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Coronavirus live news: WHO reports record new global cases; Israel first country to reimpose national lockdown Coronavirus live news: WHO reports record new global cases; Israel first country to reimpose national lockdown
(32 minutes later)
WHO records more than 307,000 cases in 24 hours to Sunday; Victoria, Australia sees lowest case rise in nearly 3 monthsWHO records more than 307,000 cases in 24 hours to Sunday; Victoria, Australia sees lowest case rise in nearly 3 months
Hi. Caroline Davies here taking over the blog for the next few hours. You can get in touch on caroline.davies@theguardian.com
Experts have described as dangerous and premature the Philippines’ decision to cut the social distancing minimum to 30 centimetres (12 inches) on public transport next month, as the country saw another daily record in newly confirmed Covid-19 deaths.
Karen Lema reports for Reuters that experts and medical professionals have warned that reducing the gaps between passengers incrementally to a third of the 1 metre minimum could backfire and prolong a first wave of infections that the Philippines has been battling since March.
The new rules took effect today, when the country reported 259 new confirmed deaths, a record for the second time in three days. Total fatalities increased to 4,630, while infections have doubled in the past 35 days to 265,888, Southeast Asia’s highest number.
“This will be risky, reckless and counter-intuitive and will delay the flattening of the curve,” Anthony Leachon, ex-president of the Philippine College of Physicians, told news channel ANC.
“Even if you wear a face shield and mask, reducing the distance between, it will be dangerous,” he said, adding that 1 or 2 metres was the minimum international standard.
The transport ministry’s new rules will cut the distance forst to 75cm, then 50cm on 28 September and finally 30cm on 12 October. To reduce transmission risk conversation and phone calls are prohibited.
The health ministry urged the public to be “extra vigilant” in tight travel conditions and to choose other transport modes if possible.
Manila’s transport systems are notoriously crowded, with commutes typically involving long queues and several changes.
“It is likely that we will see an increase in cases and our recovery will slow if we do this now,” said epidemiologist Antonio Dans.
Dans is a member of a health professionals alliance that last month pleaded for a tightening of Manila’s lockdown - a “timeout” to stop hospitals being overrun. It urged a rethink of the 30cm rule.
The plan aims to help an economy that the government sees contracting 5.5% this year, the worst shrinkage in 35 years.
“Reopening the economy will never happen unless the viral transmission is controlled,” added Leachon, a former advisor to the government’s Covid-19 task force.
And that’s it from me, Martin Belam, this morning. I’m handing over now to my colleague Caroline Davies.
Reuters reports that Sweden has taken Britain off its red-list of countries that it advises citizens not to travel to, despite a pick-up in new coronavirus cases and restrictions on public gatherings in the UK.
Swedes can now travel freely to most European destinations, though Finland, Ireland, the Baltic countries and Malta remain on the country’s red-list.
Irish pubs may be set to reopen next week, but they’ve already been open in the UK for a while. Gatherings in pubs in England are going to be legally limited from today with the introduction of the new ‘rule of six’, which restricts people from meeting with more than five others.
But there’s some worrying news about pubs this morning. Wetherspoons has announced 66 staff have tested positive for Covid. Julia Kollewe reports:
You can read it here: Wetherspoons says 66 staff have tested positive for Covid
Rebecca Ratcliffe reports for us on a new development in the Philippines, where a gardening craze has led to endangered species being dug up from mountains and forests. Authorities say demand is being fuelled by the coronavirus pandemic, with people wanting to improve their home decor while the country still faces partial restrictions limiting non-essential movement and social gatherings, and with people also needing to replace their sources of income. She writes:Rebecca Ratcliffe reports for us on a new development in the Philippines, where a gardening craze has led to endangered species being dug up from mountains and forests. Authorities say demand is being fuelled by the coronavirus pandemic, with people wanting to improve their home decor while the country still faces partial restrictions limiting non-essential movement and social gatherings, and with people also needing to replace their sources of income. She writes:
You can read her full report here: Coronavirus pandemic fuelling plant poaching in PhilippinesYou can read her full report here: Coronavirus pandemic fuelling plant poaching in Philippines
Here’s a quick look at the latest stats and the places around the globe where new cases are rising and falling.Here’s a quick look at the latest stats and the places around the globe where new cases are rising and falling.
Russia has reported 5,509 new coronavirus cases today, pushing its national tally to 1,068,320, the fourth largest in the world. Authorities said 57 people had died in the last 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 18,635.Russia has reported 5,509 new coronavirus cases today, pushing its national tally to 1,068,320, the fourth largest in the world. Authorities said 57 people had died in the last 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 18,635.
Indonesia, meanwhile, has reported 3,141 new infections and 118 more deaths. The country has seen 8,723 deaths and 218,382 cases in total.Indonesia, meanwhile, has reported 3,141 new infections and 118 more deaths. The country has seen 8,723 deaths and 218,382 cases in total.
Pubs and bars have long been seen as a focal point of Irish culture, but the country has kept them shut for much longer than many other countries.Pubs and bars have long been seen as a focal point of Irish culture, but the country has kept them shut for much longer than many other countries.
Padraic Halpin has been speaking to Irish pub landlords for Reuters, and reports on the plight of those that rely on the hospitality industry.Padraic Halpin has been speaking to Irish pub landlords for Reuters, and reports on the plight of those that rely on the hospitality industry.
Pub owner Paul Moynihan told Halpin that he had been eagerly awaiting the promised 20 July reopening of non-food pubs, and spent €10,000 ($11,855) on a beer garden at his establishment in the village of Donard hoping that some late summer trade would help compensate the sudden March closure.Pub owner Paul Moynihan told Halpin that he had been eagerly awaiting the promised 20 July reopening of non-food pubs, and spent €10,000 ($11,855) on a beer garden at his establishment in the village of Donard hoping that some late summer trade would help compensate the sudden March closure.
But the government moved the date three times and those pubs are now only due to open their doors on Monday 21 September - even though infection rates are now 10 times more than late July.But the government moved the date three times and those pubs are now only due to open their doors on Monday 21 September - even though infection rates are now 10 times more than late July.
“It’s ironic: they kept us closed to make sure the numbers didn’t rise and they rose hugely with us closed,” said Moynihan, surrounded by empty stools at his bar in the small County Wicklow locality, 50km (31 miles) from Dublin.“It’s ironic: they kept us closed to make sure the numbers didn’t rise and they rose hugely with us closed,” said Moynihan, surrounded by empty stools at his bar in the small County Wicklow locality, 50km (31 miles) from Dublin.
“I don’t know what the logic was, it didn’t work anyway.”“I don’t know what the logic was, it didn’t work anyway.”
With the antithesis to Sweden’s hands off approach, Ireland’s strict controls on labour-intensive sectors did keep coronavirus cases among the lowest in Europe. But a recent spike has seen the 14-day rate of cumulative cases per 100,000 people jump to almost 40 from three to four in late July.With the antithesis to Sweden’s hands off approach, Ireland’s strict controls on labour-intensive sectors did keep coronavirus cases among the lowest in Europe. But a recent spike has seen the 14-day rate of cumulative cases per 100,000 people jump to almost 40 from three to four in late July.
Unemployment, including those considered temporarily laid off, stands at 15.4%, while the government is subsidising the wages of a further 15% of the workforce. Ireland’s hospitality, retail, administrative and transport sectors account for half of the 220,000 people still temporarily laid off.Unemployment, including those considered temporarily laid off, stands at 15.4%, while the government is subsidising the wages of a further 15% of the workforce. Ireland’s hospitality, retail, administrative and transport sectors account for half of the 220,000 people still temporarily laid off.
In Donard, home to farm workers and Dublin commuters but without a cafe, restaurant or public transport link, Moynihan is just glad he may finally see his regulars again.In Donard, home to farm workers and Dublin commuters but without a cafe, restaurant or public transport link, Moynihan is just glad he may finally see his regulars again.
“There are people in rural Ireland who won’t see anybody really without the pub. It feels like there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”“There are people in rural Ireland who won’t see anybody really without the pub. It feels like there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
Also in Italy, children in Codogno have gone back to school for the first time since 21 February. The northern town gained notoriety as the first place in Europe to record local transmission of the coronavirus.Also in Italy, children in Codogno have gone back to school for the first time since 21 February. The northern town gained notoriety as the first place in Europe to record local transmission of the coronavirus.
The Associated Press report that nursery school children must have their temperatures taken at drop-off but are not required to wear masks. In elementary school and middle school, parents are asked to monitor temperatures at home and masks are required, though they may be lowered during lessons. In schools where distance cannot be maintained, older students will have to keep masks on all day.The Associated Press report that nursery school children must have their temperatures taken at drop-off but are not required to wear masks. In elementary school and middle school, parents are asked to monitor temperatures at home and masks are required, though they may be lowered during lessons. In schools where distance cannot be maintained, older students will have to keep masks on all day.
Many of the children heading back lost grandparents during the outbreak, said Cecilia Cugini, the principal of Codogno’s nursery, elementary and middle schools.Many of the children heading back lost grandparents during the outbreak, said Cecilia Cugini, the principal of Codogno’s nursery, elementary and middle schools.
“It is an emblematic moment for us,” Cugini said. “It is important to create an atmosphere so the students can experience the emotions of finding themselves back in school, with classmates and teachers, without being distracted by other things.”“It is an emblematic moment for us,” Cugini said. “It is important to create an atmosphere so the students can experience the emotions of finding themselves back in school, with classmates and teachers, without being distracted by other things.”
Mayor Francesco Passerini said the town of 17,000 has had virtually no new cases for months now, but authorities are not being complacent. He said they have spared no effort in working with school administrators to provide maximum protection to the city’s 3,500 students. “We hope it goes well, so that all we lived can be relegated to memory,” Passerini said.Mayor Francesco Passerini said the town of 17,000 has had virtually no new cases for months now, but authorities are not being complacent. He said they have spared no effort in working with school administrators to provide maximum protection to the city’s 3,500 students. “We hope it goes well, so that all we lived can be relegated to memory,” Passerini said.
A quick snap from Reuters that former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi will leave the Milan hospital where he was being treated after contracting the coronavirus two weeks ago.A quick snap from Reuters that former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi will leave the Milan hospital where he was being treated after contracting the coronavirus two weeks ago.
Officials in his Forza Italia party said in a message sent to journalists that “The president will be discharged today at around midday.”Officials in his Forza Italia party said in a message sent to journalists that “The president will be discharged today at around midday.”
The 83 year-old was admitted to Milan’s San Raffaele hospital on 4 September, suffering from mild pneumonia symptoms in both lungs after contracting COVID while on holiday in Sardinia.The 83 year-old was admitted to Milan’s San Raffaele hospital on 4 September, suffering from mild pneumonia symptoms in both lungs after contracting COVID while on holiday in Sardinia.
Last night Michigan’s lieutenant governor blasted President Donald Trump over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic in the US.Last night Michigan’s lieutenant governor blasted President Donald Trump over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic in the US.
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II said: “Donald Trump is a liar who has killed people, straight up. We cannot afford another four years of this man at the helm. There are literally millions of lives at stake.”Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II said: “Donald Trump is a liar who has killed people, straight up. We cannot afford another four years of this man at the helm. There are literally millions of lives at stake.”
He was speaking at a virtual event for progressive voters called “Fighting for Justice in Michigan”. Michigan will be one of the key battlegrounds in November’s US election. The state has had at least 123,075 cases and 6,912 deaths from coronavirus, and is currently averaging around 800 new cases a week.He was speaking at a virtual event for progressive voters called “Fighting for Justice in Michigan”. Michigan will be one of the key battlegrounds in November’s US election. The state has had at least 123,075 cases and 6,912 deaths from coronavirus, and is currently averaging around 800 new cases a week.
Yesterday Donald Trump held his first indoor rally since June. The Nevada event defied Covid rules as the president appeared in front of a mostly mask-less crowd which breached both the state’s 50-person limit and the Trump administration’s coronavirus guidelines.Yesterday Donald Trump held his first indoor rally since June. The Nevada event defied Covid rules as the president appeared in front of a mostly mask-less crowd which breached both the state’s 50-person limit and the Trump administration’s coronavirus guidelines.
The Spanish government is considering extending the nationwide ERTE furlough scheme that guarantees workers part of their income into 2021, Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz said this morning, according to Reuters reports.The Spanish government is considering extending the nationwide ERTE furlough scheme that guarantees workers part of their income into 2021, Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz said this morning, according to Reuters reports.
“The date is open, but likely 31 December would not be the most adequate, and we have to extend a little beyond,” Diaz said in an interview on the Spanish state TV station.“The date is open, but likely 31 December would not be the most adequate, and we have to extend a little beyond,” Diaz said in an interview on the Spanish state TV station.
She added the extension might be longer for different industries. She said for instance the tourism industry would benefit from the scheme so long as they need it.She added the extension might be longer for different industries. She said for instance the tourism industry would benefit from the scheme so long as they need it.
Good morning from London, this is Martin Belam, taking over from Matthew Weaver.
Reuters report that French interior minister Gerald Darmanin has this morning criticised Olympique Marseille’s (OM) fans for celebrating en masse on the streets of the city after Marseille beat Paris Saint Germain (PSG), given the risks from the COVID-19 virus in France.
“One can only condemn the images that we are seeing,” Darmanin told LCI television, when shown TV footage of hordes of supporters partying in Marseille’s Vieux Port after the win. They were in close proximity to one another, with many not wearing masks.
Last week, French Prime Minister Jean Castex singled out Marseille and Bordeaux as among the mainland French cities hardest hit by the resurgence of the Covid virus in France.
Marseille’s hospitals have also been put back on a crisis footing as the virus has started to spread again in France, which has the world’s seventh-highest COVID-19 death toll.
The World Health Organization expects Europe to see a rise in the daily number of Covid-19 deaths in October and November, the head of the body’s European branch has told AFP.
“It’s going to get tougher. In October, November, we are going to see more mortality,” the WHO Europe director, Hans Kluge, said, as the continent experiences a surge of cases though the number of deaths has remained relatively stable.
The resurgence is, however, expected to lead to an increase in daily deaths, the WHO said.
“It’s a moment where countries don’t want to hear this bad news, and I understand,” Kluge said stressing that he wanted to send the “positive message” that the pandemic “is going to finish, at one moment or another”.
The WHO Europe’s 55 member states are holding an online meeting on Monday and Tuesday to discuss their response to coronavirus and agree on their overall five-year strategy.
However Kluge, based in Copenhagen, cautioned against those who believe that the development of a vaccine will bring an end to the pandemic. He said:
The number of cases in Europe has risen sharply in recent weeks, especially in Spain and France. On Friday alone, more than 51,000 new cases were reported in the 55 countries of the WHO Europe, which is more than the highest peak in April, according to the organisation.
Meanwhile, the number of daily deaths has remained at around the same level since early June, with around 400-500 deaths per day linked to Covid-19, WHO data showed.
Two more people in Thailand have tested positive for the virus.
The Thai government said two people on repatriation flights had tested positive, bringing its cumulative total to 3,475.
Last week Thailand announced that an Uzbek professional footballer had tested positive. Earlier this month a prison inmate became Thailand’s first locally transmitted coronavirus case after the country marked 100 days without one.
Australia has reported its lowest one-day rise in infections in nearly three months as authorities began to ease restrictions aimed at slowing its spread, Reuters reports.
Thirty-nine people were found to be infected with the virus in the past 24 hours, the lowest one-day increase in new cases since 26 June, when 37 infections were detected.
With dwindling numbers of new infections, the epicentre of Australia’s latest outbreak, Victoria state, has begun easing restrictions, allowing people to leave their homes for longer periods for exercise and shortening a curfew at night.
Still, frustrations are high, with hundreds of people taking part in protests on the weekend against the weeks-long coronavirus lockdown. Authorities urged patience.
Brett Sutton, Victoria’s chief health officer, likened the cautious easing of restrictions to “baby steps”.
“We can’t have short-term memories on this,” Sutton told reporters in Melbourne, referring to the virus.
In Queensland state, which has effectively eradicated the virus, authorities are under pressure as they decline to open its borders to other areas that are also free of infections.
With families separated, even for funerals, the state’s chief health officer is under police guard after getting death threats.
Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales, was the only other to report any new cases with four in the past 24 hours. All but one of the cases was in quarantine after returning from overseas, though officials warned against complacency.
Australia has recorded a total of 27,000 novel coronavirus infections and 817 deaths.
That’s it from me, Helen Sullivan for today. I’ll be here same time tomorrow – and in the meantime a series of talented colleagues will be helming the blog.
Here is today’s global report:
A collective failure by political leaders to heed warnings and prepare for an infectious disease pandemic has transformed “a world at risk” to a “world in disorder”, according to a report on international epidemic preparedness, Reuters reports. “Financial and political investments in preparedness have been insufficient, and we are all paying the price,” said the report by The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB).“It is not as if the world has lacked the opportunity to take these steps,” it added. “There have been numerous calls for action ... over the last decade, yet none has generated the changes needed.”The GPMB, co-convened by the World Bank and the World Health Organization, is chaired by former WHO director-general Gro Harlem Brundtland, who now also chairs an independent watchdog that monitors the WHO.The board’s 2019 report, released a few months before the novel coronavirus emerged in China, said there was a real threat of “a rapidly spreading pandemic due to a lethal respiratory pathogen” and warned such an event could kill millions and wreak havoc on the global economy.This year’s report - entitled “A World in Disorder” - said world leaders had never before “been so clearly forewarned of the dangers of a devastating pandemic”, and yet they had failed to take adequate action.The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed “a collective failure to take pandemic prevention, preparedness and response seriously and prioritise it accordingly”, it said.“Pathogens thrive in disruption and disorder. Covid-19 has proven the point.”
It is, perhaps, the perfect musical for a nation under the UK’s “rule of six” law. The hit show Six, in which Henry VIII’s wives return from the dead to give a boisterous “histo-remix” pop concert, is set to become the first musical to reopen in the West End since lockdown and will have a simultaneous run in Salford:
Here are the key developments from the last few hours:
US president Donald Trump held a Nevada campaign rally at an indoor venue on Sunday despite public health professionals’ warnings against large indoor gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic. People in the crowd were seated close together and many did not wear masks.
The World Health Organization reported a record single-day increase in global coronavirus cases on Sunday, as the tally surged by a further 307,930 infections in just 24 hours.
Israel’s government will impose a new three-week nationwide lockdown that will start on Friday, after the rate of infection during the past two weeks became the highest recorded since the outbreak began.
South Africa’s finance minister, Tito Mboweni, warned on Sunday the economy could shrink by more than the 7% forecast for 2020, stressing that public finances are “overstretched”.
Australia’s second most populous state of Victoria on Monday reported seven deaths from the new coronavirus in the last 24 hours and 35 new cases, its lowest daily rise in infections since late June.
New Zealand will remain at its current Covid-19 alert level for at least another week. The country is under low-level restrictions due to continued community transmission of the coronavirus in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. Physical distancing is required, and masks are legally mandated on public transport.
Saudi Arabia will partially lift its suspension of international flights as of 15 September to allow “exceptional categories” of citizens and residents to travel.
About 4,000 health workers demonstrated in Brussels on Sunday, calling for more spending on the healthcare system.
China on Monday reported 10 new coronavirus cases in the mainland for 13 September, the same as a day earlier, the health authority said.All of the new infections were imported, the National Health Commission said in a statement. There were no new deaths.China reported 39 new asymptomatic patients, compared with 70 a day earlier.As of Sunday, mainland China had a total of 85,194 confirmed infections of the coronavirus, it said. The Covid-19 death toll remained unchanged at 4,634.
Spending $5 (£3.90) per person annually on global health security over the next five years could prevent a future “catastrophic” pandemic, according to a former head of the World Health Organization (WHO).
It would cost the world billions of dollars, but that amount would be a huge saving on the $11tn response to Covid-19, said Gro Harlem Brundtland, who, with other prominent international experts, sounded the alarm over the threat of a fast-spreading deadly pandemic last September.
The costs are based on estimates by McKinsey & Company, which found the average annual costs to prepare for pandemic over the next five years would be equivalent to $4.70 per capita.
Brundtland, co-chair of the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) and a former prime minister of Norway, said there had been a collective failure to take prevention and response seriously and to prioritise it. “We are all paying the price,” she said: