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Coronavirus live news: US reports 50,000 new cases as WHO warns on Middle East Coronavirus live news: US reports 50,000 new cases as WHO warns on Middle East
(32 minutes later)
Worst-hit nation records another new daily record of infections; Middle East at ‘critical threshold’ says health body; NZ health minister David Clark resigns. Follow all the latest updatesWorst-hit nation records another new daily record of infections; Middle East at ‘critical threshold’ says health body; NZ health minister David Clark resigns. Follow all the latest updates
Justice Coate, one of Victoria’s most experienced judicial officers, will lead an inquiry into the state’s disastrous hotel quarantine program, Australian Associated Press reports.
The program is now on hold for a fortnight, following allegations of under-trained staff, inadequate personal protective equipment, billing rorts by private security contractors and even claims that some hotel guards slept with guests.
The probe follows the tracing of a big proportion of recent coronavirus cases in Victoria to breaches in hotels hosting returned travellers.
“It is abundantly clear that what has gone on here is completely unacceptable and we need to know exactly what has happened,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
Justice Coate will look into allegations that infection control protocols were breached at the quarantine hotels.
Police in Melbourne have warned that little leniency will be shown to people found flouting lockdown rules in hot spot areas, Australian Associated Press reports.
“You’d have to have been on Mars not to understand that the Chief Health Officer restrictions apply in these 36 suburbs, and that you’re expected to adhere to them,” Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said on Thursday.
More than 300,000 people entered a second lockdown in Melbourne’s inner north and west from Thursday after a spike in coronavirus cases. Police will target certain roads and backstreets in the areas, and public places with large volumes of foot traffic.
Booze buses and roadblocks will be set up and officers will pull people over to conduct questioning as to why they are out and about, Mr Patton said.
They will also use automatic number plate recognition technology, which will help determine if a driver and their car are where they should be.
In the US authorities are shutting down bars to try to slow coronavirus transmission. Associated Press has published some analysis on the risk factors associated with these venues:In the US authorities are shutting down bars to try to slow coronavirus transmission. Associated Press has published some analysis on the risk factors associated with these venues:
Thailand has confirmed six new cases of Covid-19, all related to returnees who are staying in state quarantine. The country has recorded no local transmission of the virus for more than five weeks.Thailand has confirmed six new cases of Covid-19, all related to returnees who are staying in state quarantine. The country has recorded no local transmission of the virus for more than five weeks.
India has now recorded more than 600,000 coronavirus infections, and 17,834 deaths.India has now recorded more than 600,000 coronavirus infections, and 17,834 deaths.
The country has the fourth largest outbreak in the world, and the increase in infections presents a severe challenge for its overburdened health system.The country has the fourth largest outbreak in the world, and the increase in infections presents a severe challenge for its overburdened health system.
Despite India’s escalating outbreak, officials have begun to ease coronavirus restrictions, allowing more economic activities to resume. Some densely populated containment zones remain under lockdown.Despite India’s escalating outbreak, officials have begun to ease coronavirus restrictions, allowing more economic activities to resume. Some densely populated containment zones remain under lockdown.
Tokyo confirmed more than 100 new coronavirus infection cases on Thursday, according to public broadcaster NHK, the Japanese capital’s highest daily tally in two months.Tokyo confirmed more than 100 new coronavirus infection cases on Thursday, according to public broadcaster NHK, the Japanese capital’s highest daily tally in two months.
The city of 14 million initially sought to hold new daily cases below 20 since Japan lifted a state of emergency on May 25, but its tally has consistently exceeded 50 recently, Reuters reports.This week, the metropolitan government said it would move away from numerical targets and rely more on expert advice to rein in the virus and avert further economic slowdown. Tokyo’s daily count last exceeded 100 on May 2.The city of 14 million initially sought to hold new daily cases below 20 since Japan lifted a state of emergency on May 25, but its tally has consistently exceeded 50 recently, Reuters reports.This week, the metropolitan government said it would move away from numerical targets and rely more on expert advice to rein in the virus and avert further economic slowdown. Tokyo’s daily count last exceeded 100 on May 2.
More than 15,000 prisoners have been freed from overcrowded jails in the Philippines, in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports.More than 15,000 prisoners have been freed from overcrowded jails in the Philippines, in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports.
The 15,322 prisoners, mostly older people, were released between 17 March and June 22, following an order allowing people who are awaiting trial, but unable to afford bail, to be sent home. Most are accused of less serious crimes.There is growing concern about the spread of Covid-19 inside crowded prisons, where social distancing is impossible and hygiene is often poor. Dozens of countries have allowed some inmates to return home, but rights groups have warned that prisoner releases have been too few and too slow.The 15,322 prisoners, mostly older people, were released between 17 March and June 22, following an order allowing people who are awaiting trial, but unable to afford bail, to be sent home. Most are accused of less serious crimes.There is growing concern about the spread of Covid-19 inside crowded prisons, where social distancing is impossible and hygiene is often poor. Dozens of countries have allowed some inmates to return home, but rights groups have warned that prisoner releases have been too few and too slow.
The US has postponed flights for dozens of American diplomats who had planned to return to China later this month, Reuters reports, after failing to reach agreement with Beijing over issues including Covid-19 testing and quarantine.Five months after the coronavirus epidemic forced the evacuation of some 1,300 US diplomats and family members from China, Washington and Beijing remain locked in negotiations over conditions for their return, according to more than a dozen internal State Department emails seen by Reuters and people familiar with the matter.The impasse comes as the pandemic intensifies in many parts of the world, including the US, with the global tally this week topping 10 million cases and half a million deaths.It also comes as relations between the world’s two largest economies have sunk to their lowest in decades over issues including China’s handling of the pandemic, bilateral trade and a new security law for Hong Kong.The US has postponed flights for dozens of American diplomats who had planned to return to China later this month, Reuters reports, after failing to reach agreement with Beijing over issues including Covid-19 testing and quarantine.Five months after the coronavirus epidemic forced the evacuation of some 1,300 US diplomats and family members from China, Washington and Beijing remain locked in negotiations over conditions for their return, according to more than a dozen internal State Department emails seen by Reuters and people familiar with the matter.The impasse comes as the pandemic intensifies in many parts of the world, including the US, with the global tally this week topping 10 million cases and half a million deaths.It also comes as relations between the world’s two largest economies have sunk to their lowest in decades over issues including China’s handling of the pandemic, bilateral trade and a new security law for Hong Kong.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 503 to 195,228, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Thursday. The reported death toll rose by 9 to 8,994.The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 503 to 195,228, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Thursday. The reported death toll rose by 9 to 8,994.
My colleague in Dunedin, Eleanor Ainge Roy, reports on the resignation of New Zealand health minister David Clark:My colleague in Dunedin, Eleanor Ainge Roy, reports on the resignation of New Zealand health minister David Clark:
Dr David Clark has held the health portfolio since Labour was elected in 2017 but has largely been viewed as an ineffectual minister who has struggled to make an impact during his term.Dr David Clark has held the health portfolio since Labour was elected in 2017 but has largely been viewed as an ineffectual minister who has struggled to make an impact during his term.
During New Zealand’s lockdown, Clark was twice discovered breaching the strict stay-at-home rules; once by going mountain biking, and a second time when he took his family for a beach trip 23km from his Dunedin home.During New Zealand’s lockdown, Clark was twice discovered breaching the strict stay-at-home rules; once by going mountain biking, and a second time when he took his family for a beach trip 23km from his Dunedin home.
Clark apologised for both incidents, telling the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, he was an “idiot” and had shown poor judgment.Clark apologised for both incidents, telling the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, he was an “idiot” and had shown poor judgment.
Ardern responded by demoting Clark in the cabinet rankings but held back from firing him, saying the government needed his expertise during the public health emergency. Ardern said it was a priority to keep stability in government during the crisis.Ardern responded by demoting Clark in the cabinet rankings but held back from firing him, saying the government needed his expertise during the public health emergency. Ardern said it was a priority to keep stability in government during the crisis.
In the week’s since Clark’s demotion public dislike of the minister has been growing, with many praising the government’s overall coronavirus efforts but making a point to single out Clark for criticism.In the week’s since Clark’s demotion public dislike of the minister has been growing, with many praising the government’s overall coronavirus efforts but making a point to single out Clark for criticism.
Reuters reports on efforts to protect the Yanomami, the last major isolated people in the Amazon rainforest:Reuters reports on efforts to protect the Yanomami, the last major isolated people in the Amazon rainforest:
Soldiers handed out masks to barefooted Yanomami indigenous people including body-painted warriors carrying spears and bows and arrows on Wednesday on the second day of a military operation to protect isolated tribes from Covid-19.Dozens of indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest have been infected with the latest disease to come from the outside to threaten their existence.Soldiers handed out masks to barefooted Yanomami indigenous people including body-painted warriors carrying spears and bows and arrows on Wednesday on the second day of a military operation to protect isolated tribes from Covid-19.Dozens of indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest have been infected with the latest disease to come from the outside to threaten their existence.
“It’s all under control. We detected no cases here,” Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo, a retired army general, told reporters at a frontier post called Surucucu on the border with Venezuela.“It’s all under control. We detected no cases here,” Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo, a retired army general, told reporters at a frontier post called Surucucu on the border with Venezuela.
Azevedo said the death of two Yanomami purportedly shot by illegal gold miners on the vast reservation was an isolated case that is being investigated by the federal police.A gold rush that has brought an estimated 20,000 gold prospectors to invade the Brazil largest reservation has poisoned rivers and destroyed forest, and the Yanomami say the miners have brought the novel coronavirus.Azevedo said the death of two Yanomami purportedly shot by illegal gold miners on the vast reservation was an isolated case that is being investigated by the federal police.A gold rush that has brought an estimated 20,000 gold prospectors to invade the Brazil largest reservation has poisoned rivers and destroyed forest, and the Yanomami say the miners have brought the novel coronavirus.
Indigenous leaders appealed to the Supreme Court on Wednesday to order the federal government to protect isolated tribes by barring outsiders from reservation lands and expelling illegal poachers, loggers and wildcat miners said to bring fatal diseases.Indigenous leaders appealed to the Supreme Court on Wednesday to order the federal government to protect isolated tribes by barring outsiders from reservation lands and expelling illegal poachers, loggers and wildcat miners said to bring fatal diseases.
The indigenous umbrella organization APIB asked that invaders be removed, with the deployment of military forces if necessary, from the reservations of the Yanomami, Karipuna, Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau, Kayapó, Arariboia and Munduruku peoples.The indigenous umbrella organization APIB asked that invaders be removed, with the deployment of military forces if necessary, from the reservations of the Yanomami, Karipuna, Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau, Kayapó, Arariboia and Munduruku peoples.
APIB said 405 indigenous people had died of COVID-19 by June 27, with 9,983 infected among 112 different tribes.APIB said 405 indigenous people had died of COVID-19 by June 27, with 9,983 infected among 112 different tribes.
Ellen Falconer, who is staying in quarantine in New Zealand, has written about what it is like to return home in the middle of a pandemic.Ellen Falconer, who is staying in quarantine in New Zealand, has written about what it is like to return home in the middle of a pandemic.