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Coronavirus live news: Gaza in lockdown following first local cases; Hong Kong man re-infected Coronavirus live news: Gaza in lockdown following first local cases; Hong Kong man re-infected
(about 1 hour later)
Four cases detected in Gaza outside of quarantine facilities; First known case of re-infection prompts immunity concerns; Usain bolt awaiting Covid-19 test results. Follow the latest updatesFour cases detected in Gaza outside of quarantine facilities; First known case of re-infection prompts immunity concerns; Usain bolt awaiting Covid-19 test results. Follow the latest updates
Indonesia reported 2,447 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases to 157,859, data from the country’s COVID-19 taskforce showed. Good morning from London. I’m Lucy Campbell, I’ll be bringing you all the latest global developments on Covid-19 for the next eight hours. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work – your comments are always welcome!
The data recorded an additional 99 deaths, taking the total to 6,858, the highest COVID-19 death toll in Southeast Asia. Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.comTwitter: @lucy_campbell_
In the UK, a leading member of the Oxford University team trying to find a vaccine for coronavirus has not ruled it out being ready for this winter.
The trials ongoing around the world hope to involve around 50,000 people and he said if cases accrue rapidly in clinical trials they could present data to regulators this year.
It comes after the chief medical officer for England, Chris Witty, suggested that a vaccine would most reasonably be ready next winter or in the one after.
Andrew Pollard, professor of paediatric infection and immunity at Oxford University, said:
The potential vaccine, developed by Oxford University and drug company AstraZeneca, is thought to be the most advanced candidate in clinical trials.
It is being tested on 10,000 people in the UK, and a further 10,000 in Brazil and South Africa. Scientists also hope to enrol 30,000 people in US trials.
Following reports that US president Donald Trump wants to speed up approval of the vaccine in time for the November election, AstraZeneca said it had not discussed any fast-tracking with regulators.
Indonesia reported 2,447 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases to 157,859, data from the country’s Covid-19 taskforce showed.
The data recorded an additional 99 deaths, taking the total to 6,858, the highest Covid-19 death toll in south-east Asia.
As the debate about wearing face masks continues around the world here’s an interesting story from Bloomberg about what happened in South Korea when one woman with coronavirus visited a Starbucks cafe north of Seoul earlier this month: more than two dozen patrons tested positive days later, but the four face mask-wearing employees escaped infection.As the debate about wearing face masks continues around the world here’s an interesting story from Bloomberg about what happened in South Korea when one woman with coronavirus visited a Starbucks cafe north of Seoul earlier this month: more than two dozen patrons tested positive days later, but the four face mask-wearing employees escaped infection.
Secondary school pupils in Scotland will have to wear face coverings in corridors, communal areas and on school buses from next Monday.Secondary school pupils in Scotland will have to wear face coverings in corridors, communal areas and on school buses from next Monday.
Scotland’s education secretary, John Swinney, said the measure applies to all high schools but he added that nobody should be sent home for not wearing a mask.Scotland’s education secretary, John Swinney, said the measure applies to all high schools but he added that nobody should be sent home for not wearing a mask.
Swinney told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland:Swinney told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland:
Yesterday, the Scottish government said that it had been consulting councils and teaching organisations about the measure after face coverings were recommended for secondary schools by the World Health Organization at the weekend.Yesterday, the Scottish government said that it had been consulting councils and teaching organisations about the measure after face coverings were recommended for secondary schools by the World Health Organization at the weekend.
WHO said face coverings were useful where physical distancing between adults and pupils aged 12 and over was impossible, or in areas of high transmission.WHO said face coverings were useful where physical distancing between adults and pupils aged 12 and over was impossible, or in areas of high transmission.
In England, the prime minister, Boris Johnson, is being urged to impose the same measures, which he has thus far resisted. For more on that debate, please follow our UK coronavirus liveblog.In England, the prime minister, Boris Johnson, is being urged to impose the same measures, which he has thus far resisted. For more on that debate, please follow our UK coronavirus liveblog.
The German economy contracted by a record 9.7% in the second quarter as consumer spending, company investments and exports all collapsed at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the statistics office said on Tuesday. Reuters reports:The German economy contracted by a record 9.7% in the second quarter as consumer spending, company investments and exports all collapsed at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the statistics office said on Tuesday. Reuters reports:
The economic slump was much stronger than during the financial crisis more than a decade ago, and it represented the sharpest decline since Germany began to record quarterly GDP calculations in 1970, the office said.The economic slump was much stronger than during the financial crisis more than a decade ago, and it represented the sharpest decline since Germany began to record quarterly GDP calculations in 1970, the office said.
The reading marked a minor upward revision from an earlier estimate for the April-June period of -10.1% that the office had published last month.The reading marked a minor upward revision from an earlier estimate for the April-June period of -10.1% that the office had published last month.
Consumer spending shrank by 10.9% on the quarter, capital investments by 19.6% and exports by 20.3%, seasonally adjusted data showed.Consumer spending shrank by 10.9% on the quarter, capital investments by 19.6% and exports by 20.3%, seasonally adjusted data showed.
Construction activity, normally a consistent growth driver for the German economy, fell by 4.2% on the quarter.Construction activity, normally a consistent growth driver for the German economy, fell by 4.2% on the quarter.
VP Bank economist Thomas Gitzel said:VP Bank economist Thomas Gitzel said:
The only bright spot was state consumption, which rose by 1.5% on the quarter due to the government’s coronavirus rescue programmes, the office said.The only bright spot was state consumption, which rose by 1.5% on the quarter due to the government’s coronavirus rescue programmes, the office said.
The German parliament has suspended the debt brake this year to allow the government to finance its crisis response and fiscal stimulus push with record new debt of €217.8bn.The German parliament has suspended the debt brake this year to allow the government to finance its crisis response and fiscal stimulus push with record new debt of €217.8bn.
Employment edged down by 1.3% on the year to 44.7 million in a sign that the government’s efforts to shield the labour market from the coronavirus shock with its short-time work programme are paying off.Employment edged down by 1.3% on the year to 44.7 million in a sign that the government’s efforts to shield the labour market from the coronavirus shock with its short-time work programme are paying off.
The German central bank expects household spending to drive a strong recovery in the third quarter, though the economy might not reach its pre-crisis level before 2022.The German central bank expects household spending to drive a strong recovery in the third quarter, though the economy might not reach its pre-crisis level before 2022.
The government’s stimulus measures include a temporary VAT cut from July to December worth up to €20bn, which Berlin hopes will give household spending an additional push.The government’s stimulus measures include a temporary VAT cut from July to December worth up to €20bn, which Berlin hopes will give household spending an additional push.
As officials across Spain wrestle with a surge in coronavirus cases, a chorus of voices is warning that another lockdown could have dire consequences for a country that just months ago emerged from one of Europe’s strictest confinements, reports Ashifa Kassam in Madrid.As officials across Spain wrestle with a surge in coronavirus cases, a chorus of voices is warning that another lockdown could have dire consequences for a country that just months ago emerged from one of Europe’s strictest confinements, reports Ashifa Kassam in Madrid.
While cases of the virus have climbed across Europe, Spain has led the pack in recent days. More than 78,000 cases have been detected in the past two weeks, pushing the 14-day infection rate to 166 per 100,000, compared with 67 in France and 22 in the UK.While cases of the virus have climbed across Europe, Spain has led the pack in recent days. More than 78,000 cases have been detected in the past two weeks, pushing the 14-day infection rate to 166 per 100,000, compared with 67 in France and 22 in the UK.
Read the full story below:Read the full story below:
At the Republican convention in the US on Monday, President Donald Trump sought to distance himself from the impact of the coronavirus on the country and his administration’s handling of the crisis, referring to Covid-19 as the “plague from China”.At the Republican convention in the US on Monday, President Donald Trump sought to distance himself from the impact of the coronavirus on the country and his administration’s handling of the crisis, referring to Covid-19 as the “plague from China”.
Hong Kong is set to ease some coronavirus measures from 28 August, allowing venues such as cinemas and beauty parlours to reopen and restaurants to extend dining hours, authorities said on Tuesday. Reuters reports:Hong Kong is set to ease some coronavirus measures from 28 August, allowing venues such as cinemas and beauty parlours to reopen and restaurants to extend dining hours, authorities said on Tuesday. Reuters reports:
Hong Kong had seen a resurgence of locally transmitted cases since the start of July but the daily number has fallen from triple digits in recent weeks to low double digits. Monday’s infection count of nine new cases was the lowest in nearly two months.Hong Kong had seen a resurgence of locally transmitted cases since the start of July but the daily number has fallen from triple digits in recent weeks to low double digits. Monday’s infection count of nine new cases was the lowest in nearly two months.
Health secretary Sophia Chan said the government would allow outdoor sports centres to reopen and would lift mandatory mask wearing for outdoor sports and country parks. Restaurants would extend dining to 9pm having previously only been able to offer takeaways past 6pm.Health secretary Sophia Chan said the government would allow outdoor sports centres to reopen and would lift mandatory mask wearing for outdoor sports and country parks. Restaurants would extend dining to 9pm having previously only been able to offer takeaways past 6pm.
The government had imposed strict regulations at the start of July including the mandatory wearing of masks in all public outdoor places and a ban on gatherings of more than two people.The government had imposed strict regulations at the start of July including the mandatory wearing of masks in all public outdoor places and a ban on gatherings of more than two people.
The cap on the number of people that can meet would remain in place past Friday, and Chan gave no indication on when this would change.The cap on the number of people that can meet would remain in place past Friday, and Chan gave no indication on when this would change.
The relaxation of measures comes ahead of mass testing of residents in the Asian financial hub which is set to begin on 1 September.The relaxation of measures comes ahead of mass testing of residents in the Asian financial hub which is set to begin on 1 September.
Since late January, about 4,700 people have been infected in Hong Kong, 77 of whom have died.Since late January, about 4,700 people have been infected in Hong Kong, 77 of whom have died.
A Hong Kong man who recovered from Covid-19 was re-infected four-and-a-half months later in what is the first documented instance of human re-infection, researchers at the University of Hong Kong said on Monday.A Hong Kong man who recovered from Covid-19 was re-infected four-and-a-half months later in what is the first documented instance of human re-infection, researchers at the University of Hong Kong said on Monday.
This is a great video from the Ugandan ministry of health about why social distancing matters.This is a great video from the Ugandan ministry of health about why social distancing matters.
Good morning from London, where I’ll be looking after the global coronavirus live blog for the next few hours. My thanks (and solidarity!) to my colleague Helen Sullivan in Sydney.Good morning from London, where I’ll be looking after the global coronavirus live blog for the next few hours. My thanks (and solidarity!) to my colleague Helen Sullivan in Sydney.
If you want to get in touch with stories from where you are please do. My email is alexandra.topping@theguardian.com and I’m @lexytopping on Twitter. My DMs are open.If you want to get in touch with stories from where you are please do. My email is alexandra.topping@theguardian.com and I’m @lexytopping on Twitter. My DMs are open.
Reuters has a fascinating story this morning on the scientific discoveries that are being made about Covid-19. They report:Reuters has a fascinating story this morning on the scientific discoveries that are being made about Covid-19. They report:
“Genetic barcodes” can help track how the new coronavirus spreads and mutates, researchers said on Saturday in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.“Genetic barcodes” can help track how the new coronavirus spreads and mutates, researchers said on Saturday in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Based on the sequence of the genetic code of the virus, the researchers identified 11 distinct SARS-CoV-2 “barcodes” that represent different clades, or lineages, descended from a common viral ancestor.Based on the sequence of the genetic code of the virus, the researchers identified 11 distinct SARS-CoV-2 “barcodes” that represent different clades, or lineages, descended from a common viral ancestor.
Different continents have different variations, Arnab Pain of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia and his team found. The subtle differences in the genetic sequences represented by the barcodes may affect virus infectivity or illness severity, Pain noted.Different continents have different variations, Arnab Pain of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia and his team found. The subtle differences in the genetic sequences represented by the barcodes may affect virus infectivity or illness severity, Pain noted.
The researchers plan to regularly update the barcodes. “This is a dynamic process, and some virus clades/subclades may eventually die off in the future, and new clades may form,” Pain said.The researchers plan to regularly update the barcodes. “This is a dynamic process, and some virus clades/subclades may eventually die off in the future, and new clades may form,” Pain said.
That’s it for me, Helen Sullivan, for today. I’m having four wisdom teeth yanked from my jaws tomorrow and won’t be blogging for a few days.That’s it for me, Helen Sullivan, for today. I’m having four wisdom teeth yanked from my jaws tomorrow and won’t be blogging for a few days.
My colleague Alexandra Topping will be taking you through the next few hours of pandemic news.My colleague Alexandra Topping will be taking you through the next few hours of pandemic news.