This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/aug/12/coronavirus-live-news-lebanon-sees-record-cases-after-blast-as-new-zealands-biggest-city-heads-into-lockdown

The article has changed 43 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 12 Version 13
Coronavirus live news: New Zealand's biggest city back in lockdown as global deaths pass 740,000 Coronavirus live news: New Zealand's biggest city back in lockdown as global deaths pass 740,000
(32 minutes later)
WHO warns displacement of people in Beirut risks accelerating Covid-19 spread; four new cases in Auckland, New Zealand; Australia suffers deadliest day. Follow the latest updates WHO warns displacement of people in Beirut risks accelerating Covid-19 spread; four new cases in Auckland; Australia suffers deadliest day
Morning, I’ll be taking over the liveblog for the next few hours. If you need to get in contact, you can email me (aamna.mohdin@theguardian.com) or tweet me (@aamnamohdin)
That’s it from me, Helen Sullivan for today. Thank you for following along.
My colleague Aamna Mohdin will be bringing you the latest for the next few hours.
Britain has officially entered into recession after the coronavirus crisis sawthe economy contract by a record 20.4% between April and June, the Office forNational Statistics has said.
Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician at the ONS, said: “The recession brought on by the coronavirus pandemic has led to the biggest fall in quarterly GDP on record, PA Media reports. “The economy began to bounce back in June with shops reopening, factories beginning to ramp up production and housebuilding continuing to recover.“Despite this, GDP in June still remains a sixth below its level in February, before the virus struck.“Overall, productivity saw its largest-ever fall in the second quarter. Hospitality was worst hit, with productivity in that industry falling by three-quarters in recent months.”
German Health Minister Jens Spahn on Wednesday said he was sceptical about Russia becoming the first country to grant regulatory approval to a Covid-19 vaccine, saying it was key to have a safe, tested product rather than just being first, Reuters reports. Russia’s vaccine, which will be called “Sputnik V” in homage to the world’s first satellite launched by the Soviet Union, has not yet completed its final trials. Its regulatory approval came after less than two months of human testing.“It’s not about being first somehow - it’s about having an effective, tested and therefore safe vaccine,” Spahn told Deutschlandfunk radio.“In order to have trust in such a vaccine, I think it is very, very important, even during a pandemic, to properly do studies, the relevant tests and especially to make them public. The problem is that we know very little about it as the Russian authorities are not being very transparent,” he said.
Hi, Helen Sullivan here. I recently wrote about being separated from my husband for five months by the pandemic.Hi, Helen Sullivan here. I recently wrote about being separated from my husband for five months by the pandemic.
Now, we’d like to hear from couples and other loved ones kept apart by border closures and flight palavers. If you would like to tell your story, my email address is helen.sullivan@theguardian.com – please do drop me a few lines explaining your own situation.Now, we’d like to hear from couples and other loved ones kept apart by border closures and flight palavers. If you would like to tell your story, my email address is helen.sullivan@theguardian.com – please do drop me a few lines explaining your own situation.
For context, here is the story mentioned above:For context, here is the story mentioned above:
Melissa Davey, Matilda Boseley and Josh Taylor report for the Guardian:Melissa Davey, Matilda Boseley and Josh Taylor report for the Guardian:
Here is the full story on the Australian state of Victoria, which has recorded its highest overnight death toll from Covid-19, with 21 deaths and 410 new cases announced on Wednesday as the premier Daniel Andrews expressed concern about continued aged care cases and deaths, and a rise of cases in disability services, among health workers, and in regional areas.Here is the full story on the Australian state of Victoria, which has recorded its highest overnight death toll from Covid-19, with 21 deaths and 410 new cases announced on Wednesday as the premier Daniel Andrews expressed concern about continued aged care cases and deaths, and a rise of cases in disability services, among health workers, and in regional areas.
Those who died ranged in age from their 70s to 100s, and of the deaths 16 were linked to aged care facilities. There are 662 Victorians in hospital and 43 of those are receiving intensive care, while 25 are on a ventilator. Meanwhile 476 aged care residents have been transferred from aged care to hospital as the state struggles to contain spread in the facilities:Those who died ranged in age from their 70s to 100s, and of the deaths 16 were linked to aged care facilities. There are 662 Victorians in hospital and 43 of those are receiving intensive care, while 25 are on a ventilator. Meanwhile 476 aged care residents have been transferred from aged care to hospital as the state struggles to contain spread in the facilities:
Phil Taylor reports for the Guardian from Auckland:Phil Taylor reports for the Guardian from Auckland:
In the hours immediately before Auckland went into Level 3 lockdown at noon on Wednesday, the city’s roads were full, queues snaked outside supermarkets and toilet paper flew off the shelves once more.In the hours immediately before Auckland went into Level 3 lockdown at noon on Wednesday, the city’s roads were full, queues snaked outside supermarkets and toilet paper flew off the shelves once more.
People hurried to stock up and carry out last-minute tasks in the knowledge that the luck for one of the very few countries that appeared to have contained coronavirus had changed.People hurried to stock up and carry out last-minute tasks in the knowledge that the luck for one of the very few countries that appeared to have contained coronavirus had changed.
Mary Robson, 77, said having to remain indoors again was sad, “but it’s a wise decision. I will do that but I’m old school - born during the war years”.Mary Robson, 77, said having to remain indoors again was sad, “but it’s a wise decision. I will do that but I’m old school - born during the war years”.
The Guardian met her just after she lost her bank card. Robson handed a fish merchant $5 - all the cash she had with her - only to be given a bag of fillets and her money back.The Guardian met her just after she lost her bank card. Robson handed a fish merchant $5 - all the cash she had with her - only to be given a bag of fillets and her money back.
“Kiwi spirit,” said Robson, a widow of 45 years, “I love it.”“Kiwi spirit,” said Robson, a widow of 45 years, “I love it.”
She was shopping at Manukau City, the commercial hub of south Auckland, home to four people from the same family whose positive tests for Covid-19 prompted the new stage 3 lockdown:She was shopping at Manukau City, the commercial hub of south Auckland, home to four people from the same family whose positive tests for Covid-19 prompted the new stage 3 lockdown:
With that, the press conference in New Zealand is over.With that, the press conference in New Zealand is over.
Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, has told those who live in Auckland, the country’s largest city that they should cover their faces every time they leave their home – the first time New Zealanders have been required to do so. This is in response to the outbreak of community transmission in the country, with four confirmed and four probable cases. Ardern said today that supermarkets were selling masks, and people could make their own or wear any fabric, like a scarf, over their noses and mouths. Masks are not legally mandated. She said the government would release 1m masks from its stockpile to be distributed to those who could not access or afford them – mainly via social services providers, or in food parcels. The rest of New Zealand, she said, should cover their faces if they are in an environment where physical distancing is a problem – such as on public transport.Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, has told those who live in Auckland, the country’s largest city that they should cover their faces every time they leave their home – the first time New Zealanders have been required to do so. This is in response to the outbreak of community transmission in the country, with four confirmed and four probable cases. Ardern said today that supermarkets were selling masks, and people could make their own or wear any fabric, like a scarf, over their noses and mouths. Masks are not legally mandated. She said the government would release 1m masks from its stockpile to be distributed to those who could not access or afford them – mainly via social services providers, or in food parcels. The rest of New Zealand, she said, should cover their faces if they are in an environment where physical distancing is a problem – such as on public transport.
Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, says she needs “time to fully consider” the situation around the country’s fresh Covid-19 outbreak before she considers a call from the leader of the opposition to delay the 19 September election date.She said she was focused on the health and jobs response. Earlier, Judith Collins, the parliamentary opposition leader, had called for a delay to the vote. Collins took over as the leader of the centre-right National party last month.It was “unsustainable to expect there to be a fair and just election” when parties were not free to campaign, and the public had “no certainty” about whether they could publicly cast their vote, Collins said. She urged Ardern to postpone the election until November, which could be done relatively easily, she added. A later vote was more complex, but Collins suggested an election in 2021 might be preferable. Ardern said it was too early – 24 hours after the fresh cases had been diagnosed – to make a decision. She has deferred until Monday the dissolution of Parliament, and expects to consider a decision about the election before then.Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, says she needs “time to fully consider” the situation around the country’s fresh Covid-19 outbreak before she considers a call from the leader of the opposition to delay the 19 September election date.She said she was focused on the health and jobs response. Earlier, Judith Collins, the parliamentary opposition leader, had called for a delay to the vote. Collins took over as the leader of the centre-right National party last month.It was “unsustainable to expect there to be a fair and just election” when parties were not free to campaign, and the public had “no certainty” about whether they could publicly cast their vote, Collins said. She urged Ardern to postpone the election until November, which could be done relatively easily, she added. A later vote was more complex, but Collins suggested an election in 2021 might be preferable. Ardern said it was too early – 24 hours after the fresh cases had been diagnosed – to make a decision. She has deferred until Monday the dissolution of Parliament, and expects to consider a decision about the election before then.
Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, has referenced Australia’s infection numbers in a stark warning to her country about following the lockdown rules.Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, has referenced Australia’s infection numbers in a stark warning to her country about following the lockdown rules.
“There were 322 new cases of Covid-19 in Australia yesterday,” she said. “Our response to the virus so far has worked,” she added. “We all want to get back there as soon as we can but success relies on us all working together.”Again referencing Australia, she said: “We don’t need to look far to know what it will mean if we don’t get on top of it.”New Zealand has registered four confirmed and four probable cases of Covid-19 in the community. Others are contained at quarantine facilities for returning travellers.“There were 322 new cases of Covid-19 in Australia yesterday,” she said. “Our response to the virus so far has worked,” she added. “We all want to get back there as soon as we can but success relies on us all working together.”Again referencing Australia, she said: “We don’t need to look far to know what it will mean if we don’t get on top of it.”New Zealand has registered four confirmed and four probable cases of Covid-19 in the community. Others are contained at quarantine facilities for returning travellers.
Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, said it would now be mandatory for businesses to prominently display QR codes for the government’s contact-tracing app. The app, and the QR code posters for businesses, have been entirely optional thus far, and uptake has been slow. But it will now be compulsory for firms to display them. That’s in response to the fresh outbreak of Covid-19 transmitted within the city of Auckland.Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, said it would now be mandatory for businesses to prominently display QR codes for the government’s contact-tracing app. The app, and the QR code posters for businesses, have been entirely optional thus far, and uptake has been slow. But it will now be compulsory for firms to display them. That’s in response to the fresh outbreak of Covid-19 transmitted within the city of Auckland.
Ashley Bloomfield, New Zealand’s top health official, has taken the rare and serious step of making an order that certain people in Auckland remain at home and in isolation – and stay isolated until they are contacted by health officials with the contact tracing service.
These are people who could be connected to the four confirmed cases of Covid-19 transmitted in the community in New Zealand’s largest city. They are:
Any employees or contractors of the firms Americold in the area of Mt Wellington, or Finance Now in Dominion Road.
Any visitors to those workplaces in the past 14 days.
Anyone who lives with those employees or contractors.
There are four more “probable” cases of Covid-19 transmitted in the community in Auckland, New Zealand, in addition to the four instances confirmed yesterday, the country’s top health official, Ashley Bloomfield said. Bloomfield is giving an update at Parliament in Wellington, after yesterday’s four locally transmitted cases – the first in New Zealand in more than 100 days – prompted a strict lockdown of the largest city, Auckland. The four probable cases are linked to yesterday’s four. All have Covid-19 symptoms and are awaiting test results. All four, as well as yesterday’s confirmed cases, are in isolation at home.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is speaking now with Dr Ashley Bloomfield, the country’s top health official.
You can watch the New Zealand press conference live here when it begins:
New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, and the country’s top health official, Ashley Bloomfield, are due to give a news conference beginning shortly, at 4pm local time (2pm AEST). The pair is expected to provide an update on any new community-spread cases of Covid-19 in the country after four were diagnosed yesterday, prompting a strict lockdown for the city of Auckland. The Guardian will bring you the latest from the news conference.
More than half of Victoria’s active cases of Covid-19 are in people aged 39 years old and younger, while less than 6% of the state’s deaths have been in the same age group, data from the Department of Health shows.
The data included all cases of the virus and deaths up to 11 August. The age group with the highest amount of active cases is 20-29 years, with 1,823 infections. There have been no deaths in the state in this age group. Four deaths have occurred in those aged 30-39, while one death occurred in the 40-49 age group. Those aged between 0 and 39 comprise 54.9% of all active cases.
Meanwhile, 103 people in their 80s and 47 people in their 70s have died. On Thursday the premier, Daniel Andrews, said of the 21 deaths overnight – the state’s deadliest 24 hours to date – 11 were aged in their 80s:
Podcast: How one hotel outbreak of Covid-19 put an Australian state back in lockdown
Melbourne bureau chief, Melissa Davey, discusses life under a second lockdown after a hotel security breach in Victoria caused a resurgence of coronavirus cases:
Judith Collins, New Zealand’s parliamentary opposition leader, has called for a delay to the country’s 19 September election to November, after fresh cases of Covid-19 in the country prompted a strict lockdown of the largest city, Auckland. Collins, who took over as the leader of the centre-right National party last month, is speaking to reporters at Parliament in Wellington. It was “unsustainable to expect there to be a fair and just election” when parties were not free to campaign, and the public had “no certainty” about whether they could publicly cast their vote. She urged Ardern to postpone the election until November, which could be done relatively easily. A later vote was more complex, but Collins suggested an election in 2021 might be preferable. Auckland was placed in lockdown, with lesser restrictions on the rest of the country, after four fresh cases were diagnosed in the community. There had been no community transmission for more than 100 days.
Collins claimed she had received “absolutely no transparency” and had not been consulted properly by Ardern before the lockdown was announced. She said her shadow health spokesperson had been unable to secure a briefing from Ardern’s health minister. Ardern, the leader of the centre-left Labour party, earlier said that it was too early to say whether the date of the vote would be postponed.She deferred the dissolution of Parliament, due to happen on Wednesday NZT, to Monday instead, due to the fresh outbreak. Dissolving Parliament means Cabinet can still make decisions but the full Parliament cannot be convened.
‘If I give up, all my effort is for nothing’: international students thrown into Melbourne lockdown despair
Nibarchana Oli has tried to avoid thinking about the prospect that she might soon be, as she puts it, “sitting on the road”.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” she says. “We don’t have money and we don’t know how we are going to pay rent for next month.”
Oli, 19, is an international student from Ghorani, Nepal and is in her first year of a three-year IT degree at the Melbourne campus of a university based in another state.
Almost half of Australian PhD students considering disengaging from studies due to pandemicRead more
She arrived in Australia in February, just before the coronavirus took hold and the lockdowns that followed dispensed with her chances of getting a job.
With that, Oli has seen her savings reduced to about $400, she says. That is also how much she pays each month for a shared room in a modest house in St Albans, in Melbourne’s west. She shares the place with seven other Nepali students who are all in similar positions.
“It’s a really hard situation right now,” Oli says. “We are all jobless.”
A range of organisations, large and small, is supporting some of Melbourne’s 200,000 international students with food parcels and other essential items:
On Russia’s claims of having developed a vaccine, US health secretary Azar sounded sceptical.
“It’s important we provide safe, effective vaccines and that the data be transparent,” he said, adding that US vaccines would be well researched and ethically developed, with transparent data reviewed by outside experts.