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Coronavirus live news: global death toll passes 700,000 as top US official to visit Taiwan Coronavirus live news: global death toll passes 700,000 as top US official to visit Taiwan
(32 minutes later)
US health secretary Alex Azar to visit Taiwan in veiled attack on China; Trump flounders in interview; France could lose control ‘any time’US health secretary Alex Azar to visit Taiwan in veiled attack on China; Trump flounders in interview; France could lose control ‘any time’
In India, the number of people dying from Covid-19 has increased by 857 in the last 24-hours, with the total number of deaths now standing at 39,795.
Reuters has an interesting article which gives an overview of the coronavirus smartphone apps that have been launched or planned in more than 20 countries and territories in Europe.
These apps aim to break the chain of coronavirus infection by tracking encounters between people and issuing a warning should one of them test positive.
Most countries in the region have opted to use Bluetooth short-range radio to monitor close encounters that could spread the disease, after concluding that tracking people’s movements using location data would be intrusive. Reuters reports:
What’s the story so far?
Since there is no cure or vaccine for COVID-19, governments have turned to technology to contribute to broader efforts to contain the pandemic.
After initial efforts misfired, Apple and Alphabet’s Google - whose iOS and Android operating systems run 99% of the world’s smartphones - developed a standard that logs contacts securely on devices.
Which countries have launched apps?
In the EU, Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Latvia and Poland have launched apps using the Google-Apple standard. Outside the bloc, similar apps are now live in Switzerland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar.
Another nine EU countries plan Google-Apple apps, which would by design be interoperable.
France and Hungary have launched a different type of app that stores information on a central server. The resulting rift in standards means it will be difficult to make all of the apps work seamlessly across Europe.
How do the apps work?
The apps typically show a ‘green’, or safe, status. Should the user spend more than 15 minutes within two metres of another app holder who then tests positive and uploads the result, they would get an exposure notification.
What happens next varies: Germany’s app advises users to seek medical advice; the Swiss shares a hotline number to call; while in Ireland users can opt to sharing their phone number and get a callback from a contact tracer.Will they work?
The design of Bluetooth-based apps represents a trade-off between usefulness and privacy. It is not possible, for example, to pinpoint the exact time and place of risk events from the app alone.
The most privacy-oriented apps make it impossible for their administrators to monitor the number of exposure notifications going through the system - a key way to measure whether the apps are doing the job for which they are intended.
But the Google-Apple framework does allow monitoring of exposure notifications. This is enabled in the Irish app which also has add-ons such as a symptom tracker, where users can volunteer to share information on how they feel, helping the health authorities to map the pandemic.
Here are the latest figures of confirmed cases and deaths in the Western Pacific Region, according to the World Health Organisation.Here are the latest figures of confirmed cases and deaths in the Western Pacific Region, according to the World Health Organisation.
Good morning from London, where I’ll be covering coronavirus news from around the globe for the next few hours. If you want to get in touch with interesting stories from where you are - please do get in touch!Good morning from London, where I’ll be covering coronavirus news from around the globe for the next few hours. If you want to get in touch with interesting stories from where you are - please do get in touch!
I’m on alexanddra.topping@theguardian.com and I’m @lexytopping on Twitter. My DMs are open.I’m on alexanddra.topping@theguardian.com and I’m @lexytopping on Twitter. My DMs are open.
I’m going to hand over to my colleague in London, Alexandra Topping, so here’s a summary of the main developments today.I’m going to hand over to my colleague in London, Alexandra Topping, so here’s a summary of the main developments today.
The number of people who have died from Covid-19 has passed 700,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker. More than 150,000 have been in the US, with Brazil accounting for more than 90,000.The number of people who have died from Covid-19 has passed 700,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker. More than 150,000 have been in the US, with Brazil accounting for more than 90,000.
US health secretary Alex Azar will become the most senior American official to visit Taiwan since Washington shut off diplomatic ties in 1979. He will discuss the coronavirus pandemic and “celebrate the shared values” of the two democracies, a move likely to anger China.US health secretary Alex Azar will become the most senior American official to visit Taiwan since Washington shut off diplomatic ties in 1979. He will discuss the coronavirus pandemic and “celebrate the shared values” of the two democracies, a move likely to anger China.
Donald Trump has been told to “do your job” by Joe Biden after the US president floundered badly in a TV interview when asked about America’s high number of deaths from Covid-19.Donald Trump has been told to “do your job” by Joe Biden after the US president floundered badly in a TV interview when asked about America’s high number of deaths from Covid-19.
UK Labour leader Keir Starmer has told Boris Johnson that he has a month to fix Britain’s failing test-and-trace system or risk sending the country into a second lockdown as schools go back in September.UK Labour leader Keir Starmer has told Boris Johnson that he has a month to fix Britain’s failing test-and-trace system or risk sending the country into a second lockdown as schools go back in September.
The Australian state of Victoria recorded another 725 cases of Covid-19 as the outbreak continued to wreak havoc in the country. Queensland has closed its borders with NSW and the ACT.The Australian state of Victoria recorded another 725 cases of Covid-19 as the outbreak continued to wreak havoc in the country. Queensland has closed its borders with NSW and the ACT.
Virgin Atlantic has become the latest corporate casualty of the pandemic after declaring itself bankrupt and has filing for protection from creditors in the US. The move means it can restructure its debt and plot a course back into operation.Virgin Atlantic has become the latest corporate casualty of the pandemic after declaring itself bankrupt and has filing for protection from creditors in the US. The move means it can restructure its debt and plot a course back into operation.
Gold has soared to a record high price of $2,030.72 per ounce as financial markets move money into ultra-safe assets that they think are less likely to lose value if the world slumps into a prolonged recession thanks to Covid-19.Gold has soared to a record high price of $2,030.72 per ounce as financial markets move money into ultra-safe assets that they think are less likely to lose value if the world slumps into a prolonged recession thanks to Covid-19.
Keir Starmer has told Boris Johnson that he has a month to fix Britain’s failing test-and-trace system or risk sending the country into a second lockdown as schools go back in September.Keir Starmer has told Boris Johnson that he has a month to fix Britain’s failing test-and-trace system or risk sending the country into a second lockdown as schools go back in September.
In an exclusive story, the Labour leader says the prime minister must be prepared to take “hard decisions” to contain the virus.In an exclusive story, the Labour leader says the prime minister must be prepared to take “hard decisions” to contain the virus.
We now have a full story on the planned visit by US health secretary Alex Azar to Taiwan in the “coming days”.We now have a full story on the planned visit by US health secretary Alex Azar to Taiwan in the “coming days”.
In a move likely to anger the government in Beijing, which regards the island as part of China, Azar will become the most senior American official to visit Taiwan since Washington shut off diplomatic ties in 1979.In a move likely to anger the government in Beijing, which regards the island as part of China, Azar will become the most senior American official to visit Taiwan since Washington shut off diplomatic ties in 1979.
In a statement announcing the visit, Azar heaped praise on Taiwan’s “transparent” handling of the coronavirus pandemic in contrast to some “authoritarian regimes”.In a statement announcing the visit, Azar heaped praise on Taiwan’s “transparent” handling of the coronavirus pandemic in contrast to some “authoritarian regimes”.
Here’s Helen Davidson’s full story:Here’s Helen Davidson’s full story:
The coronavirus crisis has not curbed the earnings appetite of the bosses of Britain’s biggest companies. Despite most of the FTSE100 companies taking advantage of the government’s furlough wage scheme to pay workers, only 36 of them saw fit to reduce the pay of their chief executives, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the High Pay Centre.The coronavirus crisis has not curbed the earnings appetite of the bosses of Britain’s biggest companies. Despite most of the FTSE100 companies taking advantage of the government’s furlough wage scheme to pay workers, only 36 of them saw fit to reduce the pay of their chief executives, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the High Pay Centre.
Peter Cheese, chief executive of the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, said: “It doesn’t look like the pandemic has proven to be an inflection point for executive pay yet. The bulk of cuts made so far appear to be short-term and don’t signify meaningful, long-term change.”Peter Cheese, chief executive of the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, said: “It doesn’t look like the pandemic has proven to be an inflection point for executive pay yet. The bulk of cuts made so far appear to be short-term and don’t signify meaningful, long-term change.”
Schools in England should be the last to close and the first to reopen in the event of a second lockdown, the children’s commissioner has said, adding that young people had sometimes been an “after thought” during the crisis.Schools in England should be the last to close and the first to reopen in the event of a second lockdown, the children’s commissioner has said, adding that young people had sometimes been an “after thought” during the crisis.
Anne Longfield said pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops should be shut ahead of schools in the case of emergency restrictions.Anne Longfield said pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops should be shut ahead of schools in the case of emergency restrictions.
It is only 17 days since the global death tally passed 600,000, so we’re seeing a rapid increase in the number of fatalities.It is only 17 days since the global death tally passed 600,000, so we’re seeing a rapid increase in the number of fatalities.
According to a calculation by Reuters, nearly 5,900 people are dying every 24 hours from Covid-19 on average, according to Reuters calculations based on data from the past two weeks. That equates to 247 people per hour, or one person every 15 seconds.According to a calculation by Reuters, nearly 5,900 people are dying every 24 hours from Covid-19 on average, according to Reuters calculations based on data from the past two weeks. That equates to 247 people per hour, or one person every 15 seconds.
The number of people who have died from Covid-19 has passed 700,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker.The number of people who have died from Covid-19 has passed 700,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker.
More than 150,000 have been in the US, with Brazil accounting for more than 90,000 and Mexico third highest with 45,000.More than 150,000 have been in the US, with Brazil accounting for more than 90,000 and Mexico third highest with 45,000.
Germany has reported 741 new cases of the virus, according to the Robert Koch Institute, down from 879 the previous day.Germany has reported 741 new cases of the virus, according to the Robert Koch Institute, down from 879 the previous day.
The total number of cases in Germany is now 212,022 with 9168 deaths. It is estimated 194,600 people have survived the disease.The total number of cases in Germany is now 212,022 with 9168 deaths. It is estimated 194,600 people have survived the disease.
However, the country is in danger of squandering its relatively successful handling of the disease earlier this year because people have been flouting social-distancing rules, according to Susanne Johna, the president of Marburger Bund, which represents the country’s doctors.However, the country is in danger of squandering its relatively successful handling of the disease earlier this year because people have been flouting social-distancing rules, according to Susanne Johna, the president of Marburger Bund, which represents the country’s doctors.
“We are already in a second, shallow upswing,” she told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper on Tuesday, urging people to continue to respect distancing and hygiene rules and wear masks despite an understandable desire to return to full normality.“We are already in a second, shallow upswing,” she told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper on Tuesday, urging people to continue to respect distancing and hygiene rules and wear masks despite an understandable desire to return to full normality.
Gold has soared to a record high price of $2,030.72 per ounce as financial markets move money into ultra-safe assets that they think are less likely to lose value if the world slumps into a prolonged recession thanks to Covid-19.Gold has soared to a record high price of $2,030.72 per ounce as financial markets move money into ultra-safe assets that they think are less likely to lose value if the world slumps into a prolonged recession thanks to Covid-19.
It’s likely that US legislatords will agree more stimulus spending to help the country’s economy, which will in turn put more downward pressure on bond yields and the US dollar, shifting more cash into other assets.It’s likely that US legislatords will agree more stimulus spending to help the country’s economy, which will in turn put more downward pressure on bond yields and the US dollar, shifting more cash into other assets.
“Failure to agree to another round of stimulus would hit the U.S. economy hard at a time when high-frequency data suggests it is losing some momentum,” said Tapas Strickland, analyst at Melbourne-based National Australia Bank told Reuters.“Failure to agree to another round of stimulus would hit the U.S. economy hard at a time when high-frequency data suggests it is losing some momentum,” said Tapas Strickland, analyst at Melbourne-based National Australia Bank told Reuters.
Here’s another quirky virus-related story about the obscure Hutt River micronation in Australia that has decided to rejoin the country because of the ravages of coronavirus.Here’s another quirky virus-related story about the obscure Hutt River micronation in Australia that has decided to rejoin the country because of the ravages of coronavirus.
The “nation” several hundred kilometres north of Perth in Western Australia was declared sovereign in 1970 in a dispute over wheat and even declared war on its rather bigger neighbour in 1977.The “nation” several hundred kilometres north of Perth in Western Australia was declared sovereign in 1970 in a dispute over wheat and even declared war on its rather bigger neighbour in 1977.
But the virus has forced Hutt River to close its borders to tourists and it is being starved of income, despite Weatern Australia being free of Covid-19.But the virus has forced Hutt River to close its borders to tourists and it is being starved of income, despite Weatern Australia being free of Covid-19.
Read more on this weird and wonderful tale here:Read more on this weird and wonderful tale here: