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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
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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 liveFourth 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
Brazil recorded 37,923 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours as well as 1,091 deaths, the Health Ministry said on Saturday.
Brazil has registered more than 1.5 million cases since the pandemic began, while cumulative deaths total 64,265, according to the ministry.
Italy is carrying out tests on 180 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean with a view to transferring them to a quarantine vessel in Sicily, an interior ministry source has said.Italy is carrying out tests on 180 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean with a view to transferring them to a quarantine vessel in Sicily, an interior ministry source has said.
The migrants have been on the Ocean Viking ship operated by SOS Méditerranée for over a week, with fights and suicide attempts onboard prompting the charity to declare a state of emergency on Friday, Agence France-Presse reports.The migrants have been on the Ocean Viking ship operated by SOS Méditerranée for over a week, with fights and suicide attempts onboard prompting the charity to declare a state of emergency on Friday, Agence France-Presse reports.
A medical team sent by authorities in Pozzallo, Sicily “ascertained the absence of particular health problems and also reported that some tensions that had been registered on the ship are being overcome”, the ministry source said on Saturday.A medical team sent by authorities in Pozzallo, Sicily “ascertained the absence of particular health problems and also reported that some tensions that had been registered on the ship are being overcome”, the ministry source said on Saturday.
The medical team is testing the migrants for the Covid-19 virus after which they will be transferred to a quarantine ship currently in Porto Empedocle, also in Sicily.The medical team is testing the migrants for the Covid-19 virus after which they will be transferred to a quarantine ship currently in Porto Empedocle, also in Sicily.
A man photographed fleeing smoke and debris as the south tower of the World Trade Center crumbled just a block away on September 11, 2001, has died from coronavirus, his family said.A man photographed fleeing smoke and debris as the south tower of the World Trade Center crumbled just a block away on September 11, 2001, has died from coronavirus, his family said.
The Palm Beach Post reported that Stephen Cooper, an electrical engineer from New York who lived part-time in the Delray Beach, Florida area, died 28 March at Delray Medical Center due to Covid-19. He was 78.The Palm Beach Post reported that Stephen Cooper, an electrical engineer from New York who lived part-time in the Delray Beach, Florida area, died 28 March at Delray Medical Center due to Covid-19. He was 78.
The photo, captured by an Associated Press photographer, was published in newspapers and magazines around the world and is featured at the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York.The photo, captured by an Associated Press photographer, was published in newspapers and magazines around the world and is featured at the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York.
“He didnt even know the photograph was taken,” said Janet Rashes, Coopers partner of 33 years. “He didnt even know the photograph was taken,” said Janet Rashes, Cooper’s partner of 33 years.
“All of a sudden, he’s looking in Time magazine one day and he sees himself and says, ’Oh my God. Thats me.’ He was amazed. Couldnt believe it.”The photo shows Cooper, who was 60 at the time, with a manila envelope tucked under his left arm. He and several other men were in a desperate sprint as a wall of debris from the collapsing tower looms behind them. “All of a sudden, he’s looking in Time magazine one day and he sees himself and says, ’Oh my God. That’s me.’ He was amazed. Couldn’t believe it.”The photo shows Cooper, who was 60 at the time, with a manila envelope tucked under his left arm. He and several other men were in a desperate sprint as a wall of debris from the collapsing tower looms behind them.
The US state of Texas has recorded 8,258 new cases in the 24 hours to Saturday, the highest single-day surge in the state since the pandemic started.The US state of Texas has recorded 8,258 new cases in the 24 hours to Saturday, the highest single-day surge in the state since the pandemic started.
The overall number of confirmed infections in Texas now stands at 191,790, the health department said.The overall number of confirmed infections in Texas now stands at 191,790, the health department said.
Current Covid-19 hospitalisations rose by 238 in one day to a record high of 7,890.Current Covid-19 hospitalisations rose by 238 in one day to a record high of 7,890.
Texas governor Greg Abbott took to Twitter to wish Americans a happy Fourth of July, earning a barrage of criticism from the public.Texas governor Greg Abbott took to Twitter to wish Americans a happy Fourth of July, earning a barrage of criticism from the public.
His critics are bitterly divided, however. One camp is voicing disappointment in his leadership amid rising infections, while the other is clamouring for his resignation after he issued an executive order on Thursday requiring Texans to wear face coverings in public in counties with 20 or more Covid-19 cases.His critics are bitterly divided, however. One camp is voicing disappointment in his leadership amid rising infections, while the other is clamouring for his resignation after he issued an executive order on Thursday requiring Texans to wear face coverings in public in counties with 20 or more Covid-19 cases.
The Philippines’ coronavirus death toll has climbed to 41,830 after the Department of Health on Saturday announced 1,494 more infections, the Philippine Star reports.The Philippines’ coronavirus death toll has climbed to 41,830 after the Department of Health on Saturday announced 1,494 more infections, the Philippine Star reports.
Of these new cases, 403 were newly validated and labelled “fresh”, which means that test results were released to the patient within the last three days, while the remaining 1,091 were “late” (results released four days ago or more).Of these new cases, 403 were newly validated and labelled “fresh”, which means that test results were released to the patient within the last three days, while the remaining 1,091 were “late” (results released four days ago or more).
The health undersecretary, Maria Rosario Vergeire, however, said that from next week the department would change its case bulletin reporting protocol to exclude the “fresh” and “late” categories introduced in late May.The health undersecretary, Maria Rosario Vergeire, however, said that from next week the department would change its case bulletin reporting protocol to exclude the “fresh” and “late” categories introduced in late May.
This week saw 7,027 additional infections on top of the 34,803 recorded as of last Saturday - the most reported in a single week so far.This week saw 7,027 additional infections on top of the 34,803 recorded as of last Saturday - the most reported in a single week so far.
An average of 1,003 cases was reported every day since Sunday, which is also the highest the country has seen within a single week.An average of 1,003 cases was reported every day since Sunday, which is also the highest the country has seen within a single week.
The 20-member cabinet in Africa’s last absolute kingdom of eSwatini has been ordered into isolation after one minister contracted coronavirus, the government said on Saturday.The 20-member cabinet in Africa’s last absolute kingdom of eSwatini has been ordered into isolation after one minister contracted coronavirus, the government said on Saturday.
The public works and transport minister, Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, was found to be infected after a routine test on Tuesday.The public works and transport minister, Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, was found to be infected after a routine test on Tuesday.
“Following this development, all cabinet members will isolate with immediate effect and work from home,” government spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini said in a statement.“Following this development, all cabinet members will isolate with immediate effect and work from home,” government spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini said in a statement.
Numbers of detected coronavirus infections have climbed to 984, including 13 deaths in the southern African country with a population of around 1.3 million people.Numbers of detected coronavirus infections have climbed to 984, including 13 deaths in the southern African country with a population of around 1.3 million people.
Prime minister Ambrose Dlamini warned in April that the health system in the country - formerly known as Swaziland - would struggle with an upsurge of infections due to inadequate resources, Agence France-Press reports.Prime minister Ambrose Dlamini warned in April that the health system in the country - formerly known as Swaziland - would struggle with an upsurge of infections due to inadequate resources, Agence France-Press reports.
Research published in The Lancet late last month warned that countries such as eSwatini, with the world’s highest prevalence of HIV/Aids, needed to be particularly vigilant during the pandemic.Research published in The Lancet late last month warned that countries such as eSwatini, with the world’s highest prevalence of HIV/Aids, needed to be particularly vigilant during the pandemic.
The rising toll of Covid-19 deaths is overwhelming the Bolivian city of Cochabamba, where desperate relatives of one apparent victim of coronavirus left his coffin in the street for several hours on Saturday to protest difficulties in getting him buried.The rising toll of Covid-19 deaths is overwhelming the Bolivian city of Cochabamba, where desperate relatives of one apparent victim of coronavirus left his coffin in the street for several hours on Saturday to protest difficulties in getting him buried.
Neighbour Remberto Arnez told the Associated Press that the 62-year-old man had died on Sunday and his body had been in his home ever since, but that this was risky because of the possible contagion.Neighbour Remberto Arnez told the Associated Press that the 62-year-old man had died on Sunday and his body had been in his home ever since, but that this was risky because of the possible contagion.
After a few hours, funeral workers arrived and took the coffin to a cemetery.After a few hours, funeral workers arrived and took the coffin to a cemetery.
Police Col. Iván Rojas told a news conference that the city is collecting about 17 bodies a day, which is overwhelming the police personnel and funeral workers in the city of some 630,000 people.Police Col. Iván Rojas told a news conference that the city is collecting about 17 bodies a day, which is overwhelming the police personnel and funeral workers in the city of some 630,000 people.
“The crematorium oven is small, [but] that is where the bodies are [being collected],” said labour minister Óscar Mercado, who told reporters that officials were preparing 250 new burial plots in the city’s main cemetery.“The crematorium oven is small, [but] that is where the bodies are [being collected],” said labour minister Óscar Mercado, who told reporters that officials were preparing 250 new burial plots in the city’s main cemetery.
The Andean nation has reported 36,818 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 1,320 deaths.The Andean nation has reported 36,818 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 1,320 deaths.
As some countries and regions reintroduce restrictions and impose local lockdowns, Thailand’s nightlife venues have been allowed to reopen on 1 July after a three-month closure.As some countries and regions reintroduce restrictions and impose local lockdowns, Thailand’s nightlife venues have been allowed to reopen on 1 July after a three-month closure.
My colleague Rebecca Ratcliffe reports from Bangkok.My colleague Rebecca Ratcliffe reports from Bangkok.
Israel is one of several countries so far that is seemingly paying the price for lifting lockdown restrictions early, as the government tries to grapple with rising infections.Israel is one of several countries so far that is seemingly paying the price for lifting lockdown restrictions early, as the government tries to grapple with rising infections.
Over the last 24 hours, 1,008 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19, raising the number of active cases in Israel to 10,060, according to data released by the health ministry.Over the last 24 hours, 1,008 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19, raising the number of active cases in Israel to 10,060, according to data released by the health ministry.
Some 326 people have died from the virus.Some 326 people have died from the virus.
Israel’s higher education system announced on Saturday that exams will no longer be administered on campus and will move fully online instead, Haaretz reports.Israel’s higher education system announced on Saturday that exams will no longer be administered on campus and will move fully online instead, Haaretz reports.
According to Palestinian health figures, there are 994 coronavirus cases in those under the age of 18 in the West Bank, including 406 children under the age of nine.According to Palestinian health figures, there are 994 coronavirus cases in those under the age of 18 in the West Bank, including 406 children under the age of nine.
Only 95 of cases are in those over the age of 70. A rise in cases has not yet been reflected in a rise in hospitalisations and serious cases.Only 95 of cases are in those over the age of 70. A rise in cases has not yet been reflected in a rise in hospitalisations and serious cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that it was discontinuing its trials of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and combination HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir in hospitalised patients with Covid-19 after they failed to reduce mortality.The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that it was discontinuing its trials of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and combination HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir in hospitalised patients with Covid-19 after they failed to reduce mortality.
“These interim trial results show that hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir produce little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalised Covid-19 patients when compared to standard of care.“These interim trial results show that hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir produce little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalised Covid-19 patients when compared to standard of care.
“Solidarity trial investigators will interrupt the trials with immediate effect,” the WHO said in a statement, referring to large multi-country trials that the agency is leading.“Solidarity trial investigators will interrupt the trials with immediate effect,” the WHO said in a statement, referring to large multi-country trials that the agency is leading.
The UN agency said that the decision, taken on the recommendation of the trial’s international steering committee, does not affect other studies where the drugs are used for non-hospitalised patients or as a prophylaxis.The UN agency said that the decision, taken on the recommendation of the trial’s international steering committee, does not affect other studies where the drugs are used for non-hospitalised patients or as a prophylaxis.
Another arm of the WHO-led trial is looking at the potential effect of Gilead’s antiviral drug remdesivir on Covid-19.Another arm of the WHO-led trial is looking at the potential effect of Gilead’s antiviral drug remdesivir on Covid-19.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports a record increase in coronavirus infections globally, which have risen by 212,326 in 24 hours.
The biggest increases were from the United States, Brazil and India, according to a daily report. The previous WHO record for new cases was 189,077 on 28 June.
Deaths remained steady at about 5,000 a day.
Global coronavirus cases exceeded 11 million on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, marking another milestone in the spread of the disease that has killed more than half a million people in seven months.
Agence France-Presse has compiled a handy overview of places where fresh outbreaks of the coronavirus around the world have led to renewed, more localised lockdowns, such as in parts of Catalonia and in Melbourne Saturday.
Europe
SPAIN: lockdown on Saturday for around 200,000 residents in a section of the northeastern Catalonia region. Nobody is allowed to enter or leave the area, gatherings of more than 10 people are banned and visits to retirement homes halted.
PORTUGAL: lockdown at home has been in place since 1 July for some 700,000 inhabitants in the Lisbon region, for a period of at least two weeks.
GERMANY: local lockdowns were announced on 23 June for more than 600,000 people in two neighbouring districts Guetersloh and Warendorf in North Rhine-Westphalia state. Coesfeld, a district in western Germany, was locked down on 18 May.
BRITAIN: on 30 June the city of Leicester began a localised two-week lockdown with non-essential shops and schools shutting.
ITALY: some 700 people were ordered on 22 June to remain indoors in four council housing blocks in Mondragone, 60 kilometres north of Naples on the coast in the Campania region.
Asia
CHINA: the central city of Wuhan came out of lockdown at the start of April but authorities swiftly reimposed restrictions on 70 residential neighbourhoods.
INDIA: the southern state of Tamil Nadu ordered new restrictions in Chennai, its capital, and surrounding districts as of 19 June in measures that affected around 15 million people.
AZERBAIJAN: reinstated a tight lockdown from 22 June to 1 August.
Americas
UNITED STATES: several states have halted plans to reopen or relax their lockdowns, with bars closing in California, Texas and Florida, as well as beach closing in California and Florida.
ARGENTINA: a toughening of lockdown measures in Buenos Aires and its surrounding area has been imposed from 1 to 17 July. The country’s second city Cordoba also rolled back on easing its lockdown measures on 19 May.
PANAMA: a return to lockdown from 8 June in the capital and a neighbouring province.
Middle East
LEBANON: a four-day lockdown was imposed on 13 May.
Oceania
AUSTRALIA: thousands of residents in several high-rise apartments in Melbourne went into lockdown for at least five days on Saturday.
The United Kingdom’s death toll from confirmed cases of coronavirus has risen by 67 to 44,198 in the last 24 hours, the government said on Saturday.
For the first time in 105 days, people across the UK flocked to pubs, beer gardens and other licensed premises today.
My colleague Mattha Busby has more on people’s experiences and perceptions in East London:
The British prime minister, Boris Johnson, is likely to face further questions after his own father refused to refute whether he had acted improperly flouting UK travel advice to visit his villa in Greece.
At the centre of the commotion since his arrival in the country – via Bulgaria – on Wednesday, Stanley Johnson was asked, directly, whether he regretted the decision. “I’m not going to say whether my actions are correct or not – in any case, what happened, happened,” he told reporters who tracked him down to his mountain villa in Pelion overlooking the Aegean sea.
“I’ll go back on the tenth but people are longing to get here. And this is a country which has everything. But here I am, how could you be here and not look around at this fantastic place?”
The 79-year-old, who was caught on camera with a towel thrown over his left shoulder after clearly having been for a swim, said it was vital that an air bridge was created “as quick as we can” to facilitate travel between the two nations. “How wonderful it would be, if quite quickly, the two governments could come to some arrangement.”
The high incidence of coronavirus cases in Britain spurred Athens earlier this week to announce it would extend the suspension of direct flights from the UK until 15 July. Those bent on getting to Greece are currently forced to come via third countries but it is not encouraged. The British government has urged citizens against all but essential travel.
Explaining his trip earlier as “essential business” Johnson senior said his visit had been motivated by the need to “Covid-proof my property in view of the upcoming letting season”.
The former euro MP, who now supports his son’s Brexit policies, has long rented out the two-story Villa Irene to UK holidaymakers in what has become a nice little earner for his family, as we explain in our story today.
More here:
Jordan on Saturday began putting electronic bracelets on travellers who have arrived recently in the kingdom to ensure that they observe home-quarantine against the spread of coronavirus, an official said, according to Agence France-Presse.
People arriving in Jordan must isolate for 14 days at hotels designated by the authorities on the shores of the Dead Sea, west of the capital Amman.
After that period, they must self-isolate for an additional 14 days at home, according to Nizar Obeidat, spokesman for Jordan’s virus task force.
Jordan imposed tough measures, including curfews and the deployment of drones, to curb the spread of Covid-19, before easing policies in early June.
Portugal on Saturday denounced as “absurd” Britain’s decision to exclude it from the list of countries to which Britons can travel without having to observe quarantine restrictions on their return.
The row comes as both countries record a coronavirus infections rate of 4,000 cases per million inhabitants, according to an AFP tally compiled from national data, although Britain registers a significantly higher death rate.
“The question of quarantine is absurd,” said foreign minister Augusto Santos Silva in an interview with state television station RTP.
“It’s always horrible to compare the figures of an illness, and deaths,” he said.
“But it’s absurd that the United Kingdom is imposing a quarantine on passengers returning from a country that, with regard to all the indicators for the pandemic, has better results than the United Kingdom itself,” he said.
British visitors are the biggest part of Portugal’s tourism market, with 2.1 million visitors in 2019 generating 3.3 billion euros.
Portugal’s death rate for the coronavirus is at 156 per million inhabitants, while Britain’s is at 650 - with some observers arguing the real death rate is higher.
But on Friday, when Britain announced a list of more than 70 countries or territories that would be exempt from quarantine measures from 10 July, Portugal was one of the few EU countries not on the list.
Santos Silva acknowledged there was concern about a spike in infections in districts just north of Lisbon where lockdown measures have been reimposed.
Malawi’s new president Lazarus Chakwera on Saturday ordered his inauguration ceremony be scaled down amid a surge of coronavirus cases, dampening excitement around his election win.
Chakwera was sworn in last Sunday for a five-year term, hours after unseating Peter Mutharika in a re-run election, and this Monday the country is holding a formal celebration.
Chakwera said capacity at the national stadium would be halved to 20,000 and at least 100,000 face masks would be distributed in the capital Lilongwe.
“We’re in a worse situation today than we were three months ago. Coronavirus is spreading everywhere in Malawi and it’s spreading to kill,” he said in a televised address.
Covid-19 cases have more than doubled in the past two weeks to reach nearly 1,500, with 16 deaths.
Opposition politicians and activists had criticized Mutharika’s response to the pandemic, calling it inadequate and aimed at keeping him in power, Reuters reports.
As coronavirus cases spike, US public health officials are pleading with Americans to avoid large crowds and hold more muted Independence Day celebrations, the Associated Press reports.
But subdued is not president Donald Trump’s style, and he aimed to go big, promising a special evening in Washington that could bring tens of thousands to the National Mall.
Trump’s Salute for America celebration on Saturday evening was to include a speech from the White House South Lawn that he said would celebrate American heritage, as well as a military flyover over the city and an enormous fireworks display that could pack people downtown.
The president kicked off the holiday weekend by traveling to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota for a fireworks display Friday night near the mountain carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
In his remarks, he accused protesters who have pushed for racial justice of engaging in a merciless campaign to wipe out our history.
In a presidential message on Saturday on the 244th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Trump acknowledged that over the past months, the American spirit has undoubtedly been tested by many challenges.
His Democratic rival, Joe Biden, said in a statement that the US never lived up to its founding principle that all men are created equal, but that today “we have a chance to rip the roots of systemic racism out of this country.’’
His participation in big gatherings comes as many communities have decided to scrap fireworks, parades and other holiday traditions in attempts to prevent further spread of coronavirus, with confirmed cases climbing in 40 states.
Thai boxing matches resumed on Saturday after more than three months as the nation eases its coronavirus lockdown, but fans of the popular sport will have to make do with watching on television for now.
Leaders of the sport hailed the return to the ring after the shutdown, which left hundreds of boxers and referees without work, and said they hoped spectators would be allowed to attend matches again soon.
“I’m very happy and excited to get back to the ring [...] But I feel a bit strange. I was used to the sounds of crowds cheering, but there’s no audience,” Khathawut Tumthong, a 21-year-old boxer, told Reuters.
Thailand’s government has eased most curbs to try to revive an economy badly hit by the pandemic, with sports competitions among the latest activities to resume. No local transmissions of the virus have been reported for 40 days.
However, authorities have yet to issue rules on when and how audiences will be allowed at sports venues.
In March, a spike in virus cases was linked to a boxing match in Bangkok.
“Today is a good start for the boxing industry,” said Viboon Jampa-nguern, head of Thailand’s boxing committee.
“Boxers are in jeopardy, they don’t have alternative jobs. The same goes for those who work as boxing referees, they don’t have second jobs to support them,” he said.
Thailand’s tourism-driven economy could contract a record 8.1% this year, with the number of foreign tourists expected to tumble 80%, the central bank has forecast.
The US state of Arizona reported 2,695 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, bringing its total to 94,553. The number of hospital admissions for Covid-19 by 100 to a record high of 3,113 on Friday, the state health department said.
Ninety per cent of all adult intensive care beds were in use as of Friday, which is one percentage point lower than the day before.