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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; Paris marathon cancelled as cases rise
(32 minutes later)
WHO warns displacement of people in Beirut risks accelerating spread; four new cases in Auckland; Australia suffers deadliest dayWHO warns displacement of people in Beirut risks accelerating spread; four new cases in Auckland; Australia suffers deadliest day
This year’s Paris marathon has been cancelled, as France battles against a resurgence of the Covid-19 virus.
The marathon was originally due to take place on 5 April but had been postponed to 15 November because of the pandemic.
Organisers said in a statement:
The Paris marathon, one of the most popular events on the global running calendar which routinely attracts over 40,000 participants, is the latest to be disrupted by the worldwide coronavirus outbreak.
In June, the New York City marathon was cancelled while the Boston marathon was also scrapped for the first time in its 124-year history.
Marathon majors in Berlin and Chicago were also cancelled while the London marathon, originally set for April, was postponed to 4 October and will be run as an elite-only event.
France has reported over 236,000 infections and more than 30,000 deaths from Covid-19.
Within hours of posting a video to Facebook and Twitter in which she offered to donate iPads to K-12 Native students, Amanda Cheromiah was inundated with increasingly desperate requests.
This was back in March, as schools across the country started closing because of Covid-19.
Cheromiah, a PhD student at the University of Arizona, had begun hearing stories of Native students parking outside gas stations to finish their homework or reading for class.
It was there they could maybe get better cell reception, or wifi, or enough light when the power was out at home.
Unequal access to utilities – especially electricity – made remote learning nearly impossible on Native lands.
Cheromiah, who leads a mentorship program for Native students, said that for many students it was “just not an option”. She mailed about a dozen iPads to students before realizing their need for more resources was too great.
The pandemic has exacerbated already severe energy and economic inequalities in Indian country.
For decades, many tribes have suffered from insufficient energy infrastructure, high costs, and a lack of funding for new projects. Low electricity rates are compounded by limited cell and broadband service on many reservations.
These needs have only gotten worse during the pandemic.
Cases of Covid-19 in Florida were below 50,000 in May when Rebekah Jones, co-creator and manager of the state’s official coronavirus database, first claimed she was ordered to censor information to justify Governor Ron DeSantis’s ambitious reopening plans for the state.
The retribution was as swift and brutal.
Jones was fired for insubordination, and subjected to a vitriolic public character assassination by DeSantis, a Republican who is a close ally of Donald Trump, in the presence of Vice-President Mike Pence.
DeSantis questioned Jones’s qualifications and personality and aired demonstrably false statements about her private life.
To many observers, the governor’s strategy looked like a blatant attempt to intimidate and silence a troublesome data scientist obstructing the path to a speedy reopening. If so, it appears to have failed.
Not only was the reopening premature, with the pandemic still intensifying in Florida and this week surpassing half a million confirmed cases, but Jones continues to be a thorn in DeSantis’s side.
Hi everyone, this is Jessica Murray taking over the coronavirus live blog for the next few hours.Hi everyone, this is Jessica Murray taking over the coronavirus live blog for the next few hours.
Please do get in touch with any suggestions or story tips.Please do get in touch with any suggestions or story tips.
Email: jessica.murray@theguardian.com Twitter: @journojess_Email: jessica.murray@theguardian.com Twitter: @journojess_
Hard times are here, says UK finance minister Rishi Sunak on the recessionHard times are here, says UK finance minister Rishi Sunak on the recession
Twice as bad as the US. Ten times worse than anything seen during the financial crash of the late 2000s. Worse than any EU country. The UK is planted firmly at the bottom of the Covid-19 developed country league table after the economy contracted by a fifth in the second quarter of 2020.Twice as bad as the US. Ten times worse than anything seen during the financial crash of the late 2000s. Worse than any EU country. The UK is planted firmly at the bottom of the Covid-19 developed country league table after the economy contracted by a fifth in the second quarter of 2020.
The reasons Britain is once again being dubbed by some “the sick man of Europe” are pretty clear. After weeks of dithering, the government imposed a stringent lockdown that was tougher and lasted for longer than elsewhere. Allowing the virus to spread to care homes meant the re-opening of bits of the economy was slow.The reasons Britain is once again being dubbed by some “the sick man of Europe” are pretty clear. After weeks of dithering, the government imposed a stringent lockdown that was tougher and lasted for longer than elsewhere. Allowing the virus to spread to care homes meant the re-opening of bits of the economy was slow.
Boris Johnson and his ministers can’t be blamed for the arrival of a global pandemic. What will be an issue at the inevitable inquiry into why Britain had more deaths and suffered a bigger hit to growth than its rivals is the extent to which government mistakes intensified the crisis.Boris Johnson and his ministers can’t be blamed for the arrival of a global pandemic. What will be an issue at the inevitable inquiry into why Britain had more deaths and suffered a bigger hit to growth than its rivals is the extent to which government mistakes intensified the crisis.
The latest data from the Office for National Statistics shows how the economy has evolved since the start of the year. Activity started to fall in the last 10 days of March before coming to a virtual halt in April. There was a modest pick-up of 2.4% in May followed by a more substantial 8.7% rise in June.The latest data from the Office for National Statistics shows how the economy has evolved since the start of the year. Activity started to fall in the last 10 days of March before coming to a virtual halt in April. There was a modest pick-up of 2.4% in May followed by a more substantial 8.7% rise in June.
This sounds impressive but as Samuel Tombs of Pantheon Macro pointed out, the level of gross domestic product – the official yardstick for gauging the size of the economy – was still 17.1% below its January peak by the end of June. There is an awful lot of ground to make up.This sounds impressive but as Samuel Tombs of Pantheon Macro pointed out, the level of gross domestic product – the official yardstick for gauging the size of the economy – was still 17.1% below its January peak by the end of June. There is an awful lot of ground to make up.
France will gradually ramp up police checks to ensure people wear face masks where it is mandatory and respect social distancing amidst a new surge of COVID-19 infections, the government’s spokesman said on Wednesday, Reuters reports.France will gradually ramp up police checks to ensure people wear face masks where it is mandatory and respect social distancing amidst a new surge of COVID-19 infections, the government’s spokesman said on Wednesday, Reuters reports.
“We’re at a tipping point (...) We’re going to mobilise polices forces to make checks,” Gabriel Attal told journalists while visiting the Mediterranean island of Corsica.“We’re at a tipping point (...) We’re going to mobilise polices forces to make checks,” Gabriel Attal told journalists while visiting the Mediterranean island of Corsica.
“But it’s not the police people should be afraid of (...) they should fear the virus, that lurks and contaminates,” he said.“But it’s not the police people should be afraid of (...) they should fear the virus, that lurks and contaminates,” he said.
Israel will examine Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine and enter negotiations to buy it if it is found to be a “serious product”, Israel’s health minister said, according to a report by Reuters.Israel will examine Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine and enter negotiations to buy it if it is found to be a “serious product”, Israel’s health minister said, according to a report by Reuters.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday his was the first country to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine, after less than two months of human testing. His health minister on Wednesday dismissed allegations that the vaccine was unsafe.Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday his was the first country to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine, after less than two months of human testing. His health minister on Wednesday dismissed allegations that the vaccine was unsafe.
Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein told reporters:Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein told reporters:
Singapore on Wednesday reported 42 new COVID-19 cases, its lowest daily count in about four and a half months, Reuters reports.Singapore on Wednesday reported 42 new COVID-19 cases, its lowest daily count in about four and a half months, Reuters reports.
The city-state went into a lockdown in mid-April after mass outbreaks in cramped migrant worker dormitories pushed its caseload to one of the highest in Asia.The city-state went into a lockdown in mid-April after mass outbreaks in cramped migrant worker dormitories pushed its caseload to one of the highest in Asia.
Meanwhile, Indonesia reported 1,942 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the country to 130,718, data from the government’s health ministry website showed.Meanwhile, Indonesia reported 1,942 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the country to 130,718, data from the government’s health ministry website showed.
The Southeast Asian country also added 79 new deaths, taking the total number to 5,903, the highest COVID-19 death toll in Southeast Asia.The Southeast Asian country also added 79 new deaths, taking the total number to 5,903, the highest COVID-19 death toll in Southeast Asia.
Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said allegations that Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine was unsafe were groundless and driven by competition, Reuters reports citing the Interfax news agency.Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said allegations that Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine was unsafe were groundless and driven by competition, Reuters reports citing the Interfax news agency.
On Tuesday, president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had become the first country to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine, after less than two months of human testing.On Tuesday, president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had become the first country to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine, after less than two months of human testing.
Wearing a face mask became compulsory on Wednesday in all public places in Brussels as the number of COVID-19 infections rose, Reuters reports.
The Belgian capital, which hosts the headquarters of the European Union and NATO, recorded on average 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants daily over the last week, which puts the city among the worst affected in Europe.
Everybody in the city, which has a population of 1.2 million, now has to wear a face mask when in parks, on streets or in any other public sites, as well as in private space accessible to the public, the regional government said.
Until now masks had been compulsory only in crowded public spaces and enclosed sites, such as shopping malls.
Polio vaccination campaigns have resumed in Afghanistan and Pakistan – the last two polio-endemic countries in the world – after a “surge” in cases.
The pandemic halted campaigns in both countries in March and confirmed cases have now reached 34 in Afghanistan and 63 in Pakistan – where cases are being recorded in areas of the country previously free of the disease.
According to Afghanistan’s health ministry, most of the new cases this year have been recorded in the southern provinces. “It’s a surge,” said Akmal Samsour, a health ministry spokesperson.
He added:
After coronavirus left an estimated 50 million children without a polio vaccine programmes restarted in three provinces in Afghanistan during July, with a second campaign covering almost half of the country due to start this month. In Pakistan an initial round of vaccinations took place at the end of July, covering about 780,000 children, with a nationwide campaign planned for later this month.
Pakistani authorities said a three-day campaign would be launched in most districts of the country, plus a longer five-day campaign in Karachi, Peshawar, Khyber and Quetta.
Victoria 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.
Australia recorded its deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday and the biggest daily rise in infections in three days, Reuters reports.
Victoria reported 21 deaths - two more than the previous deadliest days earlier this week - and 410 new cases in the past 24 hours. The new cases end a run of three consecutive days with new infections below 400 and dent hopes that a second wave gripping the state of Victoria may be stabilising.
A cluster of infections in Melbourne, the Victorian capital and Australia’s second-largest city, forced authorities last week to impose a night curfew, tighten restrictions on people’s daily movements and order large parts of state economy to close.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said that while the number of cases were trending down, the impact of the strict new lockdown measures was yet to show up in the case numbers.
He told reporters:
German Health Minister Jens Spahn on Wednesday said Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine had not been sufficiently tested, Reuters reports.
President Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday that Russia had become the first country to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing.
But Moscow’s decision to grant approval before final trials have been completed has raised concerns.
Spahn told radio broadcaster Deutschlandfunk:
Spahn added it was crucial, even during a pandemic, to carry out proper studies and tests and make the results public to give people confidence in the vaccine.
If you want to find out more information on the UK economy entering the deepest slump on record, follow the business live blog.
Britain’s economy has been officially confirmed in recession for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis as the coronavirus pandemic plunges the country into the deepest slump on record.
The Office for National Statistics said gross domestic product (GDP), the broadest measure of economic prosperity, fell in the three months to the end of June by 20.4% – the biggest quarterly decline since comparable records began in 1955.
After a decline of 2.2% in the first quarter, the figures confirm the UK economy plunged into recession after the outbreak spread in March and the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to contain it. Economists consider two consecutive quarters of shrinking GDP as the technical definition of a recession.
However, monthly figures for the economy indicate that Britain’s economy continued to recover from the pandemic in June as lockdown measures were gradually relaxed and pent-up demand fuelled a rise in consumer spending. GDP grew by 8.7% on the month – faster than expected by City economists.
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.