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Coronavirus live news: doctor clears Trump to return to public events on Saturday; record global case rise Coronavirus live news: doctor clears Trump to return to public events on Saturday; record global case rise
(32 minutes later)
Washington releases open letter asking White House staff and guests at super-spreader event to take a Covid tests; Nearly 340,000 new cases confirmed in 24 hours. Follow the latest updatesWashington releases open letter asking White House staff and guests at super-spreader event to take a Covid tests; Nearly 340,000 new cases confirmed in 24 hours. Follow the latest updates
Friday briefing: England should pull circuit breaker – experts
Scientists advising the government have warned that further Covid restrictions do not go far enough and “fringe” anti-lockdown epidemiologists are gaining too much attention. The shutdown of pubs and restaurants in the north and Midlands expected next week is unlikely to bring cases down sufficiently, members of the Sage committee have told the Guardian, and the “circuit breaker” imposed in Scotland from today should have been enacted in England two or three weeks ago.
The Guardian understands most of northern England – from Barrow in Cumbria to Merseyside, Greater Manchester, much of Lancashire and Yorkshire and most of the north-east, as well as Nottinghamshire in the Midlands – will be put under a new three-tier alert system. It will be announced on Monday to come into force on Wednesday, a government source has said:
Keir Starmer has called for an end to the government’s “serial incompetence” throughout the pandemic as concerns grow over the possibility of further restrictions being introduced, PA Media reports.
The Labour opposition leader, writing in the Telegraph, decried the leaking of plans for tougher measures and said it had led to confusion about Downing Street’s approach.
He suggested a number of ways the government could “get a grip of this situation urgently before it spirals out of control”.
Local leaders had to be consulted more closely over restrictions, he said, to arrest frustration amid a sense that No 10 was talking down to parts of the country:
Donald Trump, who is still recovering from Covid-19, suggested he might organise a rally in Florida on Saturday, while continuing to ignore questions on whether he has yet tested negative for the disease. On Thursday night, Trump said: “I think I’m going to try doing a rally on Saturday night if we can, if we have enough time to put it together. “But we want to do a rally in Florida, probably in Florida on Saturday night, might come back and do one in Pennsylvania, on the following night.”Donald Trump, who is still recovering from Covid-19, suggested he might organise a rally in Florida on Saturday, while continuing to ignore questions on whether he has yet tested negative for the disease. On Thursday night, Trump said: “I think I’m going to try doing a rally on Saturday night if we can, if we have enough time to put it together. “But we want to do a rally in Florida, probably in Florida on Saturday night, might come back and do one in Pennsylvania, on the following night.”
The United States passed 7.6m cases. The US will likely have more than 8m cases by Thursday next week, when Biden hosts a Town Hall in place of the virtual debate Trump refused to agree to. The US case total accounts for just over a fifth of the global case total. The US death toll, at more than 212,000, accounts for over one in five deaths worldwide, too.The United States passed 7.6m cases. The US will likely have more than 8m cases by Thursday next week, when Biden hosts a Town Hall in place of the virtual debate Trump refused to agree to. The US case total accounts for just over a fifth of the global case total. The US death toll, at more than 212,000, accounts for over one in five deaths worldwide, too.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi, announced on Thursday that Democrats in the US Congress would meet to discuss the 25th amendment to the constitution, which contains a clause that allows a president to be removed from office against his will because of physical or mental incapacity.House speaker Nancy Pelosi, announced on Thursday that Democrats in the US Congress would meet to discuss the 25th amendment to the constitution, which contains a clause that allows a president to be removed from office against his will because of physical or mental incapacity.
Trump’s physician, Dr Sean Conley, said he anticipated Trump would be able to return to public engagements on Saturday, after initially suggesting that the president might not be able to return to public life until Monday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that Covid-19 patients can be around others 10 days after their symptoms first appear, provided they have not had a fever in the preceding 24 hours.Trump’s physician, Dr Sean Conley, said he anticipated Trump would be able to return to public engagements on Saturday, after initially suggesting that the president might not be able to return to public life until Monday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that Covid-19 patients can be around others 10 days after their symptoms first appear, provided they have not had a fever in the preceding 24 hours.
It emerged that White House chief of staff Mark Meadows held a 70-person indoor wedding for his daughter in Atlanta in May in defiance of state and municipal guidelines, the New York Times reported.It emerged that White House chief of staff Mark Meadows held a 70-person indoor wedding for his daughter in Atlanta in May in defiance of state and municipal guidelines, the New York Times reported.
Wisconsin opened a field hospital amid a surge in cases that has overwhelmed the state’s health care system. Governor Tony Evers said in a statement, “We’re in a crisis right now and need to immediately change our behaviour to save lives.”Wisconsin opened a field hospital amid a surge in cases that has overwhelmed the state’s health care system. Governor Tony Evers said in a statement, “We’re in a crisis right now and need to immediately change our behaviour to save lives.”
In non-US news:In non-US news:
China has officially joined a global vaccine initiative for distributing 2bn doses of Covid-19 vaccines around the world by the end of next year, according to the ministry of foreign affairs. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday that Beijing had joined the initiative known as Covax, making China the largest economy to join to coalition aimed at countering so-called “vaccine nationalism”.China has officially joined a global vaccine initiative for distributing 2bn doses of Covid-19 vaccines around the world by the end of next year, according to the ministry of foreign affairs. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday that Beijing had joined the initiative known as Covax, making China the largest economy to join to coalition aimed at countering so-called “vaccine nationalism”.
Cuba to open for tourism starting next week. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero said late on Thursday that most of the Caribbean island nation would open to international tourism starting next week as it moved towards a “new normality” after containing its coronavirus outbreak.Cuba to open for tourism starting next week. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero said late on Thursday that most of the Caribbean island nation would open to international tourism starting next week as it moved towards a “new normality” after containing its coronavirus outbreak.
India nears 7m cases. India’s total coronavirus cases rose by 70,496 in the last 24 hours to 6.91 million on Friday morning, data from the health ministry showed. Deaths from Covid-19 infections rose by 964 to 106,490, the ministry said. India’s death toll from the novel coronavirus rose past 100,000 on Saturday, only the third country in the world to reach that bleak milestone, after the United States and Brazil, and its epidemic shows no sign of abating.India nears 7m cases. India’s total coronavirus cases rose by 70,496 in the last 24 hours to 6.91 million on Friday morning, data from the health ministry showed. Deaths from Covid-19 infections rose by 964 to 106,490, the ministry said. India’s death toll from the novel coronavirus rose past 100,000 on Saturday, only the third country in the world to reach that bleak milestone, after the United States and Brazil, and its epidemic shows no sign of abating.
Australia reported its second straight day without any Covid-19 deaths on Friday, the longest stretch without any fatalities from the virus in three months. Australian states and territories reported 16 cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, down from 28 on Thursday, and no deaths for two days, the first time Australia has gone 48 hours without a Covid-19 death since July 11. The results cement optimism that Australia has contained a second wave of Covid-19 infections.Australia reported its second straight day without any Covid-19 deaths on Friday, the longest stretch without any fatalities from the virus in three months. Australian states and territories reported 16 cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, down from 28 on Thursday, and no deaths for two days, the first time Australia has gone 48 hours without a Covid-19 death since July 11. The results cement optimism that Australia has contained a second wave of Covid-19 infections.
Romania suspends flights to and from high-risk countries to stem a sharp rise in new coronavirus infections. Travellers from 49 high-risk countries will need to self-isolate for 10-14 days upon arrival, except those travelling for less than three days, who must have a negative coronavirus test. On Thursday, the government suspended flights from the countries on the list, except European Union states, the UK, the UAE and Qatar.Romania suspends flights to and from high-risk countries to stem a sharp rise in new coronavirus infections. Travellers from 49 high-risk countries will need to self-isolate for 10-14 days upon arrival, except those travelling for less than three days, who must have a negative coronavirus test. On Thursday, the government suspended flights from the countries on the list, except European Union states, the UK, the UAE and Qatar.
Madrid must impose travel restrictions or face state of emergency, Spanish government says. Madrid must enforce travel restrictions ordered by the health ministry to limit coronavirus outbreaks or the national government will impose a state of emergency that would force it to comply, the Spanish government said late on Thursday.Madrid must impose travel restrictions or face state of emergency, Spanish government says. Madrid must enforce travel restrictions ordered by the health ministry to limit coronavirus outbreaks or the national government will impose a state of emergency that would force it to comply, the Spanish government said late on Thursday.
Paris hospitals move into emergency mode amid rise in Covid-19 patients. Hospitals in the Paris region have moved into emergency mode, cancelling staff holidays and postponing non-essential operations, as coronavirus patients made up close to half of all patients in intensive care units (ICUs).Paris hospitals move into emergency mode amid rise in Covid-19 patients. Hospitals in the Paris region have moved into emergency mode, cancelling staff holidays and postponing non-essential operations, as coronavirus patients made up close to half of all patients in intensive care units (ICUs).
China has officially joined a global vaccine initiative for distributing 2bn doses of Covid-19 vaccines around the world by the end of next year, according to the ministry of foreign affairs.China has officially joined a global vaccine initiative for distributing 2bn doses of Covid-19 vaccines around the world by the end of next year, according to the ministry of foreign affairs.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday that Beijing had joined the initiative known as Covax, making China the largest economy to join to coalition aimed at countering so-called “vaccine nationalism”.Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday that Beijing had joined the initiative known as Covax, making China the largest economy to join to coalition aimed at countering so-called “vaccine nationalism”.
“This is an important step China has taken to uphold the concept of a shared community of health for all and to honour its commitment to turn #Covid19 vaccines into a global public good,” Hua wrote on Twitter.“This is an important step China has taken to uphold the concept of a shared community of health for all and to honour its commitment to turn #Covid19 vaccines into a global public good,” Hua wrote on Twitter.
Beijing had initially missed the deadline for joining the Covax initiative co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovations. The goal of the alliance of 156 countries is to provide Covid-19 vaccines to a targeted 3% of each participating country’s most at-risk population by sharing the costs of research and distribution among both developed and developing countries:Beijing had initially missed the deadline for joining the Covax initiative co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovations. The goal of the alliance of 156 countries is to provide Covid-19 vaccines to a targeted 3% of each participating country’s most at-risk population by sharing the costs of research and distribution among both developed and developing countries:
A second CDC epidemiologist has joined the White House’s contact tracting team, the Washington Post reports:A second CDC epidemiologist has joined the White House’s contact tracting team, the Washington Post reports:
CBS reporter Sara Cook says that the White House claims, however, that enlisting the help of a second epidemiologist has “nothing to do” with what has happened in the last two weeks:CBS reporter Sara Cook says that the White House claims, however, that enlisting the help of a second epidemiologist has “nothing to do” with what has happened in the last two weeks:
If you need a laugh at the end of an extremely depressing week:If you need a laugh at the end of an extremely depressing week:
Podcast: Will Trump’s handling of Covid-19 be his undoing? Politics Weekly ExtraPodcast: Will Trump’s handling of Covid-19 be his undoing? Politics Weekly Extra
After a week in which so much happened in the US, Jonathan Freedland talks to the Guardian US columnist Moira Donegan about why the pandemic might be the one issue Trump can’t talk his way out of, and to Lauren Gambino about what swing states tell us about modern US politics:After a week in which so much happened in the US, Jonathan Freedland talks to the Guardian US columnist Moira Donegan about why the pandemic might be the one issue Trump can’t talk his way out of, and to Lauren Gambino about what swing states tell us about modern US politics:
Here is our full story on Trump saying he hopes to hold a rally on Saturday:Here is our full story on Trump saying he hopes to hold a rally on Saturday:
Donald Trump, who is still recovering from Covid-19, has suggested he might organize a rally in Florida on Saturday, while continuing to ignore questions on whether he has yet tested negative for the disease.Donald Trump, who is still recovering from Covid-19, has suggested he might organize a rally in Florida on Saturday, while continuing to ignore questions on whether he has yet tested negative for the disease.
On Thursday night, Trump said: “I think I’m going to try doing a rally on Saturday night if we can, if we have enough time to put it together.On Thursday night, Trump said: “I think I’m going to try doing a rally on Saturday night if we can, if we have enough time to put it together.
“But we want to do a rally in Florida, probably in Florida on Saturday night, might come back and do one in Pennsylvania, on the following night.”“But we want to do a rally in Florida, probably in Florida on Saturday night, might come back and do one in Pennsylvania, on the following night.”
At least one Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been linked by a local health official to a spike in coronavirus cases. Most supporters at recent Trump events have eschewed masks and social distancing measures to slow the spread of disease.At least one Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been linked by a local health official to a spike in coronavirus cases. Most supporters at recent Trump events have eschewed masks and social distancing measures to slow the spread of disease.
Asked by Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Thursday night whether he had yet to test negative for coronavirus – or whether he had been tested at all since his positive test last week – the president did not directly respond, instead touting the experimental drugs he had been treated with. He said he would be likely be tested on Friday.Asked by Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Thursday night whether he had yet to test negative for coronavirus – or whether he had been tested at all since his positive test last week – the president did not directly respond, instead touting the experimental drugs he had been treated with. He said he would be likely be tested on Friday.
Australia reported its second straight day without any Covid-19 deaths on Friday, the longest stretch without any fatalities from the virus in three months.Australian states and territories reported 16 cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, down from 28 on Thursday, and no deaths for two days, the first time Australia has gone 48 hours without a Covid-19 death since July 11.The results cement optimism that Australia has contained a second wave of Covid-19 infections.Australia reported its second straight day without any Covid-19 deaths on Friday, the longest stretch without any fatalities from the virus in three months.Australian states and territories reported 16 cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, down from 28 on Thursday, and no deaths for two days, the first time Australia has gone 48 hours without a Covid-19 death since July 11.The results cement optimism that Australia has contained a second wave of Covid-19 infections.
The country’s second most populous state Victoria, the epicentre of Australia’s Covid-19 outbreak, said they now have less than 200 active infections.“These are the results that come from a really determined effort to defeat this second wave,” Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters in Melbourne.Australia has reported more than 27,000 coronavirus infections and about 900 deaths - far fewer than many other developed countries.The country’s second most populous state Victoria, the epicentre of Australia’s Covid-19 outbreak, said they now have less than 200 active infections.“These are the results that come from a really determined effort to defeat this second wave,” Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters in Melbourne.Australia has reported more than 27,000 coronavirus infections and about 900 deaths - far fewer than many other developed countries.
India’s total coronavirus cases rose by 70,496 in the last 24 hours to 6.91 million on Friday morning, data from the health ministry showed.Deaths from Covid-19 infections rose by 964 to 106,490, the ministry said.India’s death toll from the novel coronavirus rose past 100,000 on Saturday, only the third country in the world to reach that bleak milestone, after the United States and Brazil, and its epidemic shows no sign of abating.India’s total coronavirus cases rose by 70,496 in the last 24 hours to 6.91 million on Friday morning, data from the health ministry showed.Deaths from Covid-19 infections rose by 964 to 106,490, the ministry said.India’s death toll from the novel coronavirus rose past 100,000 on Saturday, only the third country in the world to reach that bleak milestone, after the United States and Brazil, and its epidemic shows no sign of abating.
Here is Kamala Harris’ uncle on his niece’s debate performance:
US Vice President Mike Pence’s debate with Democrat Kamala Harris attracted 57.9 million TV viewers, Reuters reports, the second-highest audience ever for a matchup between vice presidential candidates, according to Nielsen data released on Thursday.The viewership figure for the Wednesday evening faceoff in Salt Lake City included people watching across 18 networks. The tally came in 56% higher than four years ago, when 37 million people tuned in to see Pence debate Democrat Tim Kaine.During the policy-heavy 90-minute event, Pence and Harris clashed over the Trump administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.Vice presidential debates typically draw smaller audiences than presidential clashes. President Donald Trump’s Sept. 29 debate with Democratic challenger Joe Biden pulled in 73 million viewers, making it the second-biggest event on U.S. television this year, after the Super Bowl.The TV viewing record for a vice presidential debate was set in 2008, when Biden debated Republican Sarah Palin. That telecast drew 69.9 million viewers.For the Pence-Harris matchup, Fox News Channel led all networks, with 11.9 million viewers.The Nielsen numbers included people watching at home and at such venues as bars and restaurants. It also included some digital viewership through televisions connected to the internet.The figures do not capture the full extent of online viewing, which has grown in popularity as traditional TV audiences decline, however. The debate was streamed live on Twitter, YouTube, network websites and other digital platforms.
In Cuba meanwhile:
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero said late on Thursday that most of the Caribbean island nation would open to international tourism starting next week as it moved towards a “new normality” after containing its coronavirus outbreak.
From Reuters: The country, which closed its borders six months ago in a bid to contain the spread of the virus, has been gradually opening up to tourism ahead of the November-March high season, first in the northern keys and then its Varadero beach resort.
Thirteen of Cuba’s sixteen provinces will now be open to tourism, Marrero told a roundtable discussion broadcast to the nation, albeit not yet the capital, Havana which only just appears to have curbed a second wave of infections with strict measures, including a curfew.International tourism is one of Cuba’s top hard currency earners, so its suspension this year has dealt a blow to the cash-strapped economy, even as the United States has continued to harden its decades-old trade embargo.“We will open the possibility of international flights for all the provinces that are in this third phase,” Marrero said, noting that all arrivals would be tested.
Cuba’s universal, community-based healthcare system has contained its outbreak and reduced mortality by hospitalising all confirmed cases, tracing and isolating their contacts and applying a raft of therapeutic treatments.Cuba has reported just 11 deaths from Covid-19 per million inhabitants, compared with 203 for the Dominican Republic and 647 for the United States, statistics from Johns Hopkins University show.
On the debate, from the Washington Post:
The United States has passed another pandemic milestone, with more than 7.6m cases now registered on the Johns Hopkins University tracker.
The US will likely have more than 8m cases by Thursday next week, when Biden hosts a Town Hall in place of the virtual debate Trump refused to agree to.
The US case total accounts for just over a fifth of the global case total.
The US death toll, at more than 212,000, accounts for over one in five deaths worldwide, too.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows held a 70-person indoor wedding for his daughter in Atlanta in May in defiance of state and municipal guidelines, the New York Times reported earlier today.
The wedding, the Times reports:
The squeeze on Britain’s beleaguered retail sector from tighter coronavirus restrictions reducing numbers of shoppers on the high street clung on into September, data showed Friday, AFP reports.
Latest figures from industry body the British Retail Consortium and analytics company ShopperTrack showed that UK retail footfall was down by 30.1% in September compared with a year earlier.
The data did show a slight month-on-month improvement in September from August - although local lockdown restrictions weighed on sentiment.
Britain began emerging in June from a nationwide lockdown that lasted almost three months.
The lockdown sparked a surge in online shopping as people shunned high streets and switched to computer screens and smartphones.
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey meanwhile warned Thursday that recession-mired Britain faced the prospect of an “uneven” recovery, as the government battles a second wave of rising infections with tighter restrictions and localised lockdowns.
“When you look at areas of activity in the economy that require more close social interaction, it’s no surprise that they have been the weakest to recover,” he said at an online conference.
Mexico’s health ministry on Thursday reported 5,300 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 370 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 804,488 infections and 83,096 deaths.The government has said the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.
The US state of Wisconsin has opened a field hospital to meet an alarming rising demand for care as coronavirus cases surge and overwhelm hospitals, CNN reports.
Governor Tony Evers said in a news conference earlier, “We obviously hoped this day wouldn’t come, but unfortunately, Wisconsin is in a much different and more dire place today, and our health care systems are being overwhelmed.”
Evers said in a statement that the state “is in crisis right now”:
From CNN:
Only two US states report a decline of new cases and nationwide hospitalizations are increasing. The field hospital is a stark illustration of the extensive outbreak across Wisconsin, which has pushed hospitals to the brink, led to renewed limits on public gatherings, infected US Sen. Ron Johnson and forced the NFL’s Green Bay Packers to put an “indefinite hold” on having fans at historic Lambeau Field this season.
To combat the outbreak, Gov. Evers issued an emergency order limiting public gatherings to no more than 25% of a room or building’s capacity. The state had previously allowed bars and restaurants to operate at 50% capacity.
“We’re in a crisis right now and need to immediately change our behaviour to save lives,” Evers said in a statement. “We are continuing to experience a surge in cases and many of our hospitals are overwhelmed, and I believe limiting indoor public gatherings will help slow the spread of this virus.”The order, which went into effect Thursday morning, applies to any gatherings at locations open to the public, including stores, restaurants and other businesses with public entry, according to the release.