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Coronavirus live news: new Melbourne lockdown to begin shortly; Iran death toll exceeds 12,000 Coronavirus live news: new Melbourne lockdown to begin shortly; Iran death toll exceeds 12,000
(32 minutes later)
Melbourne to go into full lockdown again; Bolsonaro taking hydroxychloroquine to cure his Covid-19 infectionMelbourne to go into full lockdown again; Bolsonaro taking hydroxychloroquine to cure his Covid-19 infection
The coronavirus pandemic is showing the limits of “fact-denying populism,” the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has told the European parliament, as she set out her country’s plans for its six-month presidency of the European Union, the Associated Press reports.
Germany took over the task of chairing EU meetings on 1 July and faces the challenge of seeking a compromise on a coronavirus recovery fund for the 27-nation bloc as well as the EU’s budget for the next seven years as the continent faces up to the task of pulling out of a deep recession.
“The depth of the economic decline demands that we hurry,” Merkel told MEPs. “We must waste no time — only the weakest would suffer from that. I very much hope that we can reach an agreement this summer. That will require a lot of readiness to compromise from all sides — and from you too.”
“We must not be naive: In many member states, opponents of Europe are just waiting to misuse the crisis for their ends,” she said. “We must show them all where the added value of cooperation in the European Union lies. We must show that a return to nationalism means not more, but less control.”
Without naming any countries or politicians, Merkel pointed to cautionary examples elsewhere.
“We are seeing at the moment that the pandemic can’t be fought with lies and disinformation, and neither can it be with hatred and agitation,” she said.
“Fact-denying populism is being shown its limits,” she added to applause. “In a democracy, facts and transparency are needed. That distinguishes Europe, and Germany will stand up for it during its presidency.”
Britain’s last governor of Hong Kong has accused China of “taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to bully other countries, as he urged the west to stand up to Beijing, French news agency AFP reports.
Chris Patten, who served as the former British colony’s governor for five years from 1992 and oversaw its 1997 return to Chinese rule, also said Chinese authorities had exploited the global health emergency to impose a controversial security law on the territory.
“What’s happened in Hong Kong is just part of a broader series of actions taken by the Chinese communist party taking advantage of the fact that we’re all of us focused very much on dealing with the coronavirus,” he told an online discussion organised by British MPs.
“From India to Japan... to Australia to Canada, the Chinese have been bullying their way around the world,” he added.
“We have to learn how to contain China when it behaves badly.”
Beijing imposed the security legislation on Hong Kong last week, in response to huge and often violent democracy protests that erupted last year. It targets acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and foreign collusion.
The law’s imposition, which bypassed the territory’s legislature, is the most radical change in its freedoms and autonomy since the 1997 handover. Police have already arrested people voicing certain political views now deemed illegal, such as advocating independence or greater autonomy.
Armenia’s defence minister, Gabriel Balayan, is among a further 535 people in the country who have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing its total caseload to 29,820, according to Xinhua, China’s official news agency.Armenia’s defence minister, Gabriel Balayan, is among a further 535 people in the country who have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing its total caseload to 29,820, according to Xinhua, China’s official news agency.
In its latest update, the national centre for disease control and prevention said that 18 people had died from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 521. The number of recoveries so far in the country is 17,427, with a further 520 patients listed as having shaken off the virus.In its latest update, the national centre for disease control and prevention said that 18 people had died from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 521. The number of recoveries so far in the country is 17,427, with a further 520 patients listed as having shaken off the virus.
Austria’s government has announced travel restrictions for fellow EU members Romania and Bulgaria after a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in both countries, AFP reports:Austria’s government has announced travel restrictions for fellow EU members Romania and Bulgaria after a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in both countries, AFP reports:
Hello, this is Damien Gayle taking over the blog for a little while, while Haroon takes a break. If you have any comments, tips or suggestions drop me a line at damien.gayle@theguardian.com or via Twitter to @damiengayle.Hello, this is Damien Gayle taking over the blog for a little while, while Haroon takes a break. If you have any comments, tips or suggestions drop me a line at damien.gayle@theguardian.com or via Twitter to @damiengayle.
The number of coronavirus recoveries has exceeded 20,000 in Afghanistan as the health ministry reported a further 17 deaths and 210 new cases, while three new polio cases were reported in Helmand and Kandahar, amid raging war across the country.The health ministry has detected the new Covid-19 infections from 591 tests, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 33,594. The number of deaths stands at 937. The war-torn country, which has admitted it has a lack of testing capacity, has tested 77,510 suspected patients since the outbreak began. The number of recovered patients has reached 20,700.The country’s health ministry has said that Afghanistan has reached the peak of coronavirus as daily infections are dropping in recent days. The ministry has said several times said it has the capacity to carry out 2,000 tests a day but has never reached that mark.Two new Polio cases were reported in Helmand and one in Kandahar on Tuesday. The country’s health ministry has raised concerns about new Polio cases as vaccination campaigns paused due to the coronavirus pandemic for the last three months. The health ministry has detected 26 new Polio cases in the first six months of this year, compared with 13 in the same period of last year and 29 cases in the whole of 2019.The number of coronavirus recoveries has exceeded 20,000 in Afghanistan as the health ministry reported a further 17 deaths and 210 new cases, while three new polio cases were reported in Helmand and Kandahar, amid raging war across the country.The health ministry has detected the new Covid-19 infections from 591 tests, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 33,594. The number of deaths stands at 937. The war-torn country, which has admitted it has a lack of testing capacity, has tested 77,510 suspected patients since the outbreak began. The number of recovered patients has reached 20,700.The country’s health ministry has said that Afghanistan has reached the peak of coronavirus as daily infections are dropping in recent days. The ministry has said several times said it has the capacity to carry out 2,000 tests a day but has never reached that mark.Two new Polio cases were reported in Helmand and one in Kandahar on Tuesday. The country’s health ministry has raised concerns about new Polio cases as vaccination campaigns paused due to the coronavirus pandemic for the last three months. The health ministry has detected 26 new Polio cases in the first six months of this year, compared with 13 in the same period of last year and 29 cases in the whole of 2019.
Italy is lobbying the EU to introduce precautionary measures for passengers travelling to European Union countries from outside the bloc to contain the spread of Covid-19, Reuters reports.Italy is lobbying the EU to introduce precautionary measures for passengers travelling to European Union countries from outside the bloc to contain the spread of Covid-19, Reuters reports.
Italy has suspended all flights from Bangladesh for one week due to a “significant number” of passengers who arrived on a flight to Rome on Monday testing positive for the virus.Italy has suspended all flights from Bangladesh for one week due to a “significant number” of passengers who arrived on a flight to Rome on Monday testing positive for the virus.
In a letter addressed to the EU health commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, and his German counterpart, Jens Spahn, Italy’s health minister, Roberto Speranza, said:In a letter addressed to the EU health commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, and his German counterpart, Jens Spahn, Italy’s health minister, Roberto Speranza, said:
Victoria’s premier Daniel Andrew is reintroducing restrictions across the city after a record high of 191 cases were recorded on Tuesday.Victoria’s premier Daniel Andrew is reintroducing restrictions across the city after a record high of 191 cases were recorded on Tuesday.
The lockdown begins at 11.59pm local time on Wednesday and will last for six weeks.The lockdown begins at 11.59pm local time on Wednesday and will last for six weeks.
As during the previous stage three lockdown, the four reasons to leave the house are: shopping for food and essential items, care and caregiving, daily exercise, work and study. But if you can work or study from home, you must.As during the previous stage three lockdown, the four reasons to leave the house are: shopping for food and essential items, care and caregiving, daily exercise, work and study. But if you can work or study from home, you must.
For all you need to know about the new lockdown, read my colleague Luke Henriques-Gomes’s guide:For all you need to know about the new lockdown, read my colleague Luke Henriques-Gomes’s guide:
The European commission has struck deals with drugmakers Roche and Merck KGaA to secure supplies of experimental treatments for Covid-19, Reuters reports, citing a Commission source:The European commission has struck deals with drugmakers Roche and Merck KGaA to secure supplies of experimental treatments for Covid-19, Reuters reports, citing a Commission source:
In England, the hospital serving the constituency of the prime minister, Boris Johnson, has closed to emergency admissions due to a coronavirus outbreak.In England, the hospital serving the constituency of the prime minister, Boris Johnson, has closed to emergency admissions due to a coronavirus outbreak.
Seventy staff members are isolating after the outbreak at Hillingdon hospital.Seventy staff members are isolating after the outbreak at Hillingdon hospital.
A spokesman for Hillingdon hospitals NHS foundation trust said:A spokesman for Hillingdon hospitals NHS foundation trust said:
In April, a healthcare worker at the hospital quit her job after she was refused permission to wear a protective face maskIn April, a healthcare worker at the hospital quit her job after she was refused permission to wear a protective face mask
Tracy Brennan chastised her superiors at Hillingdon hospitals NHS foundation trust for forbidding her from wearing a surgical mask she had bought to protect herself – and the patients she was caring for – from contracting the deadly virus.Tracy Brennan chastised her superiors at Hillingdon hospitals NHS foundation trust for forbidding her from wearing a surgical mask she had bought to protect herself – and the patients she was caring for – from contracting the deadly virus.
Iran’s coronavirus death toll exceeded 12,000 on Wednesday, the health ministry said, with 153 deaths in the past 24 hours, amid a sharp rise in the number of daily infections and deaths in the past week as lockdown measures have eased, Reuters reports.Iran’s coronavirus death toll exceeded 12,000 on Wednesday, the health ministry said, with 153 deaths in the past 24 hours, amid a sharp rise in the number of daily infections and deaths in the past week as lockdown measures have eased, Reuters reports.
The total number of infections has reached 248,379, with 209,463 people having recovered, ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said in a statement on state TV.The total number of infections has reached 248,379, with 209,463 people having recovered, ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said in a statement on state TV.
Iran recorded 200 deaths from Covid-19 within a 24-hour period on Tuesday, the highest official figure recorded by the ministry.Iran recorded 200 deaths from Covid-19 within a 24-hour period on Tuesday, the highest official figure recorded by the ministry.
President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday launched new measures to try to curb the spread. Iranians who do not wear masks will be denied state services and workplaces that fail to comply with health protocols will be shut for a week, he said.President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday launched new measures to try to curb the spread. Iranians who do not wear masks will be denied state services and workplaces that fail to comply with health protocols will be shut for a week, he said.
State TV has regularly aired interviews in recent days with reporters questioning people on public transport and in shopping malls why they were not wearing masks. Some said they did not feel a sense of urgency, others said the masks were uncomfortable.State TV has regularly aired interviews in recent days with reporters questioning people on public transport and in shopping malls why they were not wearing masks. Some said they did not feel a sense of urgency, others said the masks were uncomfortable.
More than 860,000 people have downloaded Ireland’s new Covid-19 tracker app since it went live yesterday, RTE reports.More than 860,000 people have downloaded Ireland’s new Covid-19 tracker app since it went live yesterday, RTE reports.
Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said:Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said:
Ireland has so far had 1,742 Covid-19-related deaths and 25,538 confirmed cases. It’s latest figures, published on Tuesday, showed 24 new cases and one more death.Ireland has so far had 1,742 Covid-19-related deaths and 25,538 confirmed cases. It’s latest figures, published on Tuesday, showed 24 new cases and one more death.
A report by the Independent Sage (scientific advisory group for emergencies), published on Tuesday, said Ireland, along with Northern Ireland and Scotland, has the virus under control and are well placed to achieve elimination of the virus”.A report by the Independent Sage (scientific advisory group for emergencies), published on Tuesday, said Ireland, along with Northern Ireland and Scotland, has the virus under control and are well placed to achieve elimination of the virus”.
Hello, this is Haroon Siddique taking over the blog.Hello, this is Haroon Siddique taking over the blog.
If you want to get in touch, you can do so via the following channels:If you want to get in touch, you can do so via the following channels:
Twitter: Haroon_SiddiqueTwitter: Haroon_Siddique
Email: haroon[dot]siddique[at]theguardian[dot]comEmail: haroon[dot]siddique[at]theguardian[dot]com
That’s all from me Caroline Davies . Thank you for your time.That’s all from me Caroline Davies . Thank you for your time.
On the issue of the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine, see 8.57am post, a reader has pointed to research by the Detroit-based Henry Ford System , which offers another view.On the issue of the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine, see 8.57am post, a reader has pointed to research by the Detroit-based Henry Ford System , which offers another view.