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| Coronavirus live news: pubs reopen in England as Catalonia announces new lockdown | Coronavirus live news: pubs reopen in England as Catalonia announces new lockdown |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Fourth of July holiday weekend set to start with continued rise in infections; Brazil cases pass 1.5m; Boris Johnson defends decision to reopen pubs on Saturday. Follow all the developments live | Fourth of July holiday weekend set to start with continued rise in infections; Brazil cases pass 1.5m; Boris Johnson defends decision to reopen pubs on Saturday. Follow all the developments live |
| China’s agriculture ministry has pushed back on a study into the G4 strain of swine flu, claiming it is not new and does not infect or sicken humans easily. | |
| A study published earlier this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) said the G4 strain had the potential to become a pandemic virus. | |
| China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, however, said in a statement that the study has been interpreted by the media “in an exaggerated and nonfactual way”. | |
| The ministry’s analysis concluded that the study’s sampling was too small to be representative, and that the article lacked adequate evidence to show the G4 virus has become the dominant strain among pigs. | |
| The ministry said it drew its conclusions after holding a seminar on the G4 virus’s impact on the pig industry and public health. Participants included Chinese veterinarians and virologists and the leading authors of the PNAS study. | |
| Afghanistan has announced the first death of a high profile official from Covid-19, as the government reported it had reached the peak of the virus outbreak. | Afghanistan has announced the first death of a high profile official from Covid-19, as the government reported it had reached the peak of the virus outbreak. |
| Yosuf Ghazanfar, President Ashraf Ghani’s special envoy for economic development and poverty reduction, died from the virus on Friday night. Ghazanfar played a key role in Ghani’s 2019 presidential campaign, and a state commission headed by the president’s chief of staff is to be tasked with conducting his funeral and burial. | |
| The health ministry said on Saturday that the country had reached the peak of its coronavirus outbreak, with 32,672 confirmed cases, including 348 new infections. The number of deaths has risen by seven to 826 in the last 24 hours. | |
| Kabul, which has been the country’s worst affected area with 13,334 confirmed cases and 225 deaths, recorded 164 new cases and one death. | |
| “According to our statistics, we are now at the peak of the pandemic as the daily infections have been around the same numbers in the last two weeks and suspected patients decreased so we hope daily numbers will drop soon,” said Abdulqadeer Qadeeri, the deputy health minister.Testing capacity remains low in Afghanistan and experts say the actual number of infections is much higher. Afghanistan has tested 75,155 suspected patients since the outbreak began. Akmal Samsour, a spokesman for the health ministry said: “Only patients with severe symptoms go to medical centres, so the actual number may be something between 150,000 and 1.5 million.”All six tests carried out in Helmand province in the last 24 hours came back positive, and the western province of Herat recorded 28 new cases from 51 tests. Herat has so far reported 4,958 confirmed cases and 130 deaths. | |
| Herat borders Iran, which has been badly hit by the pandemic, and the first known case of the virus was reported in the province after thousands of Afghan migrants returned from Iran in February and March, fanning out across the country without being tested or quarantined.The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission asked the Taliban on Friday to allow human rights workers to investigate a recent mortar attack in Helmand. “We call on the Taliban to pave the way for an investigation by the workers of the human rights commission, because the area is under Taliban control,” said Zabiullah Farhang, head of the media department of the human rights commission.At least 28 civilians were killed and 34 more wounded after four mortars hit a cattle market on Monday.The UN mission in Afghanistan has said that according to its initial and impartial findings, “multiple credible sources assert that the army fired lethal mortars in response to Taliban fire, missing their intended target” and hitting the market in Sangin instead. | |
| Three thousand people living in nine public housing towers in Melbourne have been placed under the harshest lockdown rules of the coronavirus pandemic in Australia so far and banned from leaving their homes for at least five days. | Three thousand people living in nine public housing towers in Melbourne have been placed under the harshest lockdown rules of the coronavirus pandemic in Australia so far and banned from leaving their homes for at least five days. |
| Five hundred police officers have been dispatched to monitor the nine towers in Flemington and North Melbourne to ensure residents do not leave their small and often overcrowded units. | Five hundred police officers have been dispatched to monitor the nine towers in Flemington and North Melbourne to ensure residents do not leave their small and often overcrowded units. |
| Calla Wahlquist and Margaret Simons report: | Calla Wahlquist and Margaret Simons report: |
| Catalonian officials have confined more than 200,000 people in the north-eastern Spanish region after more than 350 cases of coronavirus were detected in the area. | Catalonian officials have confined more than 200,000 people in the north-eastern Spanish region after more than 350 cases of coronavirus were detected in the area. |
| “We have decided to confine the perimeter of Segrià because of the notable rise in covid cases,” the region’s leader, Quim Torra, said on Saturday, describing it as a difficult decision. | “We have decided to confine the perimeter of Segrià because of the notable rise in covid cases,” the region’s leader, Quim Torra, said on Saturday, describing it as a difficult decision. |
| The restriction is the first to be reintroduced in Spain since the country lifted many of its emergency measures on 21 June. | The restriction is the first to be reintroduced in Spain since the country lifted many of its emergency measures on 21 June. |
| Movement in and out of the area, which is about a two-hour car journey west of Barcelona, will be restricted to most from midday Saturday. Officials have also recommended that residents limit their movements and social activities. Gatherings of more than 10 people have been prohibited. | Movement in and out of the area, which is about a two-hour car journey west of Barcelona, will be restricted to most from midday Saturday. Officials have also recommended that residents limit their movements and social activities. Gatherings of more than 10 people have been prohibited. |
| The largest city in the area, Lleida, has been struggling with a surge in coronavirus cases in recent days. Health officials ordered a field hospital to be set up on Friday, after the number of infections nearly doubled from 167 to 325 in a week. They said they were monitoring nine active outbreaks, including at one a care home and several at fruit farms. | The largest city in the area, Lleida, has been struggling with a surge in coronavirus cases in recent days. Health officials ordered a field hospital to be set up on Friday, after the number of infections nearly doubled from 167 to 325 in a week. They said they were monitoring nine active outbreaks, including at one a care home and several at fruit farms. |
| The restrictions come after Spain registered 17 deaths on Friday, the country’s highest 24-hour death toll in two weeks. | The restrictions come after Spain registered 17 deaths on Friday, the country’s highest 24-hour death toll in two weeks. |
| The virus has claimed more than 28,000 lives in the country, according to the health ministry, but the number of excess deaths hints at a toll among the highest in Europe. | The virus has claimed more than 28,000 lives in the country, according to the health ministry, but the number of excess deaths hints at a toll among the highest in Europe. |
| Spain began gradually opening its borders last month, and on Saturday began allowing travellers from 12 countries outside the EU to enter, including Australia, Canada and Japan. Ashifa Kassam | Spain began gradually opening its borders last month, and on Saturday began allowing travellers from 12 countries outside the EU to enter, including Australia, Canada and Japan. Ashifa Kassam |
| “I’m taking each day as it comes, trying to stay healthy until I can get home.” | “I’m taking each day as it comes, trying to stay healthy until I can get home.” |
| Hundreds of Venezuelan refugees who fled their country’s economic crisis in the hope of establishing a new life in Colombia have had their prospects shattered by Covid-19. | Hundreds of Venezuelan refugees who fled their country’s economic crisis in the hope of establishing a new life in Colombia have had their prospects shattered by Covid-19. |
| Joe Parkin Daniels reports from Bogotá on the people forced to turn their lives around in the most challenging of circumstances. | Joe Parkin Daniels reports from Bogotá on the people forced to turn their lives around in the most challenging of circumstances. |
| Hallo, this is Paul MacInnes, I’m taking over the blog for the next few hours. | Hallo, this is Paul MacInnes, I’m taking over the blog for the next few hours. |
| Any questions or tips please email me. | Any questions or tips please email me. |
| Jair Bolsonaro sanctioned a law on Friday to make face masks obligatory in public in Brazil, but watered it down by vetoing their use in shops, churches and schools, the BBC reports. | Jair Bolsonaro sanctioned a law on Friday to make face masks obligatory in public in Brazil, but watered it down by vetoing their use in shops, churches and schools, the BBC reports. |
| The Brazilian president said people could have been fined for not wearing a mask at home. | The Brazilian president said people could have been fined for not wearing a mask at home. |
| Brazil has the world’s second-highest numbers of Covid-19 cases and deaths. Almost 1.5 million people have been infected and 61,884 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. | Brazil has the world’s second-highest numbers of Covid-19 cases and deaths. Almost 1.5 million people have been infected and 61,884 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. |
| Indonesia reported 1,447 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, the health ministry said, taking the nation’s tally to 62,142. It also announced 53 more deaths, taking the country’s toll to 3,089. | Indonesia reported 1,447 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, the health ministry said, taking the nation’s tally to 62,142. It also announced 53 more deaths, taking the country’s toll to 3,089. |
| People in England are finally allowed to drink in a pub, have a meal in a restaurant or get a haircut for the first time in more than three months as as the country takes its biggest steps yet towards resumption of normal life. | People in England are finally allowed to drink in a pub, have a meal in a restaurant or get a haircut for the first time in more than three months as as the country takes its biggest steps yet towards resumption of normal life. |
| Pubs were permitted to start serving from 6am, sparking worries about over-indulgence on what the media has called “super Saturday”. | Pubs were permitted to start serving from 6am, sparking worries about over-indulgence on what the media has called “super Saturday”. |
| Some hairdressers opened at the stroke of midnight. | Some hairdressers opened at the stroke of midnight. |
| In another relaxation of lockdown rules that were first imposed in late March two households can now meet indoors as long as social distancing is maintained, and overnight stays are allowed. | In another relaxation of lockdown rules that were first imposed in late March two households can now meet indoors as long as social distancing is maintained, and overnight stays are allowed. |
| The Sun newspaper predicted that 15m pints (8.5m litres) of beer would be sunk in England on Saturday, though some pub-goers may be deterred by a forecast of unsettled weather. | The Sun newspaper predicted that 15m pints (8.5m litres) of beer would be sunk in England on Saturday, though some pub-goers may be deterred by a forecast of unsettled weather. |
| Police said they were “absolutely prepared”, and hospitals have been told to prepare for a New Year’s Eve-style weekend. | Police said they were “absolutely prepared”, and hospitals have been told to prepare for a New Year’s Eve-style weekend. |
| The UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, called on people to behave responsibly and respect social-distancing regulations, but he also stressed the importance of supporting businesses. | The UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, called on people to behave responsibly and respect social-distancing regulations, but he also stressed the importance of supporting businesses. |
| He said at a news conference on Friday: “We must not let them down.” | He said at a news conference on Friday: “We must not let them down.” |
| Saturday’s rule changes apply only to England. The UK’s devolved nations - Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - have been setting their own timetables for easing lockdown restrictions. | Saturday’s rule changes apply only to England. The UK’s devolved nations - Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - have been setting their own timetables for easing lockdown restrictions. |
| Pub-goers will find the atmosphere rather different from the usual Saturday-night scrum. | Pub-goers will find the atmosphere rather different from the usual Saturday-night scrum. |
| Numbers will be limited, no one will be allowed to stand at the bar and there will be no live music. Patrons will also have to give their details to allow tracers to identify them if anyone later tests positive. | Numbers will be limited, no one will be allowed to stand at the bar and there will be no live music. Patrons will also have to give their details to allow tracers to identify them if anyone later tests positive. |
| JD Wetherspoon, one of the biggest chains, said it had invested £11m ($13.7m) in safety measures. Most of its pubs in England opened at the usual time of 8am. It is not taking bookings, but said numbers would be controlled by staff at busy times. | JD Wetherspoon, one of the biggest chains, said it had invested £11m ($13.7m) in safety measures. Most of its pubs in England opened at the usual time of 8am. It is not taking bookings, but said numbers would be controlled by staff at busy times. |
| I just spoke to Hana, a woman who lives in one of the nine public housing tower blocks placed into lockdown in Melbourne. | I just spoke to Hana, a woman who lives in one of the nine public housing tower blocks placed into lockdown in Melbourne. |
| She learned of the lockdown when she returned home from the supermarket, just after 4pm, when she was greeted by dozens of police officers. The police presence was intimidating, she said. | She learned of the lockdown when she returned home from the supermarket, just after 4pm, when she was greeted by dozens of police officers. The police presence was intimidating, she said. |
| She said it was hard not to feel that public housing blocks had been targeted when the towers are surrounded by other apartment buildings whose residents are free to go to the shops or for a daily walk. | She said it was hard not to feel that public housing blocks had been targeted when the towers are surrounded by other apartment buildings whose residents are free to go to the shops or for a daily walk. |
| Dozens of police officers are scattered around the entrances and throughout the grounds of a public housing estate on the corner of Sutton, Melrose and Alfred streets in North Melbourne. | Dozens of police officers are scattered around the entrances and throughout the grounds of a public housing estate on the corner of Sutton, Melrose and Alfred streets in North Melbourne. |
| Cars that entered the estate had their details checked and police were speaking to residents who were walking through the property. | Cars that entered the estate had their details checked and police were speaking to residents who were walking through the property. |
| The high rises will be in lockdown from midnight, meaning residents will not be allowed to leave for any reason. The government says they will be provided food, healthcare and other services. | The high rises will be in lockdown from midnight, meaning residents will not be allowed to leave for any reason. The government says they will be provided food, healthcare and other services. |
| One estate resident wearing a large mask and who was waiting in his car with a friend, sounded dismayed about the lockdown. | One estate resident wearing a large mask and who was waiting in his car with a friend, sounded dismayed about the lockdown. |
| “We’re not happy about it,” he said before driving off. | “We’re not happy about it,” he said before driving off. |
| Once residents enter one of the 20-storey buildings tonight, they won’t be allowed out for five days. | Once residents enter one of the 20-storey buildings tonight, they won’t be allowed out for five days. |