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Coronavirus live news: UK advises against all but essential travel to Spanish mainland and imposes two-week quarantine Coronavirus live news: UK advises against all but essential travel to Spanish mainland and imposes two-week quarantine
(32 minutes later)
Johnny Depp’s in-person court case ‘galling’; Germany may introduce compulsory testing; funeral fees rise in Great BritainJohnny Depp’s in-person court case ‘galling’; Germany may introduce compulsory testing; funeral fees rise in Great Britain
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un convened an emergency politburo meeting after a person suspected of having Covid-19 returned from South Korea after illegally crossing the border this month, state media said on Sunday.
If confirmed, it would be the first case officially acknowledged by North Korean authorities, who have so far said the country has no confirmed cases of the new coronavirus.
According to state news agency KCNA, a person who defected to South Korea three years ago returned across the fortified border that divides the two Koreas with symptoms that suggested Covid-19.
“An emergency event happened in Kaesong City where a runaway who went to the south three years ago, a person who is suspected to have been infected with the vicious virus returned on July 19 after illegally crossing the demarcation line,” KCNA said.
KCNA did not specifically mention whether the individual had been tested, but said an “uncertain result was made from several medical check-ups of the secretion of that person’s upper respiratory organ and blood,” prompting officials to quarantine the person and investigate anyone he may have been in contact with.
North Korea has received thousands of coronavirus testing kits from Russia and other countries, and imposed strict border closures.
Thousands of people in North Korea were quarantined, but restrictions had recently eased.
Brazil registered an additional 1,211 deaths attributable to the novel coronavirus over the last 24 hours and another 51,147 confirmed cases, the health ministry said on Saturday.
The South American nation has now registered 86,449 deaths and 2,394,513 total confirmed cases, Reuters reports.
The number of confirmed deaths from Covid-19 in the US state of Texas rose to 4,885 on Saturday, up 168 from Friday’s tally of 4,717.
The state health department said that coronavirus hospitalisations fell to 9,827 in total from 10,036 on the previous day.
The overall number of confirmed infections in Texas rose by 8,112 on Saturday.
Airlines EasyJet and British Airways told customers on Saturday they did not plan to cancel flights over the coming days, after Britain’s government advised against all non-essential travel to mainland Spain due to a spike in new coronavirus infections.Airlines EasyJet and British Airways told customers on Saturday they did not plan to cancel flights over the coming days, after Britain’s government advised against all non-essential travel to mainland Spain due to a spike in new coronavirus infections.
Earlier on Saturday TUI, Europe’s largest tour operator, said it was cancelling all holiday departures scheduled for Sunday.Earlier on Saturday TUI, Europe’s largest tour operator, said it was cancelling all holiday departures scheduled for Sunday.
“Our flights are currently expected to operate normally,” British Airways told one customer on Twitter.“Our flights are currently expected to operate normally,” British Airways told one customer on Twitter.
An EasyJet customer service representative told another customer: “We plan to operate our full schedule in the coming days,” Reuters reports.An EasyJet customer service representative told another customer: “We plan to operate our full schedule in the coming days,” Reuters reports.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has ticked off another first during lockdown: the virtual unveiling of a new portrait.Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has ticked off another first during lockdown: the virtual unveiling of a new portrait.
Despite seeing the artwork of herself via videocall, it was clear she has not lost her eagle eye. The Queen joked that a tea cup featured in the painting had no tea in it, the artist revealed, as she paid tribute to her “luminous” sitter.Despite seeing the artwork of herself via videocall, it was clear she has not lost her eagle eye. The Queen joked that a tea cup featured in the painting had no tea in it, the artist revealed, as she paid tribute to her “luminous” sitter.
Miriam Escofet painted the portrait, which was commissioned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) as a “lasting tribute to Her Majesty’s service” to diplomacy.Miriam Escofet painted the portrait, which was commissioned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) as a “lasting tribute to Her Majesty’s service” to diplomacy.
The Queen saw the painting for the first time via her computer screen, before speaking to members of FCO staff about their work around the world during the coronavirus crisis.The Queen saw the painting for the first time via her computer screen, before speaking to members of FCO staff about their work around the world during the coronavirus crisis.
“She seemed to react very positively to it. She was smiling, asking how long it took and if I had any more projects on the go after this,” Escofet told PA.“She seemed to react very positively to it. She was smiling, asking how long it took and if I had any more projects on the go after this,” Escofet told PA.
The painting took seven months to complete, with the final stages finished in lockdown.The painting took seven months to complete, with the final stages finished in lockdown.
Escofet had two sittings with the Queen - one at Windsor where she spent around half-an-hour photographing the monarch and the second at Buckingham Palace to focus on her facial expressions.Escofet had two sittings with the Queen - one at Windsor where she spent around half-an-hour photographing the monarch and the second at Buckingham Palace to focus on her facial expressions.
Britain’s abruptly announced reintroduction of a two-week quarantine for all travellers arriving from Spain after a surge of coronavirus cases is set to have a dramatic impact on Spain’s tourism sector, which had just started to attempt a recovery after months of lockdown.Britain’s abruptly announced reintroduction of a two-week quarantine for all travellers arriving from Spain after a surge of coronavirus cases is set to have a dramatic impact on Spain’s tourism sector, which had just started to attempt a recovery after months of lockdown.
The quarantine requirement was due to take effect from midnight (2300 GMT on Saturday), making it impossible for travellers to avoid it by rushing home.The quarantine requirement was due to take effect from midnight (2300 GMT on Saturday), making it impossible for travellers to avoid it by rushing home.
Tour operator TUI said it was “incredibly disappointed” that the British government did not give more notice of this announcement, and said that all its customers currently in Spain would return on their intended flight home.Tour operator TUI said it was “incredibly disappointed” that the British government did not give more notice of this announcement, and said that all its customers currently in Spain would return on their intended flight home.
TUI said it had cancelled all flights due to depart to mainland Spain and the canary islands on Sunday 26 July, according to Reuters.TUI said it had cancelled all flights due to depart to mainland Spain and the canary islands on Sunday 26 July, according to Reuters.
The sudden British move followed steps this week by other European countries.The sudden British move followed steps this week by other European countries.
On Friday Norway said it would re-impose a 10-day quarantine requirement for people arriving from Spain from Saturday, while France advised people not to travel to Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia.On Friday Norway said it would re-impose a 10-day quarantine requirement for people arriving from Spain from Saturday, while France advised people not to travel to Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia.
But the total collapse of tourism from Britain would have far more impact.But the total collapse of tourism from Britain would have far more impact.
Britain accounted for more than 20% of the foreign visitors to Spain last year, the largest group by nationality.Britain accounted for more than 20% of the foreign visitors to Spain last year, the largest group by nationality.
Tourism normally accounts for some 12% of Spain’s economy.Tourism normally accounts for some 12% of Spain’s economy.
The British transport secretary Grant Shapps is reportedly on holiday in Spain, which, unless he returns to the UK in the next one and a half hours, might make him subject to the government’s newly imposed quarantine rules for all travellers returning from Spain.The British transport secretary Grant Shapps is reportedly on holiday in Spain, which, unless he returns to the UK in the next one and a half hours, might make him subject to the government’s newly imposed quarantine rules for all travellers returning from Spain.
However, it is unclear whether the new quarantine rules will apply to government ministers, as a government website states that people “undertaking essential policing or essential government work outside of the UK” will not necessarily have to self-isolate.However, it is unclear whether the new quarantine rules will apply to government ministers, as a government website states that people “undertaking essential policing or essential government work outside of the UK” will not necessarily have to self-isolate.
Shapps last week became the first senior UK politician to break ranks and declare he was taking a summer holiday abroad this year.Shapps last week became the first senior UK politician to break ranks and declare he was taking a summer holiday abroad this year.
The transport secretary said he and his wife, Belinda, had decided to take advantage of the relaxation of Foreign Office guidance on non-essential overseas travel.The transport secretary said he and his wife, Belinda, had decided to take advantage of the relaxation of Foreign Office guidance on non-essential overseas travel.
“My wife looked at all of these new changes that were made and has now booked a break for the first time for a couple of years,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on 18 July.“My wife looked at all of these new changes that were made and has now booked a break for the first time for a couple of years,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on 18 July.
South Africa’s trade minister Ebrahim Patel on Saturday tested positive for Covid-19, the cabinet said, the fourth minister to contract the virus in Africa’s hardest-hit country.South Africa’s trade minister Ebrahim Patel on Saturday tested positive for Covid-19, the cabinet said, the fourth minister to contract the virus in Africa’s hardest-hit country.
Cabinet spokeswoman Phumla Williams said in a statement that Patel, 58, received his results on Saturday.Cabinet spokeswoman Phumla Williams said in a statement that Patel, 58, received his results on Saturday.
“Minister Patel is in good spirits and is in self-quarantine, and will continue to work from home,” Williams said, according to AFP.“Minister Patel is in good spirits and is in self-quarantine, and will continue to work from home,” Williams said, according to AFP.
“Those that have been in contact with the Minister are also in self-isolation and have been encouraged to get tested,” she added.“Those that have been in contact with the Minister are also in self-isolation and have been encouraged to get tested,” she added.
Four ministers and several MPs have so far contracted coronavirus in South Africa, which has the highest numbers of diagnosed infections on the continent and ranks fifth in the world after the United States, Brazil, India and Russia.Four ministers and several MPs have so far contracted coronavirus in South Africa, which has the highest numbers of diagnosed infections on the continent and ranks fifth in the world after the United States, Brazil, India and Russia.
On Monday, both Labour minister Thulas Nxesi, 61, and mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe, 65, were separately admitted to hospital with the virus.On Monday, both Labour minister Thulas Nxesi, 61, and mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe, 65, were separately admitted to hospital with the virus.
The fourth is defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who has since recovered.The fourth is defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who has since recovered.
To date South Africa has recorded 434,200 cases of coronavirus, at least 6,655 of whom have died.To date South Africa has recorded 434,200 cases of coronavirus, at least 6,655 of whom have died.
Thousands of Israelis protested on Saturday in Jerusalem and other cities including Tel Aviv, demanding prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s resignation over his government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.Thousands of Israelis protested on Saturday in Jerusalem and other cities including Tel Aviv, demanding prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s resignation over his government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
In Jerusalem they rallied outside Netanyahu’s residence holding up signs accusing him of corruption, a reference to the premier’s indictment in January for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three cases, AFP reports.In Jerusalem they rallied outside Netanyahu’s residence holding up signs accusing him of corruption, a reference to the premier’s indictment in January for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three cases, AFP reports.
He denies all the charges.He denies all the charges.
“We are fed up with the corrupt,” some signs read, alongside others reading “Where are the morals? Where are the values?”“We are fed up with the corrupt,” some signs read, alongside others reading “Where are the morals? Where are the values?”
Protesters also slammed a law passed this week that gives the government special powers to fight the spread of the virus until the end of 2021.Protesters also slammed a law passed this week that gives the government special powers to fight the spread of the virus until the end of 2021.
Protests against economic fallout from the pandemic have spread across the country in recent weeks. In some cases police sprayed demonstrators with water cannons, injuring some.Protests against economic fallout from the pandemic have spread across the country in recent weeks. In some cases police sprayed demonstrators with water cannons, injuring some.
Israel won praise for its initial response to the Covid-19 outbreak, but the government has come under criticism amid a resurgence in cases after restrictions were lifted starting in late April.Israel won praise for its initial response to the Covid-19 outbreak, but the government has come under criticism amid a resurgence in cases after restrictions were lifted starting in late April.
My colleagues Michael Savage and David Connett have written up a report about the new quarantine rule for arrivals from Spain on UK soil.My colleagues Michael Savage and David Connett have written up a report about the new quarantine rule for arrivals from Spain on UK soil.
The number of people in Israel who have tested positive for coronavirus topped 60,000 on Saturday as the government struggles to contain a resurgence in infection rates.
The latest daily tally showed 1,770 new infections, bringing the total number of cases to 60,496, the country’s health ministry reported.
With a population of 9 million, Israel has reported a total of 455 fatalities from the pandemic.
Israel was one of the first countries to impose a nationwide lockdown and initially was successful in clamping down on the outbreak.
Daily cases that numbered in the hundreds dropped to low double digits, according to Reuters.
Concerned about the economic toll, the government eased those restrictions – too quickly, some officials have since acknowledged – and infection rates resurged.
Renewed sporadic closures of various sectors of the economy have deepened public vexation, sparking daily demonstrations.
This from the scientist Eric Topol:
The UK government has advised against all but essential travel to mainland Spain, and confirmed earlier reports that all people arriving from Spain from Sunday will have to self-isolate for two weeks.
The government said it does not advise against travel to Spain’s Canary Islands or Balearic Islands, but travellers will still need to go into quarantine on return to the UK.
The government also urged employers to be understanding towards staff who have to self-isolate.
Spain said on Saturday it was a safe country with localised, isolated and controlled outbreaks of the coronavirus.
A Spanish foreign ministry spokeswoman said Spain “respects decisions of the United Kingdom” and was in touch with the authorities there, according to Reuters.
Kuwait will end the strict lockdown imposed in the Farwaniya governorate from 5am (2am GMT) on Sunday, the centre for government communication announced on Twitter on Saturday.
Farwaniya was the last area to be effectively isolated in a country which has reported 63,309 coronavirus cases and 429 deaths.
The governor of Lombardy, Italy’s hardest-hit region in the pandemic, acknowledged on Saturday that he is being investigated by Milan prosecutors over a lucrative contract to obtain protective medical gowns from his brother-in-law’s company, but denied any wrongdoing.
The contract for 75,000 gowns reportedly was awarded without public bidding in April, when the coronavirus outbreak was devastating Italy, Italian news reports said.
Governor Attilio Fontana said in a Facebook post about the probe that he represents the region responsibly and was confident about the correctness of Lombardy’s actions.
In the aftermath of an Italian investigative TV programme report on the deal, Fontana contended last month that he didn’t know anything about the contract, which reportedly was valued at more than half a million euros (more than $600,000).
The governor insisted that the region never paid for the gowns, which were reportedly eventually donated to Lombardy, the Associated Press reports.
The region at the time was struggling, like all of Italy, to obtain vital medical protective gear for doctors and nurses treating coronavirus patients.
Fontana’s wife has a minor stake in the company, according to Italian media.
The governor is a prominent figure in Matteo Salvini’s rightwing opposition League party, which often rails against corruption among public officials.
In a tweet on Saturday, Salvini blasted the probe as one-way wrong justice. Lombardy is a League stronghold.
Meanwhile, some politicians from the centre-left government’s parties called on Saturday for Fontana’s resignation.
This from my colleague Sam Jones in Madrid:
A spokeswoman for the Spanish government declined to comment on the reported quarantine measures, instead referring the Guardian to comments made on Friday by the foreign minister, Arancha González Laya.
In an interview with CNN, the minister said Spain was one of the countries with the “most controls and mechanisms for identifying outbreaks” and played down suggestions of a second wave of Covid-19.
“We’re not worried; we’re identifying cases and isolating them to cut off transmission,” said González Laya.
“As long as we don’t have a vaccine or a treatment, this is what the new normality will be like. We ask citizens to comply with the restrictions and behave in a responsible manner.”
She added: “There isn’t a second outbreak but there are one-off outbreaks. Our strategy is to detect and isolate those outbreaks.”
The minister also noted that other countries were experiencing similar situations.
Earlier this week, Spanish health authorities said they were dealing with 283 active outbreaks, many of them in the northeastern regions of Catalonia and Aragón.
While they have acknowledged that a second wave may have hit, they insist all outbreaks are being swiftly detected and isolated.
On Friday, the health ministry logged 922 new Covid-19 cases – slightly down from 971 over the previous 24 hours.
María José Sierra, the deputy head of Spain’s centre for health emergencies, said that while the curve had been flattened, “community transmission” was being seen in north-eastern areas.
“It could already be a second wave, but that’s not the most important thing,” Sierra told reporters on Thursday. “The most important thing is that we keep following what’s going on, see what measures are necessary, and take them early.”
She also said people needed to remember the incidence of the virus had tripled in just two weeks, from 8.76 cases per 100,000 people on 3 July to 27.39 per 100,000. “Obviously, the curve is going up, but let’s wait to see what kind of situation we’re in,” she added.
The announcement of a compulsory, two-week quarantine for returning British visitors will only place even greater strain on the beleaguered Spanish tourist sector, which has already been badly hit by the coronavirus.
The sector generates 12% of the country’s GDP and Britons make up the largest national group among Spain’s foreign visitors. More than 18 million Britons visited the country last year, accounting for almost a quarter of all foreign visitors.
Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has said that people returning to any part of the UK from Spain will have to quarantine from midnight.
“Spain will be removed from the list of countries exempt from quarantine requirements due to an increased number of cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the last few days,” Scotland’s government said in a statement.
“The decision, also made by the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Wales as well as the UK Government, has been made to reduce the risk of the transmission of the virus by those travelling from Spain,” it added.
The British government’s decision to remove Spain from list of safe countries to travel to means those coming back from Spain will have to self-isolate for two weeks upon their return to England.
A formal announcement is expected to be made by the Department for Transport on Saturday, PA reports.
According to Reuters, the Spanish foreign ministry and the office of the Spanish prime minister were not immediately available for comment.
In Spain, Catalonia became the latest region to crack down on nightlife, trying to halt new infection clusters.
The wealthy north-east region – home to Barcelona – ordered all nightclubs to close for 15 days and put a midnight curfew on bars in the greater Barcelona area and other towns around Lleida that have become contagion hot zones.
Spain has reported more than 900 new daily infections for the last two days as authorities warn the country that lost 28,000 lives before getting its outbreak under control could be facing the start of a second major outbreak.
The expected announcement about the removal of a so-called “air bridge” with Spain comes only a day after a further five countries were added to the quarantine-free list for people travelling to England.
Anyone coming from Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia and St Vincent and the Grenadines will not be required to isolate for two weeks on arrival, the government confirmed on Friday.
Popular holiday destinations including Portugal, Thailand and the United States remain notable absentees.
The British government said people should continue to check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s travel advice and their insurance policies before embarking on any overseas travel.
Ministers had previously warned that travel corridors could be closed if coronavirus rates escalated in other nations.
Travellers, even those from exempt destinations, are still required to complete a passenger locator form when they arrive in the UK.
In Yemen, where an already weak health system has been destroyed by five years of conflict and 80% of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance, the coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating what was already the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, a charity has warned.
MedGlobal, alongside partners Project HOPE and the Center for Global Health at the University of Illinois, have detailed the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on Yemen’s fragile health system in a new report.
There have been 1,610 confirmed cases and 446 deaths from Covid-19 according to official reports.
This amounts to around a 27% mortality rate of Yemenis who are confirmed to have Covid-19 – more than five times the global average and among the highest Covid-19 mortality rate in the world.
According to the report, the Covid-19 outbreak is also disproportionately harming Yemen’s health workers, with 97 health workers – epidemiologists, medical directors, midwives, and other critical medical professionals – reportedly having died in Yemen from the virus.
As health workers are among the country’s most critical human resources, the death of one health worker has an exponential effect and extends to their entire community, the researchers wrote.
The tallies for people hospitalised with coronavirus in New York are continuing to drop to the lowest levels since the pandemic began, governor Andrew Cuomo said Saturday, CBS News reports.
There were at least 646 people hospitalised in the state on Friday, a new low since 18 March and down slightly from the previous day, the Democratic governor said in a statement.
The number of ICU patients was at its lowest since 16 March at 149.
The number of reported deaths in the state rose by one, to 10.
The British government said 45,738 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Friday, up by 61 from the day before, the Press Association reports.
Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have now been more than 56,100 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
The government also said in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Saturday there had been a further 767 lab-confirmed cases.
Overall, a total of 298,681 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed.
The Sunday Times’ Tim Shipman has tweeted that the UK government will be announcing shortly that tourists who have visited Spain will have to quarantine for two weeks when they return to England from Sunday, as Spain experiences a second wave of coronavirus infections.
According to Reuters, Britain’s health ministry had no immediate comment on the report.