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Coronavirus live news: Singapore to ease restrictions as second wave of cases subsides Coronavirus live news: Malaysia rounds up migrants as UN warns of crackdown on vulnerable
(32 minutes later)
Somalia reports rapid rise in Covid-19 deaths; 98 people die in one New York nursing homeSomalia reports rapid rise in Covid-19 deaths; 98 people die in one New York nursing home
Malaysian authorities are rounding up undocumented migrants as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus, officials said, after hundreds of migrants and refugees were detained in the capital Kuala Lumpur, according to a report by Reuters. American authorities have approved an experimental drug for emergency use on coronavirus patients, AFP reports.
Authorities said 586 undocumented migrants were arrested during a Friday raid in a downtown area where many foreigners live, a move the United Nations said could push vulnerable groups into hiding and prevent them from seeking treatment. The approval follows the controversial easing of lockdowns in more US states, despite another spike in deaths from the disease.
The experimental drug is the latest step in a global push to find viable treatments and a vaccine for the coronavirus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown, hammered the world economy and infected more than 3.3 million people.
Remdesivir, an antiviral drug initially developed to treat Ebola, was given the green light on Friday after a major trial found that it boosted recovery in serious COVID-19 patients.
“It’s really a very promising situation,” Donald Trump said on Friday at the White House, where he was joined by Daniel O’Day, CEO of Gilead Sciences, which developed Remdesivir.
Spain’s coronavirus death toll reached 25,100 on Saturday after 276 people died overnight, the health ministry said.
Reuters reports the total cases rose to 216,582 from 215,216 on Friday.
Spain has had one of the worst outbreaks in the world, but is past its peak and gradually easing lockdown restrictions.
The lockdown in Lagos, which accounts for more than half of Nigeria’s 2,000 confirmed infections, is due to gradually ease from Monday. Yet the impact on millions, particularly those living on the edge in daily informal labour has been acute.
Amid limited government support, an outpouring of hundreds of initiatives has emerged across Lagos, providing food and essential goods. A range of food and aid distribution has been set up by NGOs, private businesses, community groups and local people.
Malaysian authorities are rounding up undocumented migrants as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus, officials said, after hundreds of migrants and refugees were detained in the capital Kuala Lumpur, according to Reuters.
Authorities said 586 undocumented migrants were arrested during a Friday raid in a downtown area where many foreigners live, a move theUN said could push vulnerable groups into hiding and prevent them from seeking treatment.
Those detained included young children and ethnic Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, rights groups had said.Those detained included young children and ethnic Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, rights groups had said.
Police said the operation was aimed at preventing undocumented migrants from travelling to other areas amid movement curbs imposed to contain the spread of the virus outbreak, state news agency Bernama reported. Police said the operation was aimed at preventing undocumented migrants from travelling to other areas amid movement curbs imposed to contain the spread of the virus outbreak, the state news agency Bernama reported.
The United Nations urged Malaysia to avoid detaining migrants and release all children and their caregivers, warning that overcrowded detention centres carried a high risk of increasing the virus’ spread. The UN urged Malaysia to avoid detaining migrants and release all children and their caregivers, warning that overcrowded detention centres carried a high risk of increasing the virus’s spread.
“The fear of arrest and detention may push these vulnerable population groups further into hiding and prevent them from seeking treatment, with negative consequences for their own health and creating further risks to the spreading of COVID-19 to others,” the United Nations said in a statement. “The fear of arrest and detention may push these vulnerable population groups further into hiding and prevent them from seeking treatment, with negative consequences for their own health and creating further risks to the spreading of Covid-19 to others,” the UN said in a statement.
Undocumented African migrants, who even before the coronavirus outbreak plunged Italy into crisis, barely scraped, but the lockdown for past two months has made their existence even more precarious.Undocumented African migrants, who even before the coronavirus outbreak plunged Italy into crisis, barely scraped, but the lockdown for past two months has made their existence even more precarious.
Italy is preparing to reopen some businesses and industry on Monday in a preliminary easing of its virus shutdown. But there is no indication that migrants in Castel Volturno will get back to work anytime soon, and no evidence that the government’s social nets will ease their misery.Italy is preparing to reopen some businesses and industry on Monday in a preliminary easing of its virus shutdown. But there is no indication that migrants in Castel Volturno will get back to work anytime soon, and no evidence that the government’s social nets will ease their misery.
Rohingya refugees whose relatives, including children, have been stranded for weeks on cramped boats have urged international governments to act before they perish at sea.Rohingya refugees whose relatives, including children, have been stranded for weeks on cramped boats have urged international governments to act before they perish at sea.
Two boats carrying about 500 people were last spotted off Bangladesh about a week ago, but are believed to have returned to the high seas. The refugees on board, who were fleeing desperate conditions in camps in Bangladesh, had attempted to reach Malaysia but appear to have been turned away. Bangladesh has also said it will not allow the boats to dock.Two boats carrying about 500 people were last spotted off Bangladesh about a week ago, but are believed to have returned to the high seas. The refugees on board, who were fleeing desperate conditions in camps in Bangladesh, had attempted to reach Malaysia but appear to have been turned away. Bangladesh has also said it will not allow the boats to dock.
Mohammed, a father who has lived in the camps in Bangladesh since 2017, when more than 700,000 Rohingya fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar, believes his 13-year-old son is among those stranded. His son went missing 51 days ago, but later phoned to say that he would be taking a boat with friends to Malaysia.Mohammed, a father who has lived in the camps in Bangladesh since 2017, when more than 700,000 Rohingya fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar, believes his 13-year-old son is among those stranded. His son went missing 51 days ago, but later phoned to say that he would be taking a boat with friends to Malaysia.
Mohammed has since seen a video, shared on Facebook, in which he recognised his son onboard a packed boat. “He looked hungry and he had become very thin,” Mohammed said. “There is no way to get information about the boat. Whether he is alive or not is totally unknown.”Mohammed has since seen a video, shared on Facebook, in which he recognised his son onboard a packed boat. “He looked hungry and he had become very thin,” Mohammed said. “There is no way to get information about the boat. Whether he is alive or not is totally unknown.”
After two and a half years living in the sprawling camps in Cox’s Bazar, where about 1 million Rohingya refugees are sheltering, Mohammed said he believes his son had become desperate. “He cannot access education here in the camp. There are no jobs, there’s no available income here for our boys,” he said.After two and a half years living in the sprawling camps in Cox’s Bazar, where about 1 million Rohingya refugees are sheltering, Mohammed said he believes his son had become desperate. “He cannot access education here in the camp. There are no jobs, there’s no available income here for our boys,” he said.
He had not known that his son planned to make the journey, he added.He had not known that his son planned to make the journey, he added.
Russia has seen another record daily increase with 9,623 new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the total to 124,054.Russia has seen another record daily increase with 9,623 new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the total to 124,054.
Reuters reports the nationwide death toll rose to 1,222 after 57 people died in the last 24 hours, Russia’s coronavirus crisis response centre said, after revising the previous day’s tally.Reuters reports the nationwide death toll rose to 1,222 after 57 people died in the last 24 hours, Russia’s coronavirus crisis response centre said, after revising the previous day’s tally.
About two million Afghans have lost their jobs due to lockdown as the war-torn country confirmed 179 new coronavirus cases, triggered by continued surges of transmission in Kandahar and the biggest one-day rise of infections in Kabul. According to the National Union of Workers and Employees, the political crisis has compounded unemployment in the country.“The political crisis, security threats, the lockdown of cities and the reduction in international aid strongly concerns us. We want all to pay attention to the situation and the problems,” said Marouf Qadiri, the head of the National Workers Union.The country’s health ministry has confirmed 179 new coronavirus cases and four deaths over the past 24 hours, pushing the total number of infections to 2,514 and total deaths to 72.About two million Afghans have lost their jobs due to lockdown as the war-torn country confirmed 179 new coronavirus cases, triggered by continued surges of transmission in Kandahar and the biggest one-day rise of infections in Kabul. According to the National Union of Workers and Employees, the political crisis has compounded unemployment in the country.“The political crisis, security threats, the lockdown of cities and the reduction in international aid strongly concerns us. We want all to pay attention to the situation and the problems,” said Marouf Qadiri, the head of the National Workers Union.The country’s health ministry has confirmed 179 new coronavirus cases and four deaths over the past 24 hours, pushing the total number of infections to 2,514 and total deaths to 72.
Kabul has recorded its biggest one-day rise of new infections as 75 new patients tested positive for Covid-19. The total number of infections in Afghanistan’s worst affected area is 692.Kabul has recorded its biggest one-day rise of new infections as 75 new patients tested positive for Covid-19. The total number of infections in Afghanistan’s worst affected area is 692.
The city of six million is under lockdown in a bid to contain spread of coronavirus.The city of six million is under lockdown in a bid to contain spread of coronavirus.
The western province of Herat, which borders Iran and had the first coronavirus case confirmed there, has recorded 23 new infections. Thousands of Afghan migrants poured back in February and March from Iran.At least 41 suspected patients were tested in Kandahar in past 24 hours, of which 15 were positive.Meanwhile, war continued to rage on Saturday as three civilians were killed in an explosion in Laghman province. United Nations Mission in Afghanistan has said that more than 533 civilians including 152 children were killed in first quarter of 2020.Health ministry spokesman, Wahidullah Mayar has said that the ministry is concerned about spread of coronavirus in war zones. He said the country was fighting with both terror and coronavirus. ”You won’t find any country like us, war is our biggest challenge in order to fight with coronavirus.”The western province of Herat, which borders Iran and had the first coronavirus case confirmed there, has recorded 23 new infections. Thousands of Afghan migrants poured back in February and March from Iran.At least 41 suspected patients were tested in Kandahar in past 24 hours, of which 15 were positive.Meanwhile, war continued to rage on Saturday as three civilians were killed in an explosion in Laghman province. United Nations Mission in Afghanistan has said that more than 533 civilians including 152 children were killed in first quarter of 2020.Health ministry spokesman, Wahidullah Mayar has said that the ministry is concerned about spread of coronavirus in war zones. He said the country was fighting with both terror and coronavirus. ”You won’t find any country like us, war is our biggest challenge in order to fight with coronavirus.”
Coronavirus has upended life for Morocco’s medical workers. They enjoy better medical facilities than in much of Africa but are often short of the equipment available in European hospitals, which also found themselves overwhelmed, according to a report by AP.Coronavirus has upended life for Morocco’s medical workers. They enjoy better medical facilities than in much of Africa but are often short of the equipment available in European hospitals, which also found themselves overwhelmed, according to a report by AP.
Read this brilliant, in-depth report from Guardian US writers Oliver Laughland and Amanda Holpuch on alleged negligence at plants run by some of America’s largest food manufacturers.Read this brilliant, in-depth report from Guardian US writers Oliver Laughland and Amanda Holpuch on alleged negligence at plants run by some of America’s largest food manufacturers.
A north-eastern Chinese city of 10 million people struggling with currently the country’s biggest coronavirus cluster shut dine-in services on Saturday, reports Reuters, as the rest of China eases restrictions designed to hamper the spread of the disease.A north-eastern Chinese city of 10 million people struggling with currently the country’s biggest coronavirus cluster shut dine-in services on Saturday, reports Reuters, as the rest of China eases restrictions designed to hamper the spread of the disease.
Harbin, the provincial capital of Heilongjiang and its biggest city, said it temporarily suspended dine-in services for all eateries, reported the official CCTV, citing an emergency epidemic prevention notice.Harbin, the provincial capital of Heilongjiang and its biggest city, said it temporarily suspended dine-in services for all eateries, reported the official CCTV, citing an emergency epidemic prevention notice.
Catering services operating in the city, such as barbecue eateries and those selling skewers, shabu shabu, and stew, must suspend dine-in meals until further notice and in accordance with changes in the epidemic situation, the notice said.Catering services operating in the city, such as barbecue eateries and those selling skewers, shabu shabu, and stew, must suspend dine-in meals until further notice and in accordance with changes in the epidemic situation, the notice said.
While mainland China reported only one case on Saturday and crowds returned to some of its most famous tourist attractions for the five-day May holiday, the northern province of Heilongjiang is hunkering down to prevent further clusters from forming.While mainland China reported only one case on Saturday and crowds returned to some of its most famous tourist attractions for the five-day May holiday, the northern province of Heilongjiang is hunkering down to prevent further clusters from forming.
Of the 140 local transmissions in mainland China, over half have been reported as from Heilongjiang, according to a Reuters tally.Of the 140 local transmissions in mainland China, over half have been reported as from Heilongjiang, according to a Reuters tally.
Heilongjiang province borders Russia and has become the frontline in the fight against a resurgence of the coronavirus epidemic, with many new infections from citizens entering from Russia.Heilongjiang province borders Russia and has become the frontline in the fight against a resurgence of the coronavirus epidemic, with many new infections from citizens entering from Russia.
The province has already banned entry to residential zones by non-locals and vehicles registered elsewhere. It had also ordered isolation for those arriving from outside China or key epidemic areas.The province has already banned entry to residential zones by non-locals and vehicles registered elsewhere. It had also ordered isolation for those arriving from outside China or key epidemic areas.
On the back of the outbreak, deputy secretary of the provincial party committee, Wang Wentao, said at meeting on Friday that “we deeply blame ourselves”, according to local media.On the back of the outbreak, deputy secretary of the provincial party committee, Wang Wentao, said at meeting on Friday that “we deeply blame ourselves”, according to local media.
“We had an inadequate understanding of epidemic prevention and control,” said Wang, adding that the failure to carry out testing in a timely manner contributed to the clusters.“We had an inadequate understanding of epidemic prevention and control,” said Wang, adding that the failure to carry out testing in a timely manner contributed to the clusters.
New polling shows pretty extraordinarily high support for the Scottish National party government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.New polling shows pretty extraordinarily high support for the Scottish National party government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the YouGov survey for the Times Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has the confidence of 71% of Scots when it comes to her ability to make the correct decisions in dealing with the virus, with only 23% saying they do not have faith in her judgments. That gives the Scottish first minister a +48 rating overall.According to the YouGov survey for the Times Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has the confidence of 71% of Scots when it comes to her ability to make the correct decisions in dealing with the virus, with only 23% saying they do not have faith in her judgments. That gives the Scottish first minister a +48 rating overall.
There was a high level of cross-party consensus in support of the government’s performance – three quarters of Scots, including the vast majority of Tory and Labour voters, believe the SNP government is handling the crisis well.There was a high level of cross-party consensus in support of the government’s performance – three quarters of Scots, including the vast majority of Tory and Labour voters, believe the SNP government is handling the crisis well.
As well as 85% of SNP voters, 84% of Liberal Democrats and 70% of both Conservative and Labour supporters are happy with the approach taken by the Scottish government. Just 19% said the virus was being handled badly.As well as 85% of SNP voters, 84% of Liberal Democrats and 70% of both Conservative and Labour supporters are happy with the approach taken by the Scottish government. Just 19% said the virus was being handled badly.
This consensus falls apart when assessing the UK government’s performance. Scots are split, with 47% of those surveyed agreeing Conservative ministers have handled the outbreak well and 48% disagreeing. Boris Johnson himself has a net rating of -15.This consensus falls apart when assessing the UK government’s performance. Scots are split, with 47% of those surveyed agreeing Conservative ministers have handled the outbreak well and 48% disagreeing. Boris Johnson himself has a net rating of -15.
Singapore’s health ministry confirmed 447 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, the smallest daily rise in two weeks, according to a report by Reuters.
The increase takes the city state’s tally of cases to 17,548, with 16 virus-related deaths.
The ministry said most of the new cases were among migrant workers living in dormitories.
The mayor of Moscow says about 2% of the city’s population, more than 250,000 people, have the virus.
“According to screening tests of various population groups, the real number of the infected is around 2% of Moscow’s total population,” Sergei Sobyanin wrote on his blog, Agence France-Presse reported.
Russia has so far reported more than 114,000 cases of the coronavirus, including 57,300 cases in Moscow, which is the centre of the country’s contagion.
According to official statistics, Moscow has a population of 12.7 million people but the real figure is believed to be higher.
Sobyanin said Moscow has significantly increased testing capacity over the past few weeks, adding the city has managed to “contain the spread of the infection” due to the enforcement of stay-at-home rules and other measures.
But he reiterated that the city was not yet past the peak of the outbreak.
“The threat is apparently on the rise,” he said.
Hello, I’m taking over the live blog from my colleague Helen. If you want to get in touch with any tips or comments, you can email me on aamna.mohdin@theguardian.com or tweet me @aamnamohdin.
A nursing home in New York has reported a “horrifying” death toll of 98 people from the coronavirus as residential facilities continued to emerge as a deadly source of outbreaks across the world.
The death toll at the Isabella Geriatric Center in Manhattan is one of the worst such outbreaks in the United States and caused a shock even in hard-hit New York after an official state tally of nursing home deaths listed only 13 at the home as of Friday.
But officials at the 705-bed centre later confirmed that up to 46 residents who tested positive for Covid-19 had died, as well as an additional 52 people suspected to have the virus, Associated Press reported. Some died at the nursing home and some died after being treated at hospitals.
“It’s absolutely horrifying,” mayor Bill de Blasio said. “It’s just impossible to imagine so many people lost in one place.”
India has mandated that all public and private sector employees use a government-backed Bluetooth tracing app and maintain social distancing in offices as New Delhi begins easing some of its lockdown measures in lower-risk areas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on Friday said India - the country with the largest number of people in lockdown - would extends its nationwide control measures for another two weeks from Monday to battle the spread of the coronavirus that causes the Covid-19 illness, but allow “considerable relaxations” in lower-risk districts.
As part of its efforts to fight the deadly virus, India last month launched the app Aarogya Setu - meaning Health Bridge - a Bluetooth and GPS-based system developed by the country’s National Informatics Centre. The app alerts users who may have come in contact with people later found to be positive for COVID-19 or deemed to be at high risk.
“Use of Aarogya Setu shall be made mandatory for all employees, both private and public,” India’s Ministry of Home Affairs said in a notification late on Friday.It will the responsibility of the heads of companies and organizations “to ensure 100% coverage of this app among the employees,” the ministry said.
Officials at India’s technology ministry and a lawyer who framed the privacy policy for Aarogya Setu told Reuters the app needs to be on at least 200 million phones for it to be effective in the country of 1.3 billion people.
The app has been downloaded around 50 million times on Android phones, which dominate India’s smartphone user base of 500 million, according to Google Play Store data.
The app’s compulsory use is raising concerns among privacy advocates, who say it is unclear how the data will be used and who stress that India lacks privacy laws to govern the app.
“Such a move should be backed by a dedicated law which provides strong data protection cover and is under the oversight of an independent body,” said Udbhav Tiwari, Public Policy Advisor for internet company Mozilla.New Delhi has said the app will not infringe on privacy as all data is collected anonymously.
New Zealand has been under a strict lockdown and has seen extraordinary results in containing the virus outbreak.
As those restrictions were downgraded to level three, we asked Guardian readers about their experiences.
“I was nearly skipping when I got to work,” said Kylie Toka, a fencer from Marton, Rangetikei.
Australian health authorities are investigating possible breaches of infection control at a Sydney aged care facility at the centre of a coronavirus cluster.
Of the five new Covid-19 cases in the state over the last 24 hours, two were recorded at Newmarch House, where 13 residents have died.
Anglicare Sydney, which runs the aged care facility, confirmed the positive tests but said it had “strict procedures and enforced infection control practices” in place.
More than 60 people – 24 staff and 37 residents – have tested positive to Covid-19 since the outbreak at the Penrith nursing home on 11 April.
Read more here:
Medics, funeral workers and gravediggers in Somalia have reported an unprecedented surge of deaths in recent days amid growing fears that official counts of Covid-19 deaths reflect only a fraction of the virus’s toll in Africa .
So far Somalia, one of the poorest and most vulnerable countries on the continent, has announced an official total of 601 confirmed cases and 28 deaths.
But evidence from medics and burial workers in Mogadishu, the capital of the unstable east African country, suggest the number of deaths could be many times higher.
Read more here:
The Jakarta Post has reported that a hamlet on the island of Bali has been put under lockdown after rapid testing showed hundreds of residents were probably infected.
Out of 1,200 tests, 400 returned a reactive result.
“Starting Thursday, Serokadan hamlet in Abuan village is isolated, closed. No one is allowed to enter or leave the hamlet,” said the Bali provincial Covid-19 taskforce’s executive chairman, Dewa Made Indra.
“We have followed up the rapid test results by taking swab samples for further PCR [polymerase chain reaction] tests to get accurate results on whether they are positive for Covid-19 or not. Of course, we will use the swab test results as the final results.”
Associated Press: Gun-carrying protesters have been a common sight at some demonstrations calling for coronavirus-related restrictions to be lifted. But an armed militia’s involvement in an angry protest in the Michigan statehouse on Thursday marked an escalation that drew condemnation and shone a spotlight on the practice of bringing weapons to protest.
The American Patriot rally started on the statehouse steps, where members of the Michigan Liberty Militia stood guard with weapons and tactical gear, their faces partially covered. They later moved inside the capitol along with several hundred protesters, who demanded to be let on to the House floor, which is prohibited.
Some protesters with guns which are allowed in the statehouse went to the Senate gallery, where a senator said some armed men shouted at her, and some senators wore bulletproof vests.
For some observers, the images of armed men in tactical gear at a state capitol were an unsettling symbol of rising tensions in a nation grappling with crisis. Others saw evidence of racial bias in the way the protesters were treated by police.
For some politicians, there was fresh evidence of the risk of aligning with a movement with clear ties to far-right groups.
Prominent Michigan Republicans on Friday criticised the showing, with the GOP leader of the state senate referring to some protesters as “a bunch of jackasses” who used intimidation and the threat of physical harm to “stir up fear and feed rancor”.
President Donald Trump, who has been criticized in the past for condoning extremist views, called the protesters very good people and urged Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer to make a deal.
Michigan has been the centre of the political showdown over how to contain the spread of the deadly virus without decimating the economy. About a quarter of the state’s workforce has filed for unemployment and nearly 4,000 people have died.