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Coronavirus live news: US hits record daily case rise as Australia's testing blitz of clusters continues Coronavirus live news: US hits record daily case rise as Australia's testing blitz of clusters continues
(32 minutes later)
Brazil records nearly 47,000 new cases; EU set to ban travellers from US; Covid cases with unknown source rise in Melbourne. Follow the latestBrazil records nearly 47,000 new cases; EU set to ban travellers from US; Covid cases with unknown source rise in Melbourne. Follow the latest
Australia’s treasurer Josh Frydenberg has told reporters the country’s banks have offered assurances they won’t abandon customers currently relying on government support.
AAP reports that Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Frydenberg met with the banks on Friday as concerns grow about the impact of the withdrawal of a suite of support mechanisms that are due to end in September.
Wage subsidies, extra unemployment benefits and deferrals of mortgage repayments have been supporting people who have lost work due to the coronavirus.
Frydenberg said banks were working with regulators to make sure people who could not restart payments got extra support. Some 20% of bank customers had restarted loan payments. He said:
My colleague Graham Readfearn is going to take over for the next short while.
The Argentine government said on Friday night it would reintroduce strict quarantine measures in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area.
The measures would last 17 days and begin 1 July, said the president, Alberto Fernández.
Fernández said the government would ask its citizens to isolate at home and only go out to buy essential items, Spanish-language media reported.
Argentina reported a record a daily record of 2,886 infections and 34 deaths.
A United States federal judge on Friday ordered the release of children held with their parents in immigration jails and denounced the Trump administration’s prolonged detention of families during the coronavirus pandemic, the AP reports.
US district judge Dolly Gee’s order applies to children held for more than 20 days at three family detention centres in Texas and Pennsylvania operated by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Some have been detained since last year.
Citing the recent spread of the virus in two of the three facilities, Gee set a deadline of 17 July for children to either be released with their parents or sent to family sponsors.“The family detention centres are on fire and there is no more time for half measures,” she wrote.
Gee’s order said ICE was detaining 124 children in its centres, which are separate from US Department of Health and Human Services facilities for unaccompanied children that were holding around 1,000 children in early June.
The United States recorded 45,242 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday, the largest single-day increase of the pandemic, according to a Reuters tally, bringing the total number of Americans who have tested positive to at least 2.48 million.The United States recorded 45,242 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday, the largest single-day increase of the pandemic, according to a Reuters tally, bringing the total number of Americans who have tested positive to at least 2.48 million.
It is an increase from an earlier figure we reported of at least 40,870 new cases. John Hopkins University, however, still has the daily figure at about 40,000 cases.It is an increase from an earlier figure we reported of at least 40,870 new cases. John Hopkins University, however, still has the daily figure at about 40,000 cases.
The new record for positive Covid-19 tests comes as several states at the center of a new surge in infections took steps back from efforts to ease restrictions on businesses. COVID-19 is the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus.The new record for positive Covid-19 tests comes as several states at the center of a new surge in infections took steps back from efforts to ease restrictions on businesses. COVID-19 is the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus.
South Korean authorities said the country had 51 new cases of coronavirus over the past 24 hours, the Korea Herald reported Saturday.South Korean authorities said the country had 51 new cases of coronavirus over the past 24 hours, the Korea Herald reported Saturday.
The paper said 31 cases were via community spread, while 20 cases were imported, according to Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The paper said 31 cases were via community spread, while 20 cases were imported, according to Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
They included 15 in Seoul, 12 in nearby Gyeonggi province and two in Daejeon, some 160km south of the capital.They included 15 in Seoul, 12 in nearby Gyeonggi province and two in Daejeon, some 160km south of the capital.
A new cluster has been traced to a major church in Seoul, the Herald said.A new cluster has been traced to a major church in Seoul, the Herald said.
Queensland, Australia’s third-most populous state and home to the city of Brisbane, has recorded no new cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, a day after the state reported its first transmission in more than a week.Queensland, Australia’s third-most populous state and home to the city of Brisbane, has recorded no new cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, a day after the state reported its first transmission in more than a week.
A total of 1,067 cases have now been recorded in Queensland, with six people having died from the virus, AAP reports.A total of 1,067 cases have now been recorded in Queensland, with six people having died from the virus, AAP reports.
There are currently two active cases of Covid-19 in Queensland, according to health department statistics.There are currently two active cases of Covid-19 in Queensland, according to health department statistics.
The case reported on Friday was a traveller returning from overseas.The case reported on Friday was a traveller returning from overseas.
Passengers travelling to or from Italy by air will no longer be able to use the overhead baggage lockers in planes after the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (Enac) decided they were a health risk, Agence France-Presse reported.Passengers travelling to or from Italy by air will no longer be able to use the overhead baggage lockers in planes after the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (Enac) decided they were a health risk, Agence France-Presse reported.
The new rule results from a government decree, prompted by fears of further spreading the novel coronavirus, that specifies travellers may only board with a bag small enough to slide under the seat in front.The new rule results from a government decree, prompted by fears of further spreading the novel coronavirus, that specifies travellers may only board with a bag small enough to slide under the seat in front.
The intention is to prevent close contact between passengers and limit movement in aircraft cabins.The intention is to prevent close contact between passengers and limit movement in aircraft cabins.
Enac said that passengers would not need to pay a supplement to put their suitcases in the hold.Enac said that passengers would not need to pay a supplement to put their suitcases in the hold.
An Italian consumer association, Codacons, welcomed the decision on Friday, saying it would “avoid the chaos” which sometimes occurs in the cabins “when passengers place their luggage in the overhead compartments”.An Italian consumer association, Codacons, welcomed the decision on Friday, saying it would “avoid the chaos” which sometimes occurs in the cabins “when passengers place their luggage in the overhead compartments”.
“In this area, the Italians are among the most unruly travellers in Europe, causing delays and queues which today would fuel the risk of contagion,” the association said.“In this area, the Italians are among the most unruly travellers in Europe, causing delays and queues which today would fuel the risk of contagion,” the association said.
Italy was the first country in Europe to be hit by the coronavirus, which has so far killed more than 34,600 people in the country.Italy was the first country in Europe to be hit by the coronavirus, which has so far killed more than 34,600 people in the country.
Separately, the Trump White House has declined to agree to enforce mandatory temperature tests for airline passengers, a key demand of US-based airlines who met with Mike Pence on Friday.Separately, the Trump White House has declined to agree to enforce mandatory temperature tests for airline passengers, a key demand of US-based airlines who met with Mike Pence on Friday.
Recapping some comments from the Australian government MP Trent Zimmerman from earlier today. The Liberal politician suggested returned travellers should be required to get a Covid-19 test before they were allowed back into the country.Recapping some comments from the Australian government MP Trent Zimmerman from earlier today. The Liberal politician suggested returned travellers should be required to get a Covid-19 test before they were allowed back into the country.
He said:He said:
Victorian authorities admitted on Friday 30% of returned travellers had declined a coronavirus test.Victorian authorities admitted on Friday 30% of returned travellers had declined a coronavirus test.
The IMF board on Friday approved a one-year, $5.2bn financing package for Egypt to help the country alleviate the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.The IMF board on Friday approved a one-year, $5.2bn financing package for Egypt to help the country alleviate the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The new funding under a standby arrangement comes on top of $2.8bn in emergency aid the IMF board approved a month ago, although at the time officials acknowledged that more help would be needed, Agence France-Presse reported.The new funding under a standby arrangement comes on top of $2.8bn in emergency aid the IMF board approved a month ago, although at the time officials acknowledged that more help would be needed, Agence France-Presse reported.
The IMF noted Cairo had “a strong track record” of implementing economic reforms under fund-supported programs over the past four years, and the new loan will help put it on strong footing for a recovery.The IMF noted Cairo had “a strong track record” of implementing economic reforms under fund-supported programs over the past four years, and the new loan will help put it on strong footing for a recovery.
“Egypt was one of the fastest-growing emerging markets prior to the Covid-19 outbreak,” the IMF said in a statement. “However, the significant domestic and global disruptions from the pandemic have worsened the economic outlook and reshuffled policy priorities.”“Egypt was one of the fastest-growing emerging markets prior to the Covid-19 outbreak,” the IMF said in a statement. “However, the significant domestic and global disruptions from the pandemic have worsened the economic outlook and reshuffled policy priorities.”
The aid will focus first on health and social spending, as well as financial stability to keep a lid on inflation.The aid will focus first on health and social spending, as well as financial stability to keep a lid on inflation.
Fund staff agreed with authorities on the terms of the loan in early June, and said the funds also will open the doors to financing from other lenders and help support job creation by the private sector.Fund staff agreed with authorities on the terms of the loan in early June, and said the funds also will open the doors to financing from other lenders and help support job creation by the private sector.
Egypt has suffered more than 2,500 Covid-19 fatalities with over 61,000 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University’s tally.Egypt has suffered more than 2,500 Covid-19 fatalities with over 61,000 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University’s tally.
Carlos Bilardo, the man who coached Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup, has tested positive for coronavirus, a source close to his family told Reuters on Friday.Carlos Bilardo, the man who coached Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup, has tested positive for coronavirus, a source close to his family told Reuters on Friday.
“They carried out a test and it was positive, although he has not shown symptoms and he is good,” said the source.“They carried out a test and it was positive, although he has not shown symptoms and he is good,” said the source.
His former club Estudiantes tweeted in support of Bilardo, their 82-year-old former player and manager, who has been living in a nursing home in Buenos Aires since 2018.His former club Estudiantes tweeted in support of Bilardo, their 82-year-old former player and manager, who has been living in a nursing home in Buenos Aires since 2018.
He coached a team led by Diego Maradona to the World Cup in Mexico in 1986 and the final four years later and also won three Copa Libertadores titles as a player with Estudiantes between 1968 and 1970.He coached a team led by Diego Maradona to the World Cup in Mexico in 1986 and the final four years later and also won three Copa Libertadores titles as a player with Estudiantes between 1968 and 1970.
Argentina has reported 1,184 deaths from Covid-19, according to health ministry numbers.Argentina has reported 1,184 deaths from Covid-19, according to health ministry numbers.
The International Monetary Fund says it will provide Myanmar with $356.5m in emergency funding, as the south-east Asian country battles an economic slump due to the coronavirus pandemic.The International Monetary Fund says it will provide Myanmar with $356.5m in emergency funding, as the south-east Asian country battles an economic slump due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Myanmar economy is being impacted by the outbreak of Covid-19 through a sharp decline in tourism and remittances and supply chain disruptions,” Mitsuhiro Furusawa, the IMF deputy managing director, said in a statement.“The Myanmar economy is being impacted by the outbreak of Covid-19 through a sharp decline in tourism and remittances and supply chain disruptions,” Mitsuhiro Furusawa, the IMF deputy managing director, said in a statement.
The fund “will help address Myanmar’s urgent financing needs related to Covid-19 shock, and catalyse support from development partners.”The fund “will help address Myanmar’s urgent financing needs related to Covid-19 shock, and catalyse support from development partners.”
The money comes from two programs put into place to ensure rapid disbursement of funding without the need for lengthy negotiations over a reform program by Myanmar.The money comes from two programs put into place to ensure rapid disbursement of funding without the need for lengthy negotiations over a reform program by Myanmar.
Some $118.8m will come from the Rapid Credit Facility and the remaining $237.7m will draw from the Rapid Financing Instrument.Some $118.8m will come from the Rapid Credit Facility and the remaining $237.7m will draw from the Rapid Financing Instrument.
A journalist who attended Donald Trump’s rally in Tulsa last week says he has tested positive for Covid-19, AP reports.A journalist who attended Donald Trump’s rally in Tulsa last week says he has tested positive for Covid-19, AP reports.
The Oklahoma Watch reporter Paul Monies said he was notified on Friday of his positive diagnosis.The Oklahoma Watch reporter Paul Monies said he was notified on Friday of his positive diagnosis.
“I’m pretty surprised,” Monies wrote on Twitter. “I have zero symptoms (so far) and I feel fine. In fact, I ran 5 miles this morning.”“I’m pretty surprised,” Monies wrote on Twitter. “I have zero symptoms (so far) and I feel fine. In fact, I ran 5 miles this morning.”
Monies said he was inside the rally for about six hours on Saturday at the BOK Center and that he wore a mask and mostly practiced social distancing, except for when he went to the concourse to get a snack. He said he was never close to the president.Monies said he was inside the rally for about six hours on Saturday at the BOK Center and that he wore a mask and mostly practiced social distancing, except for when he went to the concourse to get a snack. He said he was never close to the president.
An epidemiologist at the Oklahoma City-County Health Department who notified Monies of his positive result said it’s difficult to determine if he contracted the coronavirus at the rally.An epidemiologist at the Oklahoma City-County Health Department who notified Monies of his positive result said it’s difficult to determine if he contracted the coronavirus at the rally.
“I can’t say definitively that I got it at the rally,” Monies said. “But it’s someone I’ve been in contact with in the last two weeks.”“I can’t say definitively that I got it at the rally,” Monies said. “But it’s someone I’ve been in contact with in the last two weeks.”
Monies said he hasn’t yet been contacted by contact tracers to try to determine everyone he’s been in contact with, but he has taken it upon himself to reach out to anyone he has been close to in the last two weeks.Monies said he hasn’t yet been contacted by contact tracers to try to determine everyone he’s been in contact with, but he has taken it upon himself to reach out to anyone he has been close to in the last two weeks.
Six of Trump’s campaign staffers and two members of the Secret Service working in advance of the Oklahoma rally also have tested positive for Covid-19.Six of Trump’s campaign staffers and two members of the Secret Service working in advance of the Oklahoma rally also have tested positive for Covid-19.
Dr Bruce Dart, the executive director of Tulsa City-County Health Department, had recommended that the rally be postponed because of a surge in reported positive cases of coronavirus linked to large indoor gatherings.Dr Bruce Dart, the executive director of Tulsa City-County Health Department, had recommended that the rally be postponed because of a surge in reported positive cases of coronavirus linked to large indoor gatherings.
In Australia, the state of New South Wales recorded six new cases of coronavirus cases overnight, authorities said.
NSW Health also confirmed it would require return travellers “either be tested for Covid-19 during their hotel quarantine at day 10, or be required to extend their quarantine by an extra 10 days”.
It said: “NSW already requests all of these returned travellers undertake a Covid-19 test on day 10 of their quarantine, and less than 2% have refused to take the test.
NSW Health said the six new cases reported between 8pm on 25 June and 8pm on 26 June brought the state’s total to 3,174.
One case is a man in his 70s which remains under investigation. The other five new cases are returned travellers in hotel quarantine, NSW Health said.
The state has 58 Covid cases being treated by health authorities, though no patients are in intensive care.
In Victoria authorities on Friday admitted 30% of return travellers were declining a test.
A row erupted on Friday between Sweden and the World Health Organization, with the Scandinavian country calling the UN body’s move to include it on a list of countries facing a coronavirus resurgence a “total mistake”, Agence-France Presse reported.
The WHO had totally misinterpreted Swedish data, said the Swedish state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, whose country has made headlines for its high death toll after it opted not to introduce strict lockdowns.
“We have an increase in cases because we have begun testing much more in Sweden the past week,” he said, adding that “all the other parameters” showed the number of serious cases was falling.
The WHO’s European branch on Thursday said Sweden was among 11 countries seeing an “accelerated transmission” that “if left unchecked will push health systems to the brink once again”.
The other 10 countries on the list are mostly poorer nations in eastern Europe and central Asia, which is included in the WHO’s European region.
New Zealand has recorded another two Covid-19 cases, among people who are in managed isolation facilities.
The NZ Herald reports that one of the new cases is a woman in her 20s who arrived from India on 18 June.
The paper says there are now 16 Covid-19 cases in New Zealand, although all are in managed isolation or quarantine facilities. That is, there are no cases in the community.
Health authorities said on Friday that 71 returned travellers in New Zealand are also refusing to be tested for Covid-19. The issue is becoming a growing concern in Australia, where about 30% of returned travellers to Melbourne have refused to be tested.
Almost 5,000 thermometers are being shipped to Victorian holiday spots as the state nervously enters the school holidays amid a resurgent coronavirus crisis.
The state government is distributing about 4,800 of the infrared thermometers while testing clinics will be set up on the Great Ocean Road and in the Victorian Alps to coincide with the holidays, AAP reported.
The health advice for Victorians is that they can travel within the state during the fortnight of the school holidays as long as they are healthy.
Anyone with virus symptoms, however mild, must stay home and undergo testing.
Meanwhile, about 260 people arrived in Adelaide from Mumbai on Saturday morning, according to AAP, while hundreds are expected to follow from South America, Indonesia and India.
The South Australian health minister, Stephen Wade, is preparing for about 5%-10% of returnees to have the virus, as was the case when people arrived from Indonesia in other states.
Despite the outbreak of coronavirus cases in parts of Melbourne, restrictions are being eased across Australia.
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, said on Friday the spike in cases was being managed appropriately. He said he believed it was reasonable for states to bar residents from hotspots, as the Northern Territory government has confirmed it will do.
“We remain on track, the curve remains flat,” he told reporters in Canberra.
Except for Western Australia, all jurisdictions will restart domestic travel during July, a commitment Morrison expects states to uphold.
In Australia, politicians from both major parties have labelled returned travellers in quarantine in Victoria refusing Covid-19 tests as “reckless” and “selfish”.
The state has become the focal point of concerns for authorities due to the rising case numbers in Melbourne, but Victoria’s deputy health officer, Annaliese van Diemen, revealed on Friday about 30% of returning international travellers are refusing to be tested, despite multiple offers during their 14-day stay.
“Frankly, I think it is recklessly indifferent of people in quarantine not to agree to have a test, because we’ve seen the number of people that are in quarantine testing positive is obviously a lot higher than the rest of the population,” the Liberal MP, Trent Zimmerman, told the ABC on Saturday morning.
“If they are not prepared to do that, they shouldn’t come back.”
The Labor frontbencher, Linda Burney, labelled their actions “really selfish”.
“The reason that Australia is doing relatively well in terms of the virus is because of the testing regimes and we know how important they are,” she said.
Mexico’s health ministry reported on Friday 5,441 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections and 719 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 208,392 cases and 25,779 deaths.
The government has said the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases, according to Reuters.
The news about US travellers being barred from entering the EU come as the country on Friday recorded its highest single-day increase in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began.
Florida, Texas and Arizona – where cases are rising at a particularly concerning rate – announced on Friday they would delay plans to lift coronavirus restrictions in response. The US president, Donald Trump, meanwhile, would cancel a golf trip to New Jersey, the White House said.
In the US, my colleague Sam Levin reported earlier that most US residents will likely be blocked from travelling to the European Union when travel restarts, according to multiple news outlets.
EU officials are in the process of settling on a final “safe list” of countries whose residents could travel to the block in July, but the US, Brazil and Russia are set to be excluded over coronavirus concerns, Reuters reported.
With coronavirus continuing to spread in the US at alarming rates, the possibility of allowing American tourists into the EU is not even part of the ongoing discussion, six diplomats familiar with the talks told the Washington Post.
The list of allowed countries includes China, but on the condition that China allows EU travellers to visit, the New York Times reported.
Various travel restrictions remain across the globe. Greece, for example, requires Covid-19 tests for arrivals from a number of EU countries, including France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. Self isolation is also mandatory until results come in.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, with me Luke Henriques-Gomes. You can get in touch by email luke.henriques-gomes@theguardian.com or on Twitter @lukehgomes.
The US has recorded its highest daily Covid-19 case increase, with 40,870 new infections on Friday. It brings the total number of Americans to who have tested positive to at least 2.462m.
Brazil has also hit a daily milestone, recording 46,860 new cases of the coronavirus in the last 24 hours and 990 additional deaths, the Health Ministry said on Friday. It brings Brazil’s total cases to 1.274m.
In Australia, concern is mounting over growing level of infections in the Victorian capital Melbourne, where the number of cases from unknown sources has surpassed those from known clusters. Although Australia has all but eliminated the virus in large swathes of the country, allowing some states to reopen their economies, the authorities are worried the Victorian case numbers suggests there is now significant community transmission.
The other main developments so far include:
The global death toll passed 492,00, while 9.7m cases have been recorded worldwide.
The UK government said it would change restrictions for travellers, allowing for people to return from popular holiday spots such as Spain, Greece and France.
The World Health Organisation-led coalition fighting the coronavirus needs$31.3bn over the next 12 months to develop and roll out tests, treatments and vaccines. The WHO initiative aims to scale up delivery of 500m tests and 245m courses of treatments to low and middle-income countries by mid-2021, it said in a statement.
Japan recorded on Friday more than 100 new infections for the first time since 9 May, hitting its highest daily total since it eased lockdown.
Italy has sent soldiers to restore order in a coastal town near Naples after a coronavirus outbreak at an apartment complex illegally occupied by hundreds of migrant workers caused angry confrontations with residents, Reuters reports.
South Africa will allow casinos and cinemas to reopen and restaurants to resume sit-down meals on Monday in a further easing of lockdown restrictions despite a sharp rise in infections.