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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
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.
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.
Paul McCartney, Ed Sheeran and The Rolling Stones among some 1,500 musicians who have called for the British government to help the live music business survive the coronavirus outbreak, Reuters reports.“The future for concerts and festivals and the hundreds of thousands of people who work in them looks bleak,” the musicians wrote in an open letter to British Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden. “Until these businesses can operate again, which is likely to be 2021 at the earliest, government support will be crucial to prevent mass insolvencies and the end of this world-leading industry.”The letter called for a clear timeline on when music venues could reopen, as well as support for businesses and jobs.
Dowden responded to the musicians in a tweet saying he is “pushing hard for these dates & to give you a clear roadmap back”.
Music venues, concerts and festivals - including the annual summer Glastonbury festival - were shuttered or cancelled in March when the Covid-19 pandemic took hold in the country.
The UK has recorded 314,992 cases of the virus, and almost 44,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Victoria has recorded its fourth day of high yet stable Covid-19 numbers, with 77 new cases overnight, as a large cluster of at least 20 people emerges in Melbourne’s north.
The Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton said that despite numbers appearing to plateau he was still concerned.
“I get some comfort from stabilisation in numbers, but it is never an easy place to sit when you’ve got 415 active cases, all of which are infectious,” he said.
“Obviously, we’ve identified them. They’re in isolation. Their close contacts are in quarantine, but it’s an indication of a very large number of people who have acquired it, which means there are other infections still to be found out.”
Of the new cases, 13 are associated with outbreaks, including one linked to a new large cluster in Roxburgh Park.
Links have recently been made between 20 cases across eight households in the northern suburb.
“This is illustrative of the challenges we’ve seen and the reasons for the restrictions being in place,” Sutton said.
Ben Doherty in Sydney, signing off from this coverage now. My many thanks for your company and correspondence. I hand you westwards, to Rebecca Ratcliffe, our Southeast Asia Correspondent, in Bangkok.
Tokyo reported 67 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the highest number since the state of emergency was lifted on May 25 and the sixth consecutive day that new infections have exceeded 50.
27 of the new cases were in night-time entertainment districts, where testing has been stepped up in recent weeks, and 49 of those infected were in their 20s or 30s, 15 were asymptomatic. Many of those cases were found at host clubs, where young men entertain female customers, and maid cafes.
The Tokyo metropolitan government said when the state of emergency was lifted that if the weekly average of new cases topped 50 it would consider asking businesses to shut down again.
But Governor Yuriko Koike, who is standing for re-election on Sunday, has announced a switch to an evaluation system based on seven criteria. These include total active infections, number of patients in serious condition and available hospital capacity.
120 new infections were reported nationwide on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases in Japan to around 18,800, of which just over 1,000 are still classified as active.
Tokyo accounts for approximately a third of the total cases in Japan with around 6,300.
The latest figures from the US have just been reported, and make for further grim reading.
After reporting a new record on Tuesday of 44,000 new cases, that mark has been surpassed again, with Reuters reporting nearly 50,000 new cases for Wednesday.
It should be noted there are a number of differing totals being reported. Johns Hopkins University has been compiling global and national figures since the outbreak of the pandemic, but several agencies are compiling daily tallies.
Agence-France Presse is reporting Wednesday’s increase, based on Johns Hopkins figures, at 52,000. The Washington Post is also reporting that new infections surpassed 50,000 on Wednesday. The US CDC has not yet reported its daily figures.
Reuters reports:
New US Covid-19 cases rose by nearly 50,000 on Wednesday, according to a Reuters tally, marking the biggest one-day spike since the start of the pandemic.
The record follows a warning by the government’s top infectious diseases expert that the number could soon double to 100,000 cases a day if Americans do not come together to take steps necessary to halt the virus’ resurgent spread, such as wearing masks when unable to practice social distancing.
In the first week of June, the United States added about 22,000 new coronavirus cases each day. But as the month progressed, hotspots began to emerge across the Sun Belt. In the last seven days of June, daily new infections almost doubled to 42,000 nationally.
Brazil is the only other country to report more than 50,000 new cases in one day. The United States reported at least 49,286 cases on Tuesday.
More than half of new U.S. cases each day come from Arizona, California, Florida and Texas, home to 30% of the country’s population. All four states plus 10 others saw new cases more than double in June.
The daily increase in new cases could reach 100,000 unless a nationwide push was made to tamp down the fast-spreading virus, Dr Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told a US Senate committee on Tuesday.
“We can’t just focus on those areas that are having the surge. It puts the entire country at risk,” Fauci said.
The rise in cases is not just the result of more testing. Hospitalisations are also skyrocketing.
Nationally, 7% of coronavirus diagnostic tests came back positive last week, up from 5% the prior week, according to a Reuters analysis.
Arizona’s positivity test rate was 24% last week, Florida’s was 16%. Nevada, South Carolina and Texas were all 15%, according to the analysis.
Gavin Blair reports from Tokyo that the city reported 67 coronavirus cases yesterday, the highest number since a state of emergency was lifted and a continuation of a troubling upward trend.
Many cases have reportedly come from host clubs and other night-time entertainment venues.
More to come...
The UK Treasury has been accused of taking an irresponsible approach to the coronavirus epidemic after a backlash to a post on its official Twitter account that hailed Saturday’s scheduled reopening of England’s pubs.
“Grab a drink and raise a glass, pubs are reopening their doors from 4 July,” the tweet read, while a graphic carried the message: “Pubs are back”.
Many of those condemning the post, which was soon deleted, accused its celebratory tone of being in poor taste given that the virus has killed at least 43,000 people in the UK.
The tweet came as Leicester was put back under lockdown conditions amid a localised outbreak and fears were expressed about numbers of cases being seen in Greater Manchester.
From Guardian reporters Adam Gabbatt and Kenya Evelyn:
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.
Eight states reported new single-day highs of freshly diagnosed cases on Tuesday, and the dire numbers follow a warning by the public health expert Dr Anthony Fauci that the US is “going in the wrong direction” and infections could more than double, to reach 100,000 cases a day.
In an interview with Fox Business on Tuesday, Trump was asked whether he really believes, as he has stated previously, that the virus will simply disappear.
“I do. I do,” the president said. “Yeah sure. At some point. And I think we’re going to have a vaccine very soon too.”
The response here is very, very Australian.
Some context: Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city, has seen a spike in community transmission cases (albeit from a very low base) so 10 suburbs across the city have been forced back into lockdown. But the measure has had some perverse outcomes, including in Summerhill Road, where one side of the street is locked down, the other is not.
As Guardian reporter Matilda Boseley’s interlocutor here says: “what a stitch-up”.
Also in Australia: the Northern Territory, which had been proudly Covid-19 free since April, and had been lording it over other less-fortunate Australian jurisdictions, has recorded a case.
A returned traveller had spent two weeks in quarantine in Melbourne, but visited family in a Melbourne hotspot area before returning to the NT.
He began showing symptoms and was tested for Covid-19, testing positive.
The traveller had been isolating in Darwin, as per the territory’s strict border rules, upon his return.