Mishustin reportedly told Putin during a video call. “Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, I have just found out that the tests I gave for coronavirus have come back positive. Accordingly … I will go into self-isolation, fulfilling my doctors’ orders. This is necessary to do in order to protect my colleagues,” Mishustin reportedly told Putin during a video call.
Putin has led semi-regular video calls with members of the government from his residence at Novo-Ogaryovo. He has not been pictured with other members of the government in the last several weeks.Putin has led semi-regular video calls with members of the government from his residence at Novo-Ogaryovo. He has not been pictured with other members of the government in the last several weeks.
As nations around the world are wondering what a good lockdown exit strategy looks like, Spain has released details about the time slots during which adults will be allowed outside to walk and exercise, reports Sam Jones in Madrid. And it looks pretty rigid:As nations around the world are wondering what a good lockdown exit strategy looks like, Spain has released details about the time slots during which adults will be allowed outside to walk and exercise, reports Sam Jones in Madrid. And it looks pretty rigid:
The health minister, Salvador Illa, said that people will be allowed out to walk or take other exercise from 6am to 10am and then from 8pm until 11pm.The health minister, Salvador Illa, said that people will be allowed out to walk or take other exercise from 6am to 10am and then from 8pm until 11pm.
People over 70, and those who need help walking, or who rely on carers, will be allowed out from 10am to midday, and then from 7pm til 8pm.People over 70, and those who need help walking, or who rely on carers, will be allowed out from 10am to midday, and then from 7pm til 8pm.
Parents will be able to accompany children aged under 14 on walks between midday and 7pm.Parents will be able to accompany children aged under 14 on walks between midday and 7pm.
The new rules come into force first thing on Saturday morning.The new rules come into force first thing on Saturday morning.
Walkers are entitled to an hour’s daily exercise within a 1km-radius of home, and while there are no time or distance limits for runners or those taking part in individual sports, they must stay within their home area. Social distancing guidelines must be observed, with people staying at least 1.5m away from others.Illa also said that towns of fewer than 5,000 inhabitants would be exempt from the time restirctions, allowing people to go out to walk or exercise when they wanted.Walkers are entitled to an hour’s daily exercise within a 1km-radius of home, and while there are no time or distance limits for runners or those taking part in individual sports, they must stay within their home area. Social distancing guidelines must be observed, with people staying at least 1.5m away from others.Illa also said that towns of fewer than 5,000 inhabitants would be exempt from the time restirctions, allowing people to go out to walk or exercise when they wanted.
People will also be allowed to return to their fruit and vegetable gardens and allotments to gather produce.The minister said the strict lockdown imposed on 14 March had worked.People will also be allowed to return to their fruit and vegetable gardens and allotments to gather produce.The minister said the strict lockdown imposed on 14 March had worked.
The UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, has said that the country has past its peak, and defended the decisions the UK government has taken.The UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, has said that the country has past its peak, and defended the decisions the UK government has taken.
Speaking at the UK government’s daily press conference, Johnson – who has just returned to work after a near-death brush with coronavirus, and the birth of his son – said that the NHS has not been overwhelmed at any stage.Speaking at the UK government’s daily press conference, Johnson – who has just returned to work after a near-death brush with coronavirus, and the birth of his son – said that the NHS has not been overwhelmed at any stage.
He says the UK avoided an “uncontrollable and catastrophic” epidemic that could have caused 500,000 deaths.He says the UK avoided an “uncontrollable and catastrophic” epidemic that could have caused 500,000 deaths.
The government has faced criticism for not giving the public a clear idea of what its exit strategy from the coronavirus lockdown might look like. He said he will publish a comprehensive plan next week, which will cover three things: how to restart the economy; how to get children back to school; and how to get people into work. So far, so simple.The government has faced criticism for not giving the public a clear idea of what its exit strategy from the coronavirus lockdown might look like. He said he will publish a comprehensive plan next week, which will cover three things: how to restart the economy; how to get children back to school; and how to get people into work. So far, so simple.
There will be five key tests:There will be five key tests:
For all the live updates from that press conference please do visit our UK coronavirus liveblog:For all the live updates from that press conference please do visit our UK coronavirus liveblog:
Last bit on Sweden (for now): Alberto Nardelli, Buzzfeed’s Europe editor (and formerly of this parish) did an excellent analysis of the figures earlier this week. He compared the number of deaths in Denmark and Sweden, and argued that the data showed many more people were dying in the latter. It’s a deep dive – but worth the time.Last bit on Sweden (for now): Alberto Nardelli, Buzzfeed’s Europe editor (and formerly of this parish) did an excellent analysis of the figures earlier this week. He compared the number of deaths in Denmark and Sweden, and argued that the data showed many more people were dying in the latter. It’s a deep dive – but worth the time.
If, like me, you have become slightly obsessed with the different approach Sweden has taken compared with its Nordic neighbours (just me, then?), this Forbes piece is worth a read. After describing scenes of “normal” life which many European countries are currently only able to dream of, it continues
Would be very interested to hear from any readers in Sweden about how they feel about their government’s response to the pandemic.
You can read more about the nation’s policy from the Guardian’s excellent Europe correspondent Jon Henley, who very recently reported on politicians asking not to be judged prematurely, and comments from its chief epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell, that the lockdown measures taken by other countries now opening up were difficult to justify.
The Canadian arctic territory of Nunavut has reported its first case of Covid-19 – something officials had long feared as inevitable, reports the Guardian’s Leyland Cecco in Toronto.
The territorial chief public health officer, Dr Michael Patterson, said:
The case was recorded in Pond Inlet, a small community of 1,600 people.
Officials have started contact tracing within the community. The government’s rapid response team is expected to arrive in the community on Thursday afternoon.
All travel to and from Pond Inlet has been restricted, including travel by air and land. The government has made an exception for cargo and emergency travel.
The premier, Joe Savikataaq, said:
Health experts have feared the isolated communities in the Arctic, many of which experience chronic overcrowding in homes and disproportionately high rates of respiratory illness, would be among Canada’s most vulnerable to the novel coronavirus.
Anna Banerji, the director of global and indigenous health at the University of Toronto’s faculty of medicine, previously told the Guardian:
Another 3.8 million people lost their jobs in the US last week as the coronavirus pandemic continued to batter the economy. The pace of layoffs appears to be slowing, but in just six weeks an unprecedented 30 million Americans have now sought unemployment benefits and the numbers are still growing, writes my colleague Dominic Rushe.
The latest figures from the Department of Labor released on Thursday showed a fourth consecutive week of declining claims. While the trend is encouraging, the rate of losses means US unemployment is still on course to reach levels unseen since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Read the full report here|:
The Associated Press is reporting that New York police were called to a Brooklyn neighbourhood on Wednesday after an overwhelmed funeral home resorted to storing dozens of bodies on ice in rented trucks, and a passerby complained about the smell, according to officials. AP reports:
Investigators who responded to a 911 call found that the home had rented four trucks to hold about 50 corpses, according to a law enforcement official. No criminal charges were brought and the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation, spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The Andrew T Cleckley Funeral Home was cited for failing to control the odors. The home was able to obtain a larger, refrigerated truck later in the day, the official said.
Workers suited up in protective gear could be seen in the afternoon transferring bodies into the refrigerated truck.
In the US again, Anthony Fauci has today said that states reopening their economies “can’t just leap over things” that would potentially allow the coronavirus to rebound.
In an interview on NBC’s Today show, Savannah Guthrie asked Fauci whether the states that are beginning to reopen have the capability to do contact tracing. Fauci responded that while he could not go through a list of each of them, he urged those that don’t have that capability to “go very slowly”. He said:
Fauci said states should follow federal guidelines and only begin to reopen if they have a two-week decline in the number of new Covid-19 cases. He cautioned that states must have the capability of identifying, isolating and contact tracing people who test positive because “there will be blips — there’s no doubt”.
“When you pull back, there will be cases,” he said.
In the US, federal guidelines on social distancing will expire tonight and at least two dozen states are set to begin reopening with greater social movement and business activity tomorrow or over the weekend.
This is from our US coronavirus liveblog:
While Donald Trump is keen for this to happen, his own public health experts are urging extreme caution about states relaxing their own stay-at-home orders (as opposed to mere guidelines). There were more than 2,600 new deaths in the US from coronavirus yesterday.
And last night California announced it was going to close its beaches and state parks just days after allowing them to open, after people crowded there in an unsafe way.
And:
Top public health expert Anthony Fauci this morning said the preliminary results from early trials of the drug remdesivir in treating coronavirus were “clearly positive” though “modest” and were a “first step in what we project will be better and better drugs” to treat Covid-19.
Presumed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has formed his “vetting team” to search for his best vice presidential candidate – while calls for him to address directly a recently elevated accusation of sexual assault in the past are growing.
The latest unemployment figures in the US are due out at 8.30 and our business team will cover that separately. They will not make good reading.
You can follow all US coronavirus-related news here:
Tajikistan, which was thought to be one of the few countries untouched by coronavirus, has recorded its first coronavirus cases, according to a report from the website Asia Plus.
According to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population (MoHSPP), 15 confirmed Covid-19 cases had been reported in the country as of 29 April.
Health officials had previously said pneumonia was sweeping through the population, according to the report.
Here’s a list from Al Jazeera of countries with no confirmed cases of coronavirus:
Comoros; Kiribati; Lesotho; Marshall Islands; Micronesia; Nauru; North Korea; Palau; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Tonga; Turkmenistan; Tuvalu; Vanuatu
World Health Organization officials in Africa have said the Covid-19 outbreak is still increasing across the continent despite widespread efforts at containment, writes the Guardian’s Africa correspondent, Jason Burke.
Unlike developed countries that can rely on relatively well-resourced health systems to treat large numbers of sick people, most African nations are hoping they can drastically slow the spread of the disease to protect very limited facilities.
There are more than 34,000 confirmed cases across the continent, with about a third of those on its northern Mediterranean coast. The statistics are likely to significantly underestimate the true extent of the spread of the disease.
Many countries have issued targeted lockdowns in major cities, as well as dusk-to-dawn curfews and restrictions on travel, but most have stopped short of nationwide lockdowns like that in South Africa, citing the economic and social costs of such measures.
WHO officials warned that such choices could mean consequences in terms of the spread of Covid-19, but said they recognised the challenge of making tough decisions.
They did however express concern at surging numbers of cases in some regions.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s director for the Africa region, said:
Senegal, with a population of nearly 16 million, has recorded 933 cases, with nine deaths as of Thursday. The government has declared a state of emergency, closed schools and issued restrictions on gatherings and travel, but cases have continued to rise.There are also concerns that outbreaks are not being recognised. There are unconfirmed reports from local doctors and media of large numbers of deaths involving a respiratory illness in Somalia, northern Nigeria and elsewhere. A limited ability to test has slowed investigation.
Michel Yao, WHO Africa’s emergency operations manager, said identification by symptoms could be enough if there had already been confirmed cases of Covid-19 in a given area.
In South Africa, which now has 5,350 confirmed Covid-19 cases and more than 100 deaths, the peak of the outbreak is likely to be between July and September, depending on how the disease evolves during the southern hemisphere’s winter and the impact of containment measures, the health minister, Zweli Mkhize, said.
A strict lockdown imposed five weeks ago in South Africa will be marginally softened tomorrow (Friday), with some exercise now allowed and a handful of designated industries returning to work.
Prof Salim Abdool Karim, the principal government adviser on Covid-19, said South Africa had performed better than developed countries in slowing transmission, although the number of cases has continued to rise. He said:
Deep problems remain, however, with a shortage of trained medical personnel still a major concern.
More news from Denmark, where authorities say the spread of Covid-19 has not accelerated since it became the first country outside of Asia to ease lockdown measures a fortnight ago.
Day care centres and schools began reopening in the Nordic country two weeks ago, followed by hairdressers and other small businesses on 20 April. The move came after the number of infections and deaths slowed. “There are no signs that the Covid-19 epidemic is accelerating,” the State Serum Institute, which is responsible for preparedness against infectious diseases, said.
The “R rate”, which indicates the average number of infections one person with the virus causes, increased slightly in the past two weeks but remained below 1.0, it said. Earlier this week, Germany announced its R rate had edged up back to 1.0 after a lockdown relaxation.
Denmark, which was one of the first nations in Europe to shut down, had 452 coronavirus-related deaths as of Thursday, with the number of hospitalisations falling steadily during April.
“There are no signs whatsoever that the partial reopening has caused a bigger spread of infection,” said Christian Wejse, a scientist at the department of infectious diseases at Aarhus University. “At least there is no indication that we are heading into another wave. That has been the concern, but I can’t see that at all,” he told Reuters.
Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, said yesterday that the spread of the virus was “under control” and that she would present a plan for the next steps in the reopening before 10 May.
“We are by no means home safe, but we have a really good starting point now to get the number of infected further down,” Wejse said.
Scientists have found evidence for mutations in some strains of the coronavirus that suggest the pathogen may be adapting to humans after spilling over from bats.
The analysis of more than 5,300 coronavirus genomes from 62 countries shows that while the virus is fairly stable, some have gained mutations, including two genetic changes that alter the critical “spike protein” the virus uses to infect human cells.
Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine stress that it is unclear how the mutations affect the virus, but since the changes arose independently in different countries, they may help the virus spread more easily.
The spike mutations are rare at the moment but Martin Hibberd, professor of emerging infectious diseases and a senior author on the study – which has yet to be published in a journal or peer reviewed – said their emergence highlighted the need for global surveillance of the virus so that more worrying changes could be picked up fast. Hibberd said:
Studies of the virus revealed early on that the shape of its spike protein allowed it to bind to human cells more efficiently than Sars, a related virus that caused an outbreak in 2002. The difference may have helped the latest coronavirus infect more people and spread rapidly around the world.
Scientists will be concerned if more extensive mutations in the spike protein arise, not only because they may alter how the virus behaves. The spike protein is the main target of leading vaccine programmes around the world, and if it changes too much those vaccines may no longer work. Other potential therapies, such as synthetic antibodies that home in on the spike protein, could be less effective, too.