This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/jul/02/coronavirus-live-updates-latest-news-new-zealand-health-minister-quits-who-middle-east-us-trump-brazil

The article has changed 45 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 18 Version 19
Coronavirus live news: Russia cases pass 660,000; Indonesia reports record daily infections rise Coronavirus live news: Russia cases pass 660,000; Indonesia reports record daily infections rise
(32 minutes later)
Worst-hit nation records another new daily record of infections; Middle East at ‘critical threshold’ says WHO; NZ health minister David Clark resignsWorst-hit nation records another new daily record of infections; Middle East at ‘critical threshold’ says WHO; NZ health minister David Clark resigns
Germany will keep reviewing travel advice for Turkey, foreign minister Heiko Maas told his Turkish counterpart on Thursday, saying any decisions were coordinated with the EU and based on reliable data on infections and the health situation.
Turkey is disappointed that the EU has excluded it, along with the United States and others, from a list of countries recommended for non-essential travel and has called on it to correct its “mistake”.
Speaking to reporters after talks with the Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Berlin, Maas said reviews of the situation took place every two weeks.
“Further steps will follow,” said Maas, adding that family visits were excluded from the travel warning. This is crucial for the large Turkish community but Germany is also an important source of tourism for Turkey.
“This is about how we guarantee safe tourism in the corona crisis,” said Maas, welcoming the latest information on the situation given him by Cavusoglu, adding, however, that could not prejudge future decisions.
“After evaluating the situation based on the objective criteria, Turkey should be listed within the safe and secure countries,” said Cavusoglu.
Reuters reports that Tokyo confirmed 107 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, its highest daily tally in two months, but Japan’s chief cabinet secretary said there was no need to reintroduce a state of emergency.
The Japanese capital, home to 14 million people, had initially sought to hold new daily cases at fewer than 20 after the government lifted the state of emergency on 25 May, only to see its tally consistently exceed 50 over the past week.
It’s daily count last rose above 100 on 2 May. On Wednesday, it confirmed 67 new cases.
Tokyo’s governor Yuriko Koike said about 70% of cases on Thursday were among people in their 20s and 30s. She said:
Chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters he didn’t think there was a need for a fresh state of emergency:
Officials have also said the medical system can handle existing infections and that increased testing partly explains the rise in confirmed cases.
Despite more cases in the capital, Japan, with about 19,000 cases and 976 deaths, has reported a lower overall rate of infection than many countries.
This week, Tokyo said it would move away from numerical targets in favour of more reliance on expert advice to rein in the virus and avert more economic damage.
A strain of Covid-19 that has infected more than 300 people in Beijing since early June could have originated in south or southeast Asia, according to a study by Harvard University researchers.
The virus found in the Beijing cases is an imported strain of Covid-19, according to the China Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Harvard study took three of the SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences collected in Beijing last month and compared them to 7,643 samples worldwide. The three genomes showed the greatest resemblance to cases in Europe from February to May, and to cases in south and southeast Asia from May to June.
They were also similar to a small number of infections seen in China in March, suggesting the strain could have appeared first in China and then returned to the country three months later, the authors said.
Here is the full story from Reuters.
Hello everyone. I’m Lucy Campbell, taking over the live blog for the remainder of the day. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a news tip or story to share.Hello everyone. I’m Lucy Campbell, taking over the live blog for the remainder of the day. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a news tip or story to share.
Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.comTwitter: @lucy_campbell_Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.comTwitter: @lucy_campbell_
AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly walks on the track wearing a protective face mask with team members ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, as F1 resumes following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease.AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly walks on the track wearing a protective face mask with team members ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, as F1 resumes following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease.
Overseas holidays and visits to up to 90 countries will be possible for Britons from Monday without the need to quarantine for 14 days on return.Overseas holidays and visits to up to 90 countries will be possible for Britons from Monday without the need to quarantine for 14 days on return.
The Foreign Office is expected to lift its ban on non-essential travel to nearly all EU countries, British territories such as Bermuda and Gibraltar, and Australia and New Zealand.The Foreign Office is expected to lift its ban on non-essential travel to nearly all EU countries, British territories such as Bermuda and Gibraltar, and Australia and New Zealand.
Popular holiday destination Turkey is also expected to be included in the list.Popular holiday destination Turkey is also expected to be included in the list.
The announcement confirmed by government officials, and due on Friday, effectively puts an end to the air-bridge or travel corridor policy that has been pursued by the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, for several weeks.The announcement confirmed by government officials, and due on Friday, effectively puts an end to the air-bridge or travel corridor policy that has been pursued by the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, for several weeks.
This would have involved setting up reciprocal arrangements with a core of Mediterranean countries including France, Greece and Spain to not quarantine each other’s citizens.This would have involved setting up reciprocal arrangements with a core of Mediterranean countries including France, Greece and Spain to not quarantine each other’s citizens.
Since 8 June nearly all passengers have been required to go into self-isolation for 14 days at a declared address when they arrive in the UK. People who fail to comply can be fined £1,000 in England.Since 8 June nearly all passengers have been required to go into self-isolation for 14 days at a declared address when they arrive in the UK. People who fail to comply can be fined £1,000 in England.
All of the countries due to be included in the new travel list are likely to be on the government’s green list of low-risk nations for coronavirus, or from the amber list, which is medium risk.All of the countries due to be included in the new travel list are likely to be on the government’s green list of low-risk nations for coronavirus, or from the amber list, which is medium risk.
Indonesia reported 1,624 coronavirus infections on Thursday in its biggest jump in new cases since the epidemic began, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said.Indonesia reported 1,624 coronavirus infections on Thursday in its biggest jump in new cases since the epidemic began, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said.
Reuters reports the daily increase brings the total number of infections to 59,394. The country also reported 53 new deaths, taking cumulative COVID-19 fatalities to 2,987.Reuters reports the daily increase brings the total number of infections to 59,394. The country also reported 53 new deaths, taking cumulative COVID-19 fatalities to 2,987.
China’s local governments and medical institutes should ramp up and reserve coronavirus testing capacity in preparation for increased demand amid potential outbreaks, Reuters reports citing national health authorities.China’s local governments and medical institutes should ramp up and reserve coronavirus testing capacity in preparation for increased demand amid potential outbreaks, Reuters reports citing national health authorities.
Local authorities should have emergency response plans to be able to swiftly expand nucleic test capacity, the National Health Commision said on Thursday in a guideline on its website.Local authorities should have emergency response plans to be able to swiftly expand nucleic test capacity, the National Health Commision said on Thursday in a guideline on its website.
Nucleic acid test results should be delivered within six hours for patients at fever clinics and within a day for those who volunteer to be tested, according to the guideline.Nucleic acid test results should be delivered within six hours for patients at fever clinics and within a day for those who volunteer to be tested, according to the guideline.
What kind of face mask gives the best protection against Covid-19? Hannah Devlin answers your questions on what type of mask to wear to cut the risk of getting Covid-19.What kind of face mask gives the best protection against Covid-19? Hannah Devlin answers your questions on what type of mask to wear to cut the risk of getting Covid-19.
She reports:She reports:
Read more belowRead more below
Until recently, the majority of coronavirus cases that Dr Quinn Snyder, an emergency doctor at one of Arizona’s largest emergency departments, saw were older people. But since mid-May, when the state’s stay-at-home order was lifted, and particularly after the Memorial Day holiday, the demographic has shifted.Until recently, the majority of coronavirus cases that Dr Quinn Snyder, an emergency doctor at one of Arizona’s largest emergency departments, saw were older people. But since mid-May, when the state’s stay-at-home order was lifted, and particularly after the Memorial Day holiday, the demographic has shifted.
Snyder says he has seen an “explosion” in cases among 20-44 year-olds.Snyder says he has seen an “explosion” in cases among 20-44 year-olds.
Some of those, he said, are coming in severely ill – requiring oxygen, intubation and ventilators. “We even had people in that age group die, unfortunately. So it’s very troubling and it’s very difficult to watch young people die from this disease. It’s horrible.”Some of those, he said, are coming in severely ill – requiring oxygen, intubation and ventilators. “We even had people in that age group die, unfortunately. So it’s very troubling and it’s very difficult to watch young people die from this disease. It’s horrible.”
As cases continue to soar at record levels across the US, which now has over 2.6m cases, there is growing alarm about a surge in younger people getting the virus. On Friday, vice-president Mike Pence said half of new cases in the US in recent weeks were adults under 35.As cases continue to soar at record levels across the US, which now has over 2.6m cases, there is growing alarm about a surge in younger people getting the virus. On Friday, vice-president Mike Pence said half of new cases in the US in recent weeks were adults under 35.
Speaking ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend, health experts in hotspot states – which include Arizona, Texas and Florida – warned numbers will continue to rise and that if young people do not take better precautions, hospitals will reach capacity and states could be left with no choice but to completely shut down.Speaking ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend, health experts in hotspot states – which include Arizona, Texas and Florida – warned numbers will continue to rise and that if young people do not take better precautions, hospitals will reach capacity and states could be left with no choice but to completely shut down.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease expert, has warned that the US risks a greater outbreak of coronavirus after it failed to lock down as effectively as countries in Europe.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
The British government will abandon its air bridge plans and simply end the coronavirus quarantine rules for those arriving from 75 countries so that people can go on holiday, The Daily Telegraph reported.
The newspaper said the UK would shortly lift a ban on non-essential travel to nearly all EU destinations, the British territories including Bermuda and Gibraltar, and Turkey, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand.
A spokesman for the transport ministry declined immediate comment.
Prime minister Boris Johnson’s government has been grappling with how to open up international travel after it imposed a 2-week quarantine for arrivals, which has has severely impacted tourism and travel industry.
Russia on Thursday reported 6,760 new cases of the novel coronavirus, pushing its nationwide tally to 661,165, Reuters reports.
The authorities said 147 people had died in the last 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 9,683.
The number of confirmed deaths from Covid-19 has exceeded 800 in Afghanistan after 33 new deaths reported on Thursday as the United Nations urged warring sides to redouble efforts to protect civilians amid escalating violence. The Health ministry has detected 186 new Covid-19 infections from 519 tests, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 32,022. There have been 16,041 recoveries. The war-torn country, which has admitted it lacks testing capacity, has tested 73,515 suspected patients since the outbreak began. The death toll stands at 807.Kabul, the country’s worst affected city, recorded 23 new deaths and 61 cases. The capital has so far recorded 13,131 confirmed cases and 218 deaths.Testing capacity remains low in Afghanistan and experts warn that the actual number of infections is much higher. Health ministry spokesman, Akmal Samsour, has said: “only patients with severe symptoms go to medical centres, so the actual number may be something between 150,000 and 1.5 million.”Meanwhile, Ahmad Jawad Osmani, the country’s acting health minister, asked the warring sides on Wednesday to not target medical centres after violence intensified in recent days.
Osmani said:
According to the health ministry 1,400 health workers have so far been infected to Covid-19 and 15 lost their lives from the virus. Osmani said that after traveling to provinces he found out that Kandahar, Zabul and Helmand were facing serious challenges in their fight against Covid-19.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan urged parties to redouble efforts at protecting civilians from harm and de-escalating the conflict in order to save lives. The UN said it is particularly concerned by a recent spate of violent incidents in which members of Afghanistan’s civil society have been targeted.
According to the report which was published on Thursday, in the first six months of 2020, preliminary figures indicate more than 800 civilians were killed and injured in deliberate attacks against civilians. The UN “attributed responsibility for approximately half of these civilian casualties to the Taliban.”
Kazakhstan will implement a second, softer lockdown for two weeks from July 5 to help combat a surge in coronavirus cases, the government said on Thursday.
Reuters reports authorities will close some non-essential businesses, limit travel between provinces, cut public transit services’ hours of operation and ban public gatherings. The measures may be tightened or extended later, the cabinet said in a statement.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered new curbs after coronavirus cases in the Central Asian country rose more than sevenfold following the lifting of its first, more restrictive lockdown in mid-May.
This time, the country of 19 million people will maintain air and railroad links between its provinces and air links with a limited number of countries.
Hello, I’m Aamna Mohdin helming the liveblog for the next few hours. If you want to contact me, you can email me (aamna.mohdin@theguardian.com) or Tweet me (@aamnamohdin).
Covid-19 cases have passed 10.6 million across the globe. There are now 10,694,288 cases of coronavirus worldwide, according to the Johns Hopkins university tracker, with at least 516,210 deaths.
Donald Trump has said he believes the coronavirus will “just disappear”, one day after the US recorded more than 44,000 new cases, a new all-time daily high.
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.
Tokyo confirmed more than 100 new coronavirus infection cases on Thursday. The city had initially sought to keep new daily cases below 20, following the lifting of the state of emergency on May 25, but its tally has consistently exceeded 50.
The World Health Organisation has warned the Middle East is at a “critical threshold” with more than a million cases recorded across 22 countries.
West Bank has gone into lockdown as virus numbers soar. The Palestinian Authority has announced a five-day lockdown across the West Bank after the total confirmed coronavirus infections in the territory more than doubled following the easing of previous restrictions.
NZ’s health minister, David Clark, has resigned, after a series of political missteps, and repeated breaches of his own government’s lockdown rules.
Brazil death toll has passed 60,000. On Wednesday afternoon a coalition of Brazilian news outlets announced that the country’s total death toll had risen by 538 to 60,194, meaning it had doubled in the last month.
That’s all from me, I’m now handing over to my colleague in London, Aamna Mohdin.
Globally, 10,694,288 cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed, and 516,210 deaths recorded according to Johns Hopkins University.
The US has the biggest outbreak, with 2,686,480 confirmed cases, followed by Brazil (1,448,753), Russia (653,479), India (604,641) and the UK (314,992).
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.