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Coronavirus live news: WHO reports record global daily cases as Victoria announces 397 new cases and three deaths Coronavirus live news: WHO reports record global daily cases as Victoria announces 397 new cases and three deaths
(32 minutes later)
Almost 300,000 new infections on Friday, led by US, Brazil and India; Boris Johnson warns of second UK lockdown. Follow all the developments liveAlmost 300,000 new infections on Friday, led by US, Brazil and India; Boris Johnson warns of second UK lockdown. Follow all the developments live
Health officials in the Australian state of Victoria say there are now 1,008 active cases within the aged care sector, which has emerged as a key area of concern for authorities.
It represents an increase of 80 new cases within that sector over 24 hours.
Overall, there are 5,919 active cases in Victoria, after 396 were added to the total on Saturday. Of those active cases, 637 are among health care workers, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Of the largest outbreaks, there were a 10 cases added to the stricken St Basil’s aged care home, which now has a total of 134 infections, while another facility, Epping Gardens, added three cases for a total of 118.
There are 399 people in Australian hospitals, including 50 people in intensive care units and 28 on ventilators, authorities say.
The overwhelming majority of those were in Victoria.
Australia’s deputy chief medical officer, Prof Michael Kidd, told a daily briefing on Saturday the country had surpassed 200 deaths after three people died in Victoria and a further death in New South Wales.
Kidd also said Australia’s controversial Covidsafe app had allowed authorities to identify two new cases in Sydney.
Kidd said the app had resulted in hundreds of additional people being tested and may have prevented a wider outbreak like those seen in Victoria.
He added that authorities had received “disturbing reports” that people who had tested positive to Covid-19 were not at home when they had been doorknocked. He stressed that those who have tested positive must stay home.
Workers at an abattoir in coronavirus-stricken Melbourne have been told to isolate until further notice after a staff member tested positive, fuelling fears of a possible second outbreak at the facility.Workers at an abattoir in coronavirus-stricken Melbourne have been told to isolate until further notice after a staff member tested positive, fuelling fears of a possible second outbreak at the facility.
In May, Cedar Meats abattoir was at the centre of the largest cluster in Victoria with 111 cases, but this record has since been overtaken by several second-wave outbreaks.A A Cedar meats spokeswoman said in a statement:In May, Cedar Meats abattoir was at the centre of the largest cluster in Victoria with 111 cases, but this record has since been overtaken by several second-wave outbreaks.A A Cedar meats spokeswoman said in a statement:
It is unclear if the worker was infectious during their last shift, but is understood they were originally absent due to non-flu-like illness and were tested for Covid-19 only in recent days.It is unclear if the worker was infectious during their last shift, but is understood they were originally absent due to non-flu-like illness and were tested for Covid-19 only in recent days.
The results of the other staff tests will determine when the plant can reopen.The results of the other staff tests will determine when the plant can reopen.
Gambling revenue in Macau plunged 94.5% in July year-on-year, with casinos reeling from a lack of visitors in the world’s biggest casino hub despite a loosening of quarantine restrictions which have seen only a modest rise in gamblers. Gambling revenue in Macau plunged 94.5% in July year-on-year, with casinos reeling from a lack of visitors in the world’s biggest casino hub despite a loosening of quarantine restrictions which have led to only a modest rise in gamblers.
July’s figure of 1.3 billion patacas ($US162.89 million) was in line with analysts’ expectations of a drop of around 95%, reports Reuters. July’s figure of 1.3bn patacas ($US162.89m) was in line with analysts’ expectations of a drop of about 95%, reports Reuters.
Casinos are staring at heavy losses for the second quarter, with not much hope for a near-term recovery as a resurgence in coronavirus cases muddies the outlook for when China will reinstate travel visas.Casinos are staring at heavy losses for the second quarter, with not much hope for a near-term recovery as a resurgence in coronavirus cases muddies the outlook for when China will reinstate travel visas.
Police in the state of South Australia have charged two people caught trying to cross the border from New South Wales.Police in the state of South Australia have charged two people caught trying to cross the border from New South Wales.
The 25-year-old man and 20-year-old woman tried to cross the border at Pinnaroo on Thursday, claiming they were headed interstate to sell a dog, reports AAP.The 25-year-old man and 20-year-old woman tried to cross the border at Pinnaroo on Thursday, claiming they were headed interstate to sell a dog, reports AAP.
They were refused entry and turned back to NSW, but police stopped their NSW-registered car in the Adelaide suburb of Kilburn on Saturday afternoon.They were refused entry and turned back to NSW, but police stopped their NSW-registered car in the Adelaide suburb of Kilburn on Saturday afternoon.
The pair were charged with breaching Covid-19 directions and have been denied bail ahead of a court appearance on Monday.The pair were charged with breaching Covid-19 directions and have been denied bail ahead of a court appearance on Monday.
The arrests came as the state recorded one new case - a man aged in his 20s - of coronavirus. He had returned from interstate and has been in quarantine since his arrival. The arrests came as the state recorded one new case a man aged in his 20s of coronavirus. He had returned from interstate and has been in quarantine since his arrival.
Authorities in the state of Western Australia say no new Covid-19 cases were recorded in the past 24 hours.Authorities in the state of Western Australia say no new Covid-19 cases were recorded in the past 24 hours.
However, two historical cases based on serology were recorded overnight, the Department of Health said in a statement.However, two historical cases based on serology were recorded overnight, the Department of Health said in a statement.
China recorded 45 new cases on Friday, mostly from outbreaks in the provinces of Zinjiang and Liaoning, the National Health Commission has announced.China recorded 45 new cases on Friday, mostly from outbreaks in the provinces of Zinjiang and Liaoning, the National Health Commission has announced.
It comes after 127 new cases were detected on Thursday.It comes after 127 new cases were detected on Thursday.
The elderly leader of a secretive South Korean sect at the centre of the country’s early coronavirus outbreak was arrested on Saturday for allegedly hindering the government’s effort to contain the epidemic.The elderly leader of a secretive South Korean sect at the centre of the country’s early coronavirus outbreak was arrested on Saturday for allegedly hindering the government’s effort to contain the epidemic.
Lee Man-hee, 88, is the head of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which is often condemned as a cult.Lee Man-hee, 88, is the head of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which is often condemned as a cult.
People linked to the church accounted for more than half of the South’s 4,000-plus coronavirus cases in February when the country was enduring one of the worst early outbreaks in the world.People linked to the church accounted for more than half of the South’s 4,000-plus coronavirus cases in February when the country was enduring one of the worst early outbreaks in the world.
Lee is accused of giving inaccurate records of church gatherings and false lists of its members to health authorities.Lee is accused of giving inaccurate records of church gatherings and false lists of its members to health authorities.
He was taken into custody early Saturday “after the Suwon district court granted an arrest warrant at 1.20am”, a court spokesperson told AFP.He was taken into custody early Saturday “after the Suwon district court granted an arrest warrant at 1.20am”, a court spokesperson told AFP.
Egypt reported 321 new Covid-19 infections on Friday, the health ministry said, the lowest figure since 3 May, according to Reuters.Egypt reported 321 new Covid-19 infections on Friday, the health ministry said, the lowest figure since 3 May, according to Reuters.
In total, 94,078 cases have been reported in Egypt, of which 39,638 have recovered and 4,188 have died, including 31 on Friday, the ministry said in a statement late on Friday.In total, 94,078 cases have been reported in Egypt, of which 39,638 have recovered and 4,188 have died, including 31 on Friday, the ministry said in a statement late on Friday.
Egypt reopened resorts to foreign tourists on 1 July after tourism came to a halt in March under measures to curb the coronavirus outbreak.Egypt reopened resorts to foreign tourists on 1 July after tourism came to a halt in March under measures to curb the coronavirus outbreak.
But Egypt has not yet made it to a “safe list” of countries for resumption of non-essential travel to the European Union.But Egypt has not yet made it to a “safe list” of countries for resumption of non-essential travel to the European Union.
Japan’s Okinawa region has declared a state of emergency and asked people to stay home for two weeks as the popular tourist destination sees an “explosive spread” of coronavirus cases.Japan’s Okinawa region has declared a state of emergency and asked people to stay home for two weeks as the popular tourist destination sees an “explosive spread” of coronavirus cases.
Agence France-Presse reports that the governor, Denny Tamaki, on Friday asked residents to avoid non-essential outings following a record new daily addition to the southern island’s total cases, the majority of which have been detected among US forces based there.Agence France-Presse reports that the governor, Denny Tamaki, on Friday asked residents to avoid non-essential outings following a record new daily addition to the southern island’s total cases, the majority of which have been detected among US forces based there.
“We’re seeing an explosive spread of infections. We declare a state of emergency” through 15 August, Tamaki told reporters, adding hospitals were being overwhelmed by the surge.“We’re seeing an explosive spread of infections. We declare a state of emergency” through 15 August, Tamaki told reporters, adding hospitals were being overwhelmed by the surge.
The measures are non-compulsory and without the aggressive enforcement measures seen in Europe, but similar requests from authorities have been widely respected in Japan.The measures are non-compulsory and without the aggressive enforcement measures seen in Europe, but similar requests from authorities have been widely respected in Japan.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 955 to 209,653, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Friday.The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 955 to 209,653, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Friday.
The reported death toll rose by 7 to 9,148, Reuters reported the tally as showing.The reported death toll rose by 7 to 9,148, Reuters reported the tally as showing.
Chile’s president, Sebastián Piñera, announced $4.5bn in additional stimulus spending to help soften the blow of the pandemic and warned against a drift toward populism as people take advantage of a new rule allowing them to dip into their pension funds.
In an address to lawmakers, Piñera said public investment in 2020-2022 will reach $34bn, of which $4.5bn had not previously been announced. The centre-right leader warned against populist solutions to Chile’s economic woes, which include huge inequalities and a recession worsened by the impact of Covid-19.
“The entire world is being threatened by populism, which always offers the easy path of rights without duties, of achievements without effort,” he said, according to Reuters, warning against “promises of easy solutions to difficult problems”.
This is Luke Henriques-Gomes returning to the blog. Thanks to Matilda Boseley for stepping in just now.
This news is in from AAP:
My colleague Matilda Boseley will be taking over the blog for a short while.
The latest case of Covid-19 in the Australian state of Queensland is a woman who may have been infectious while working at a Brisbane nursing home.
The facility at Pinjarra Hills in Brisbane’s west had already been locked down after the woman’s husband tested positive on Friday, reports AAP.
The health minister, Steven Miles, said extra nurses had been provided to the facility.
All 150 staff and the residents at the home are being tested.
“We are working with them to keep all residents safe,” Miles said.
The woman is the wife of a 27-year-old Bellbird Park man who was confirmed to have the virus on Friday.
We will have more on the situation in the Philippines later today.
Doctors’ groups held a press conference just now begging the Philippines president, Rodrigo Duterte, for stricter lockdown for two weeks as they warned of the risk of health system collapse.
“We are losing the battle,” one doctor said.
Forty organisations nationwide signed on, including the Philippine Medical Association, and are calling for a “timeout” to fix systems.
A second person died of coronavirus complications in Vietnam, officials said on Saturday, a day after it recorded its first-ever death as it struggles with a renewed outbreak after 99 days with no local cases.
Both men died in a hospital in Da Nang, a hot spot with more than 100 cases in the past week, more than half of them patients, Associated Press reports.
The Health ministry said a 61-year-old man died on Friday evening of septic shock and chronic kidney failure. The country’s first fatality was a 70-year-old who was being treated for a kidney illness.
Da Nang is Vietnam’s most popular beach destination, and thousands of visitors were in the city for summer vacation. Across the country, authorities are rushing to test people who have returned home from the coastal city.
Fifteen other patients with Covid-19 are in critical condition, officials said. All have other underlying illnesses. On Saturday morning, the health ministry confirmed 12 more cases, all linked to the hospital.
Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro told a crowd in the state of Rio Grande do Sul on Friday to accept they would probably all catch the coronavirus one day.
Bolsonaro, who has previously tested positive for Covid-19, said in an online video on Thursday he was being treated with antibiotics for a lung infection.
According to the Brazilian newspaper Folha, the president told the crowd on Friday:
Brazil has recorded 92,475 deaths from the virus, according to the latest statistics.
US deaths from the novel coronavirus rose by at least 1,453 on Friday, the biggest one-day increase since 27 May, to reach a total of 153,882, Reuters reports.
Cases rose by at least 66,986 to a total of 4.58 million, with some local governments yet to report.
The rise in deaths was the biggest one-day increase since fatalities rose by 1,484 on 27 May.