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Coronavirus live news: Putin to ease Russia lockdown despite record number of new infections Coronavirus live news: Putin to ease Russia lockdown despite record number of new infections
(32 minutes later)
UK and WHO to lead global Covid-19 information campaign; Aden declared an ‘infested’ cityUK and WHO to lead global Covid-19 information campaign; Aden declared an ‘infested’ city
Hi, Helen Sullivan with you now. The best way to get in touch with me – and I welcome questions, comments or tips – is on Twitter @helenrsullivan.
Here’s the PBS White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor on how the ending to Trump’s briefing played out:
In Washington, Trump has ended his briefing on a sour note.In Washington, Trump has ended his briefing on a sour note.
Asked by CBS White House Correspondent Weijia Jiang why he is fixated on comparing the US’s testing capability with other countries as opposed to focusing on the lag that still exists in the US, Trump replied: “Maybe that’s a question you should ask China. Don’t ask me, ask China that question, OK?”Asked by CBS White House Correspondent Weijia Jiang why he is fixated on comparing the US’s testing capability with other countries as opposed to focusing on the lag that still exists in the US, Trump replied: “Maybe that’s a question you should ask China. Don’t ask me, ask China that question, OK?”
He then called on CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, who ceded the mic to Jiang so she could ask her follow-up. Jiang, who is Asian-American, replied to Trump: “Sir, why are you saying that to me, specifically, that I should ask China.”He then called on CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, who ceded the mic to Jiang so she could ask her follow-up. Jiang, who is Asian-American, replied to Trump: “Sir, why are you saying that to me, specifically, that I should ask China.”
“I’m telling you, I’m not saying it specifically to anybody. I’m saying it to anybody that would ask a nasty question like that,” he said.“I’m telling you, I’m not saying it specifically to anybody. I’m saying it to anybody that would ask a nasty question like that,” he said.
Collins then tried to ask her question but Trump skipped her. He then refused to take any more questions and left the podium.Collins then tried to ask her question but Trump skipped her. He then refused to take any more questions and left the podium.
Senegal is reopening mosques and churches and easing other restrictions, even as it sees it largest one-day jump in cases. Senegal is reopening mosques and churches and easing other restrictions, even as it sees its largest one-day jump in cases.
Its president, Macky Sall, ordered places of worship closed in March and imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew. Since then, the daily pace of new cases has picked up – 177 on Monday from a previous high of 104 – with increasing community transmission in hotspots such as the holy city of Touba.Its president, Macky Sall, ordered places of worship closed in March and imposed a dawn-to-dusk curfew. Since then, the daily pace of new cases has picked up – 177 on Monday from a previous high of 104 – with increasing community transmission in hotspots such as the holy city of Touba.
Senegal has recorded 1,886 cases in total, including 19 deaths.Senegal has recorded 1,886 cases in total, including 19 deaths.
Sall, like other leaders in West Africa, has confronted public pressure to find more sustainable ways to balance public health with economic realities in the face of an epidemic that the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned could drag on across Africa for years. He told the nation:Sall, like other leaders in West Africa, has confronted public pressure to find more sustainable ways to balance public health with economic realities in the face of an epidemic that the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned could drag on across Africa for years. He told the nation:
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 985 more deaths and 23,792 more confirmed cases since the weekend’s update, taking the overall totals to 79,756 and 1,324,488.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 985 more deaths and 23,792 more confirmed cases since the weekend’s update, taking the overall totals to 79,756 and 1,324,488.
The CDC said the weekend’s numbers were preliminary and had not been confirmed by individual states.The CDC said the weekend’s numbers were preliminary and had not been confirmed by individual states.
The Guardian has published its editorial on the British prime minister’s message to the country as it moves into a dangerous new phase of the epidemic.The Guardian has published its editorial on the British prime minister’s message to the country as it moves into a dangerous new phase of the epidemic.
Donald Trump has been taking questions at his White House briefing. The first was about the White House staff who tested positive.Donald Trump has been taking questions at his White House briefing. The first was about the White House staff who tested positive.
“I don’t think the system broke down at all,” he said. He said the person who tested positive “will be fine” and will be “out of quarantine very soon”.“I don’t think the system broke down at all,” he said. He said the person who tested positive “will be fine” and will be “out of quarantine very soon”.
He says it is “shocking”, given the number of people who come in and out of the White House every day, how few positive cases there have been. He adds: “I’ve felt no vulnerability whatsoever.”He says it is “shocking”, given the number of people who come in and out of the White House every day, how few positive cases there have been. He adds: “I’ve felt no vulnerability whatsoever.”
Asked when Americans can get tested every day like his senior staff can, Trump said it would be “very soon”.Asked when Americans can get tested every day like his senior staff can, Trump said it would be “very soon”.
“We’re leaving that up to the governors,” Trump said when asked how Americans should feel about going back to work without more testing capacity. He then argued that some governors are being too slow to lift their restrictions.“We’re leaving that up to the governors,” Trump said when asked how Americans should feel about going back to work without more testing capacity. He then argued that some governors are being too slow to lift their restrictions.
Trump said it was his decision to require West Wing staffers to begin wearing masks.Trump said it was his decision to require West Wing staffers to begin wearing masks.
Morocco has cleared disposable face masks for export after reaching a daily production capacity of 10m by 24 factories during its epidemic, the country’s industry minister, Hafid Elalamy, has said.Morocco has cleared disposable face masks for export after reaching a daily production capacity of 10m by 24 factories during its epidemic, the country’s industry minister, Hafid Elalamy, has said.
An average of 2m masks are sold daily in Morocco and the surplus will be exported now that a strategic stockpile of 50m masks has been secured, Elalamy told members of parliament.An average of 2m masks are sold daily in Morocco and the surplus will be exported now that a strategic stockpile of 50m masks has been secured, Elalamy told members of parliament.
Reusable masks will only be cleared for export once Morocco secures a stockpile of 15m, he said.Reusable masks will only be cleared for export once Morocco secures a stockpile of 15m, he said.
Morocco, which has been on lockdown since 20 March, has made wearing face masks mandatory since 7 April.Morocco, which has been on lockdown since 20 March, has made wearing face masks mandatory since 7 April.
The north African country has been exporting medical protective gear and face shields, the minister said. He added that Morocco has secured self-sufficiency in ethanol, key to making sanitisers, with a daily production capacity of 24,000 litres.The north African country has been exporting medical protective gear and face shields, the minister said. He added that Morocco has secured self-sufficiency in ethanol, key to making sanitisers, with a daily production capacity of 24,000 litres.
Energy demand has plummeted during the Covid-19 crisis and global carbon dioxide emissions are anticipated to be 8% lower this year, compared with 2019. Is this affecting our weather and will it affect the global climate in years to come?Energy demand has plummeted during the Covid-19 crisis and global carbon dioxide emissions are anticipated to be 8% lower this year, compared with 2019. Is this affecting our weather and will it affect the global climate in years to come?
Carbon dioxide hangs around in the atmosphere for decades so it takes a long time for the impact to play out. Keith Shine, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Reading, estimates the Covid-19 effect might reduce warming by a measly 0.0025C in about 20 years time.Carbon dioxide hangs around in the atmosphere for decades so it takes a long time for the impact to play out. Keith Shine, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Reading, estimates the Covid-19 effect might reduce warming by a measly 0.0025C in about 20 years time.
This is far below anything we can observe. If we were to sustain this 8% reduction over the coming years, Shine calculated, we would avoid about 0.15C of warming but, sadly, we would still massively overshoot our Paris agreement target of 1.5C.This is far below anything we can observe. If we were to sustain this 8% reduction over the coming years, Shine calculated, we would avoid about 0.15C of warming but, sadly, we would still massively overshoot our Paris agreement target of 1.5C.
Algeria has started producing rapid test kits with a claimed detection time of 15 minutes and a production capacity of 200,000 units per week, its government has said.Algeria has started producing rapid test kits with a claimed detection time of 15 minutes and a production capacity of 200,000 units per week, its government has said.
A laboratory in the capital, Algiers, developed the test kits in partnership with Canadian and Jordanian firms, the junior minister in charge of pharmaceutical production, Lotfi Benbahmed, said on state television, without naming the two foreign partners.A laboratory in the capital, Algiers, developed the test kits in partnership with Canadian and Jordanian firms, the junior minister in charge of pharmaceutical production, Lotfi Benbahmed, said on state television, without naming the two foreign partners.
Slovenia will admit international air passengers from Tuesday, ending an eight-week suspension. The country’s government said:
In the US, the governor of California Gavin Newsom has said he and local health officials will speak to Tesla bosses after the company ordered workers back on the job despite ongoing local restrictions.
Newsom said he expected the plant to open as soon as next week and that he did not know about the order to return to work or photographs circulating on San Francisco Bay Area news sites showing its full parking lot.
Fears of foreigners bringing infectious disease into the country. Enhanced border checkpoints. And the use of disinfectant spray to sanitise human beings.
These aren’t notes from one of Donald Trump’s freewheeling press conferences. The United States’s troubled response to the coronavirus pandemic is such that the Mexican border city of Nogales, Sonora, has set up “sanitising tunnels” to disinfect people leaving the US through Nogales, in Arizona.
Albania has seen its lowest daily number of infections in eight weeks as half of its 2.8 million population began enjoying more freedom in green zones and life went on almost as normal in the other half.
With its economy heading for a recession of up to 5%, or 6.9% if most of the economy starts working by late summer, Albania has begun to gradually restart parts of its economy over the last two weeks.
Just four new infections were traced in the last 24 hours, the lowest daily number in the last eight weeks, said Eugena Tomini of the health institute in her daily update.
The White House has directed staff working in the West Wing, where the daily operations of Donald Trump’s administration are carried out, to wear masks.
A senior administration official said the directive would apply at all times other than when staff are at their own desks.
ABC News first reported that a new memo directed everyone who enters the wing to cover their faces. With Trump’s valet and vice-president Mike Pence’s press secretary both testing positive for the virus last week, pressure is growing for the White House to take further steps in protecting the health of country’s 73-year-old president.
There is no guarantee of a Covid-19 vaccine, the British prime minister Boris Johnson has said, though he said the UK was heavily involved in the work to develop one.
He said the UK government was putting “huge sums” into finding a vaccine, but added:
The UK government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, agreed the development of a vaccine could not be guaranteed, but said:
The crew of a virus-stricken cruise ship have finally been allowed to disembark after nearly two months stranded off the coast of Uruguay.
Passengers on the Greg Mortimer – 60% of whom had tested positive – flew home from Montevideo on two chartered medical flights to Australia and the US in mid-April.
But the original 85 crew remained onboard anchored off the coast of Uruguay, with 37 continuing still carrying the virus and confined to their cabins, in many cases for more than a month. Crew members greeted the news in joyful WhatsApp videos, audios and messages to the Guardian.
“I thank Jesus for answering our prayers and the press for drawing attention to our plight,” said the ship’s Colombian medical officer, Mauricio Usme.
Marvin Paz Medina, a Honduran crew member who had been confined to his cabin since 4 April and tested positive four consecutive times, said: “As long as we remained onboard on this virus-loaded ship there’s no way we could start testing negative.”
Some crew members had started to entertain suicidal thoughts from the confinement, said Usme, who has tested positive five consecutive times.
The reproduction rate in Germany remains above the critical threshold of 1, with an estimated value of 1.07 on Monday after 1.13 on Sunday, the Robert Koch Institute for public health and disease control (RKI) has said.
The number indicates that 100 infected people on average infect 107 others, meaning the number of new infections is accelerating again. That could signal the beginning of a second wave of the pandemic in Europe’s largest economy. The RKI said:
Here are the latest headlines in our global coronavirus news coverage.
The World Health Organization says “extreme vigilance” is needed as countries begin to exit lockdowns imposed to curb the virus’ spread. The warning comes after Germany reported an acceleration in new infections after easing its lockdown, and South Korea, another country that succeeded in limiting infections, saw a new outbreak in nightclubs.
Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, denied reports his senior scientific and medical advisers were not consulted on the much-maligned new messaging attached to his plan to ease the country’s lockdown as he set out the details in parliament. Amid muddled guidance from ministers on what the new rules actually allow, Johnson insists the public understands his government’s message.
Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, announced an easing of the nationwide lockdown, even as the country reported a record number of new infections. Putin said people in some sectors would return to work, though restrictions on public gatherings would remain in place.
Men’s blood has higher levels of an enzyme used by the Sars-CoV-2 virus to infect cells, the results of a study published in the European Heart Journal show. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is found in the heart, kidneys and other organs. It is thought to play a role in how the infection progresses into the lungs.
The Afghan capital, Kabul, recorded its worst day for infections, as 161 new cases were reported, and the health ministry warned transmission would continue to surge across the country. The total number of confirmed cases in the city, Afghanistan’s worst-affected area, reached 1,257, with about half of the 325 tests carried out coming back positive on Monday.
Saudi-backed authorities in Yemen declared Aden an “infested” city as the number of cases there rose. The Aden-based national coronavirus committee announced 17 new cases, 10 of them in the southern port city. That raises the total count in areas under the Saudi-backed government’s control to 51, with eight deaths.
Half a million more people could die from Aids-related illnesses in sub-Saharan Africa if efforts are not made to overcome interruptions to health services as a result of the pandemic, the World Health Organization warned. According to modelling, the disruption to health services could take Aids-related deaths in the next year back to 2008 levels, when it claimed 950,000 lives.
The UK and WHO are to lead a global information campaign around the coronavirus pandemic. The “Stop the Spread” campaign, intended to counteract “incorrect and false information” about the virus, will appear across BBC World television channels, websites and apps from this month and throughout June.
A potential deal to release a renowned Iranian scientist from a US jail and return him to Iran appears to be in danger of breaking down after a senior US official questioned whether Tehran really wanted him returned, writes Patrick Wintour, the Guardian’s diplomatic editor.
Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif, claimed on Monday that Sirous Asgari had been freed by US authorities and would be able to return to Iran immediately if he tested negative for coronavirus.
But his remarks were dismissed as “BS” by a senior US Department of Homeland Security official, who accused Iran of slow-walking a deal.
A well-regarded materials scientist, Asgari was acquitted on charges of stealing US trade secrets but remains in immigration detention where he contracted the coronavirus.
Zarif said on Monday thatAsgari “has been acquitted of false charges and we have been very active in preparing the ground for his return. If his coronavirus is negative he could return on the first flight”. Zarif’s statement was reported on the margins of an Iranian parliament foreign and security committee meeting in Tehran.