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Coronavirus live news: Melbourne goes back into lockdown; Italy stops Bangladesh flights after new infections Coronavirus live news: Melbourne goes back into lockdown; Italy stops Bangladesh flights after new infections
(32 minutes later)
Melbourne goes into full lockdown after rises in cases; Bolsonaro taking hydroxychloroquine to cure his Covid-19 infectionMelbourne goes into full lockdown after rises in cases; Bolsonaro taking hydroxychloroquine to cure his Covid-19 infection
The number of coronavirus cases has passed the 301,000 mark in Chile, according to the Johns-Hopkins University tracker.
The figure is currently 301,019, which is the sixth highest in the world after the US, Brazil, India, Russia, and Peru.
Authorities in northeast Spain will start fining individuals who do not wear face masks 100 euros ($113) starting on Thursday when the use of masks becomes mandatory in Barcelona and the surrounding Catalonia region.
Spain ended a nationwide lockdown in mid-June after restrictions on movement and public activity succeeded in reining in the country’s virus outbreak after it had pushed the healthcare system to the breaking point and killed thousands of people.
But with most restrictions lifted and some people not following social-distancing rules, the number of confirmed new cases reported daily in Spain has begun to creep up. Confirmed cases doubled between Tuesday and Wednesday amid dozens of small outbreaks.
The biggest increase was in the Catalonia region, with 52 new confirmed cases in a 24-hour period and nearly 2,000 in the past two weeks.
The US has surpassed three million confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker.
It represents around a quarter of the world’s total cases. US-based Johns Hopkins records that there have been 131,594 deaths among the total of 3,016,515 cases.
New York City students will return to their schools two or three days a week and learn online the rest of the time, under a plan announced by mayor Bill de Blasio.New York City students will return to their schools two or three days a week and learn online the rest of the time, under a plan announced by mayor Bill de Blasio.
Most schools will not be able to have all their kids in school at the same time, he added.Most schools will not be able to have all their kids in school at the same time, he added.
De Blasio said parents will have the option of online-only instruction for their children, but he said 75% of parents who answered a survey want their children in school in September.De Blasio said parents will have the option of online-only instruction for their children, but he said 75% of parents who answered a survey want their children in school in September.
Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has clashed with de Blasio repeatedly over control of the city’s schools and other issues, said all school districts statewide must submit plans for reopening by July 31 and state officials will decide in the first week of August whether to accept the plans and whether schools will reopen.Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has clashed with de Blasio repeatedly over control of the city’s schools and other issues, said all school districts statewide must submit plans for reopening by July 31 and state officials will decide in the first week of August whether to accept the plans and whether schools will reopen.
“They can submit a plan, the plan will be reviewed and then we will accept or deny the specific plan or ask for alterations on the specific plan and then make a global decision as to whether or not any school district will reopen and that will be the first week of August,” said Cuomo.“They can submit a plan, the plan will be reviewed and then we will accept or deny the specific plan or ask for alterations on the specific plan and then make a global decision as to whether or not any school district will reopen and that will be the first week of August,” said Cuomo.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 2,982,900 cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, an increase of 50,304 cases from its previous count.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 2,982,900 cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, an increase of 50,304 cases from its previous count.
It said that the number of deaths had risen by 932 to 131,065.It said that the number of deaths had risen by 932 to 131,065.
The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states.The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states.
Here are the latest developments:Here are the latest developments:
The Australian city of Melbourne has begun a new lockdown after a surge of infections. Among the restrictions are that visits to other people’s homes are limited to if you are giving or receiving care or if you are in an “intimate personal relationship”.The Australian city of Melbourne has begun a new lockdown after a surge of infections. Among the restrictions are that visits to other people’s homes are limited to if you are giving or receiving care or if you are in an “intimate personal relationship”.
Italian authorities stopped 125 Bangladeshi people from entering the country today after they landed at Rome’s Fiumicino airport on a flight from Qatar. Yesterday, Italy suspended flights from Bangladesh for a week after 36 people who arrived in Rome on board a flight the day before tested positive for coronavirus.Italian authorities stopped 125 Bangladeshi people from entering the country today after they landed at Rome’s Fiumicino airport on a flight from Qatar. Yesterday, Italy suspended flights from Bangladesh for a week after 36 people who arrived in Rome on board a flight the day before tested positive for coronavirus.
Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel has warned the European Union not to waste time in agreeing a recovery plan to pull the continent out of a historic recession caused by the coronavirus lockdown. Merkel said she hoped to see a deal before the summer break on a proposed €750bn recovery plan.Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel has warned the European Union not to waste time in agreeing a recovery plan to pull the continent out of a historic recession caused by the coronavirus lockdown. Merkel said she hoped to see a deal before the summer break on a proposed €750bn recovery plan.
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. Greece, which like Austria, has had a low number of infections and deaths compared with other European nations, has also expressed concern about imported cases from the Balkans.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. Greece, which like Austria, has had a low number of infections and deaths compared with other European nations, has also expressed concern about imported cases from the Balkans.
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.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.
Italy plans to monitor wastewater nationwide for a possible early warning about any renewed outbreak of Covid-19 infections, the National Institute of Health (ISS) said today, Reuters reports:Italy plans to monitor wastewater nationwide for a possible early warning about any renewed outbreak of Covid-19 infections, the National Institute of Health (ISS) said today, Reuters reports:
The number of deaths in France from Covid-19 has risen by 32 from the previous day to stand at 29,965 the country’s health department said today.The number of deaths in France from Covid-19 has risen by 32 from the previous day to stand at 29,965 the country’s health department said today.
That figure is almost twice as high as the daily average of 18 seen over the last seven days and more akin to last month’s toll. In June, France counted 34 additional deaths every day on average, in May the figure was 143 and in April it was 695. France has the sixth-largest death toll in the world.That figure is almost twice as high as the daily average of 18 seen over the last seven days and more akin to last month’s toll. In June, France counted 34 additional deaths every day on average, in May the figure was 143 and in April it was 695. France has the sixth-largest death toll in the world.
Canada handled the coronavirus outbreak better than many of its allies, including the United States, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday in a rare public comment on the faltering US effort, Reuters reports.Canada handled the coronavirus outbreak better than many of its allies, including the United States, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday in a rare public comment on the faltering US effort, Reuters reports.
In an update to a truly horrific story, French prosecutors have today charged two men with attempted murder after a bus driver was assaulted and left brain dead for refusing to let aboard a group of people who were not wearing face masks.In an update to a truly horrific story, French prosecutors have today charged two men with attempted murder after a bus driver was assaulted and left brain dead for refusing to let aboard a group of people who were not wearing face masks.
Four men set upon 59-year-old Philippe Monguillot in the southwestern town of Bayonne on Sunday after he asked three of them to wear masks and tried to check another man’s ticket.Four men set upon 59-year-old Philippe Monguillot in the southwestern town of Bayonne on Sunday after he asked three of them to wear masks and tried to check another man’s ticket.
Face masks remain mandatory on public transport in France to slow the Covid-19 outbreak, which has claimed nearly 30,000 lives in the country.Face masks remain mandatory on public transport in France to slow the Covid-19 outbreak, which has claimed nearly 30,000 lives in the country.
The US president, Donald Trump, has threatened to cut off funding to schools that do not open in the fall and criticised a federal health agency’s guidelines for reopening schools as “very tough & expensive”. From Reuters:
The Republican president, who is seeking re-election in November, accused Democrats of wanting to keep schools shut for political reasons, despite a surge in coronavirus cases across the country.
It was not clear what specific federal aid the Republican president had in mind. States are responsible for primary and secondary education under the US constitution, but the federal government provides some supplementary funding.
Trump also took aim at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the nation’s health protection agency whose director sits on the White House coronavirus task force.
The White House did not elaborate on which CDC guidelines Trump took issue with.
The CDC has recommended a number of considerations for schools, including testing, dividing students into small groups, serving packaged lunches in classrooms instead of cafeterias, and minimiSing sharing of school supplies. It advised sneeze guards and partitions be put in place when social distancing is not possible, and that seats be spaced at least six feet apart.
Yesterday, Trump held meetings about school reopenings at the White House and said he would pressure state governors to open schools in the fall. The White House coronavirus task force is meeting at the Department of Education today and will hold a news briefing afterward.
Business and conservative groups have urged reopening schools safely as important to getting parents back to work and reviving the US economy.Educators say socialisation and other benefits such as school food programs are critically important. Experts have also shown online learning exacerbates the divide between poorer and more wealthy Americans, who have greater access to technology.
The alarming surge in cases in the United States, however, has raised concerns about the increased risk of spread of the virus by children to vulnerable adults at home as well as to older teachers and school staff.New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said today he planned to reopen state schools in the fall, but reserved the right to “tweak that if it means saving lives.
Residents of Moscow will be permitted to visit the theatre again from next month, authorities said today as coronavirus infections in Russia – the fourth highest in the world – edged past 700,000.
Theatre audiences at 50% capacity will be allowed, President Vladimir Putin’s special representative for international cultural cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy was quoted as saying by the Tass news agency. Shvydkoy added that he hoped this percentage could be increased by September. Theatres will have been closed for four months by the time they reopen.
Russia’s nationwide case tally stood at 700,792 as of today, behind only India, Brazil and the US, while 10,667 people have died from the virus, according to official data.
However, since measures meant to slow the spread of the virus began to be eased in May, the number of new cases recorded each day has been on a downward trend. Russia says 472,511 people have recovered from the virus.
Some businesses returned to work in May, following a nationwide non-working period in April, while in Moscow, the epicentre of Russia’s outbreak, the phased reopening of shops, restaurants and gyms came in June.
Also today, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the country’s coronavirus situation was leaning towards improving and that there was cause for more optimistic forecasts.
Italian authorities stopped 125 Bangladeshi people from entering the country on Wednesday after they landed at Rome’s Fiumicino airport on a flight from Qatar.
The move comes as Italy tries to contain an outbreak of coronavirus among the Bangladeshi community in the Lazio region. The passengers will return to Doha on the same flight later today, while those who disembarked were tested for Covid-19 and quarantined for 14 days.
Yesterday, Italy suspended flights from Bangladesh for a week after 36 people who arrived in Rome on board a flight the day before tested positive for coronavirus.
Lazio authorities estimate that as many as 600 Bangladeshi citizens in Rome and the surrounding areas could potentially have the virus. Alesso D’Amato, Lazio’s health councillor, told Il Messaggero:
The newspaper also reported that several people on Monday’s flight arrived in Italy with fake certificates, purchased from medics in Bangladesh, declaring they had tested negative for Covid-19.
Authorities in Greece are becoming increasingly worried by the rising number of “imported” coronavirus cases the country is seeing since it re-opened its borders last week. The National Organisation of Public Health said 14 out of the 27 new confirmed cases reported on Tuesday were identified “after tests at ports of entry”.
Four foreign tourists tested positive for the virus on the island of Thassos in the northern Aegean. All four were described by the Greek media as asymptomatic and citizens of Serbia and Bulgaria, which have both seen a spike in infections.
“Nothing is over. I appeal to you to please see what is happening around us in the Balkans,” said Athens’ deputy citizens’ protection minister Nikos Hardalias who has been handling the day to day management of the pandemic.
To date, 3,589 people have tested positive for the highly infectious disease in Greece, much lower than most other countries in Europe following application of stringent lockdown measures. There have been 193 deaths related to Covid-19.
Athens announced it will be lifting its ban on flights from the UK on Wednesday next week, almost four months after air links were suspended.
You can read about the details of Melbourne’s lockdown here. It bars visiting other people’s houses except for giving or receiving care or if you are in an “intimate personal relationship” with them.
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.
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:
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.