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Coronavirus live news: Fauci says he did not agree to appear in Trump ad; Italy plans new restrictions Coronavirus live news: Fauci says he did not agree to appear in Trump ad; Italy plans new restrictions
(32 minutes later)
Top US infectious diseases expert said on Sunday he had not agreed to be featured in Trump ad; Italy moves as daily infections reach highest levels since MarchTop US infectious diseases expert said on Sunday he had not agreed to be featured in Trump ad; Italy moves as daily infections reach highest levels since March
South Korea has confirmed 97 new cases of the coronavirus, a modest uptick from the daily levels reported last week, just as officials ease social distancing restrictions after concluding that transmissions have slowed following a resurgence in mid-August.The figures released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Monday brought the national caseload to 24,703, including 433 deaths.Sixty-three of the new cases came from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, home to half of the country’s 51 million people, where health workers have struggled to track infections tied to various places and groups, including churches, hospitals, schools, workers and troops.Twenty-nine of the new cases were linked to international arrivals, including 13 passengers from Nepal, most of whom who came to South Korea for a Korean language program.South Korea relaxed its social distancing guidelines beginning Monday, allowing high-risk businesses like nightclubs and karaoke bars to open as long as they employ preventive measures, such as requiring masks and keeping lists of visitors.Spectators will also be re-allowed in professional sports, although teams will be initially allowed to only sell 30% of their seats in stadiums.
China’s Qingdao city said on Monday it will conduct Covid-19 tests for the entire population of more than 9 million people over five days after new cases appeared linked to a hospital treating imported infections, Reuters reports. The city reported six new Covid-19 cases and six asymptomatic cases as of late 11 October. Most of the cases were linked to the Qingdao Chest Hospital.The National Health Commission’s (NHC) tally of 21 confirmed Covid-19 cases in mainland China for Oct. 11 was published after Qingdao’s announcement, but did not include any confirmed infections in the city and it was not immediately clear why.The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not count as confirmed cases, rose to 32 from 23 a day earlier, the NHC said. It did not offer a breakdown on where the new asymptomatic cases were reported, though it said 29 of these cases were imported infections.
Daily Covid-19 infections in mainland China has fallen drastically from peaks early this year, but the country remains on high alert in order to prevent painful lockdowns that led to an outright contraction of the world’s No. 2 economy.Qingdao has already locked down Qingdao Chest Hospital as well as the emergency department of its central hospital. Buildings that the infected individuals live in have also been locked down as part of the virus containment measures.The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in mainland China now stands at 85,578, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,634.
In the run up to the New Zealand election this Saturday, my colleague Charlotte Graham-McLay has prepared a report card for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.In the run up to the New Zealand election this Saturday, my colleague Charlotte Graham-McLay has prepared a report card for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Here is her grade on the country’s Covid-19 response:Here is her grade on the country’s Covid-19 response:
Covid-19 responseCovid-19 response
Professor Michael Baker, a leading epidemiologist based at the University of Otago, Wellington, who has researched and advised on the Covid-19 pandemic response since JanuaryProfessor Michael Baker, a leading epidemiologist based at the University of Otago, Wellington, who has researched and advised on the Covid-19 pandemic response since January
Grade: AGrade: A
New Zealand adopted a well-communicated elimination goal and took a rapid, vigorous response to the first Covid-19 outbreak and the second one. This strategy has put New Zealand at the forefront internationally in effective pandemic management which will benefit public health and support a more rapid economic recovery than would have been the case if the virus had been allowed to circulate. However, the response could have been even better (more effective and less costly) if it had fully engaged its science community in the research and development effort and made better use of tools such as masks.New Zealand adopted a well-communicated elimination goal and took a rapid, vigorous response to the first Covid-19 outbreak and the second one. This strategy has put New Zealand at the forefront internationally in effective pandemic management which will benefit public health and support a more rapid economic recovery than would have been the case if the virus had been allowed to circulate. However, the response could have been even better (more effective and less costly) if it had fully engaged its science community in the research and development effort and made better use of tools such as masks.
Ben Thomas, a PR consultant and former National government stafferBen Thomas, a PR consultant and former National government staffer
Grade: AGrade: A
You can’t argue with results, as a procession of deposed opposition leaders have found trying to grapple with Ardern’s post-pandemic popularity. They could have gone harder, and earlier, particularly in sacking an underperforming health minister, and questions remain about where to from here, but Ardern’s personal judgment have left New Zealand well placed for now:You can’t argue with results, as a procession of deposed opposition leaders have found trying to grapple with Ardern’s post-pandemic popularity. They could have gone harder, and earlier, particularly in sacking an underperforming health minister, and questions remain about where to from here, but Ardern’s personal judgment have left New Zealand well placed for now:
The Trump administration on Sunday called on Congress to pass a stripped-down coronavirus relief bill using leftover funds from an expired small-business loan program, as negotiations on a broader package ran into resistance, Reuters reports. The administration proposal, which Democrats dismissed as inadequate, was the latest twist in on-again, off-again talks to try to secure more stimulus, as the economy struggles to recover from coronavirus-related shutdowns that threw millions of Americans out of work.In a letter to lawmakers, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of State Mark Meadows said they would continue to talk to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to try to reach agreement on a comprehensive bill.But they said Congress should “immediately vote” on legislation to enable the use of the unused Paycheck Protection Program funds, which total around $130 billion.“The all or nothing approach is an unacceptable response to the American people,” they wrote.A spokesman for Pelosi, the lead Democratic negotiator, did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.The Trump administration on Sunday called on Congress to pass a stripped-down coronavirus relief bill using leftover funds from an expired small-business loan program, as negotiations on a broader package ran into resistance, Reuters reports. The administration proposal, which Democrats dismissed as inadequate, was the latest twist in on-again, off-again talks to try to secure more stimulus, as the economy struggles to recover from coronavirus-related shutdowns that threw millions of Americans out of work.In a letter to lawmakers, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of State Mark Meadows said they would continue to talk to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to try to reach agreement on a comprehensive bill.But they said Congress should “immediately vote” on legislation to enable the use of the unused Paycheck Protection Program funds, which total around $130 billion.“The all or nothing approach is an unacceptable response to the American people,” they wrote.A spokesman for Pelosi, the lead Democratic negotiator, did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Here is the full story on a Canadian detained in China who was “astonished” to learn about the scale of the Covid pandemic:Here is the full story on a Canadian detained in China who was “astonished” to learn about the scale of the Covid pandemic:
Mexico’s Health Ministry on Sunday reported 3,175 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 139 additional fatalities, bringing the total to 817,503 cases and 83,781 deaths.The government says the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.Mexico’s Health Ministry on Sunday reported 3,175 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 139 additional fatalities, bringing the total to 817,503 cases and 83,781 deaths.The government says the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.
Mainland China reported 21 new Covid-19 cases for 11 October, matching the number of new cases a day earlier, the country’s health authority said on Monday.The National Health Commission said in a statement all of the new cases were imported infection that originated from overseas. The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not count as confirmed cases, rose to 32 from 23 a day earlier.The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Mainland China now stands at 85,578, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,634.Mainland China reported 21 new Covid-19 cases for 11 October, matching the number of new cases a day earlier, the country’s health authority said on Monday.The National Health Commission said in a statement all of the new cases were imported infection that originated from overseas. The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not count as confirmed cases, rose to 32 from 23 a day earlier.The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Mainland China now stands at 85,578, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,634.
One of the two Canadians that Ottawa says are held arbitrarily in China was “relieved” to get outside news via a virtual diplomatic visit and remains determined to come home, his wife said Sunday.One of the two Canadians that Ottawa says are held arbitrarily in China was “relieved” to get outside news via a virtual diplomatic visit and remains determined to come home, his wife said Sunday.
From AFP: Canada announced Saturday its first contact since January with Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who have been imprisoned in China for nearly two years.From AFP: Canada announced Saturday its first contact since January with Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who have been imprisoned in China for nearly two years.
After months of “extreme isolation, Michael was greatly relieved to receive news from the outside world” and of his family, Kovrig’s wife Vina Nadjibulla told the CBC.After months of “extreme isolation, Michael was greatly relieved to receive news from the outside world” and of his family, Kovrig’s wife Vina Nadjibulla told the CBC.
“We are extremely proud that despite his long confinement, Michael’s spirit, determination and even his sense of humor remain unbroken,” she said, adding that her husband was shocked to learn about the scale of the coronavirus pandemic.“We are extremely proud that despite his long confinement, Michael’s spirit, determination and even his sense of humor remain unbroken,” she said, adding that her husband was shocked to learn about the scale of the coronavirus pandemic.
Kovrig was “astonished to learn about the details of the COVID-19 pandemic and remarked that it all sounded like some ‘zombie apocalypse movie’,” Nadjibulla said.Kovrig was “astonished to learn about the details of the COVID-19 pandemic and remarked that it all sounded like some ‘zombie apocalypse movie’,” Nadjibulla said.
Canada’s ambassador to China Dominic Barton obtained “virtual consular access” to Spavor on Friday and Kovrig on Saturday, the Canadian Foreign Affairs ministry said in a statement.Canada’s ambassador to China Dominic Barton obtained “virtual consular access” to Spavor on Friday and Kovrig on Saturday, the Canadian Foreign Affairs ministry said in a statement.
Former diplomat Kovrig and consultant Spavor have been imprisoned in China since December 10, 2018. They were charged with espionage last June.Former diplomat Kovrig and consultant Spavor have been imprisoned in China since December 10, 2018. They were charged with espionage last June.
More than half of French nurses are close to burning out, according to a survey of nearly 60,000 of them published on Sunday, which found they were struggling with cancelled holidays and increased work due to coronavirus, AFP reports.More than half of French nurses are close to burning out, according to a survey of nearly 60,000 of them published on Sunday, which found they were struggling with cancelled holidays and increased work due to coronavirus, AFP reports.
The survey carried out by the national French nursing union found that 57 percent of respondents reported being in a “state of professional exhaustion”, up from 33 percent before the global Covid-19 pandemic struck France early in 2020.The survey carried out by the national French nursing union found that 57 percent of respondents reported being in a “state of professional exhaustion”, up from 33 percent before the global Covid-19 pandemic struck France early in 2020.
The findings underline the strains being felt in the healthcare sector in Europe, which came under unprecedented pressure during the first wave of infections and now faces another surge in admissions.The findings underline the strains being felt in the healthcare sector in Europe, which came under unprecedented pressure during the first wave of infections and now faces another surge in admissions.
The results are also likely to increase pressure on the centrist French government of President Emmanuel Macron, with more than a third of nurses saying their departments were understaffed compared to normal, and two thirds saying working conditions have deteriorated since the start of the pandemic.The results are also likely to increase pressure on the centrist French government of President Emmanuel Macron, with more than a third of nurses saying their departments were understaffed compared to normal, and two thirds saying working conditions have deteriorated since the start of the pandemic.
One in five nurses said they had been unable to take a holiday since March.One in five nurses said they had been unable to take a holiday since March.
“While there are 34,000 vacant nurses’ positions at this time in 2020... the degraded working conditions mean we risk seeing even more nurses throwing in the towel,” the union said in its statement.“While there are 34,000 vacant nurses’ positions at this time in 2020... the degraded working conditions mean we risk seeing even more nurses throwing in the towel,” the union said in its statement.
Britain and Kenya said Sunday they would co-host a summit next year to raise funds for children’s schooling in poorer countries, warning that the coronavirus pandemic risked depriving many millions of an education, AFP reports.Britain and Kenya said Sunday they would co-host a summit next year to raise funds for children’s schooling in poorer countries, warning that the coronavirus pandemic risked depriving many millions of an education, AFP reports.
The summit is scheduled to take place in Britain in mid-2021 under the UK’s presidency of the G7 club of developed nations, and will be co-chaired by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.The summit is scheduled to take place in Britain in mid-2021 under the UK’s presidency of the G7 club of developed nations, and will be co-chaired by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Johnson said the goal was to raise at least $5 billion for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), an initiative launched in 2002 which counts the singer Rihanna as a global ambassador.Johnson said the goal was to raise at least $5 billion for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), an initiative launched in 2002 which counts the singer Rihanna as a global ambassador.
Hi, Helen here. A reminder that you can get in touch with me on Twitter @helenrsullivan or via email” helen.sullivan@theguardian.com. News tips, questions, feedback or just saying Hi all strongly encouraged.Hi, Helen here. A reminder that you can get in touch with me on Twitter @helenrsullivan or via email” helen.sullivan@theguardian.com. News tips, questions, feedback or just saying Hi all strongly encouraged.
In more news from the Pacific: A second case of Covid-19 has been confirmed in Solomon Islands, the Pacific archipelago that had, until this month, remained Covid-free.
The first case, confirmed on 3 October, was a student who had been repatriated from the Philippines in late September. The second confirmed case is another student who was on the same flight.
The positive result emerged during a routine second round of testing of all returned students: the infected student has been moved into isolation at the National Referral Hospital.
Announcing the second case, prime minister Manasseh Sogavare said the second positive test had caused the government to suspend all other planned repatriation flights in Solomon Islands.
Sogavare said advice from the country’s health officials was the virus was still being contained within the country’s quarantine system.
“The infection has been contained and each will be managed and eradicated before the students can be released from the isolate and quarantine facility,”
“So my fellow citizens, my message to you all today is [that] the risk of community spread of this virus is still low and therefore we will not implement an immediate general lockdown,” he said.
Sogavare apologised to students still stranded in the Philippines, promising that the government would seek to bring them home as soon as possible.
Only the small and remote island nations and territories of Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu are believed to be still free of the virus.
Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett begin Monday as the US is in the grips of the coronavirus pandemic. From AP:
Republicans who control the Senate are moving at a breakneck pace to seat Barrett before the 3 November election, in time to hear a high-profile challenge to the Affordable Care Act and any election-related challenges that may follow voting.Democrats are trying in vain to delay the fast-track confirmation, raising fresh concerns about the safety of meeting as two GOP senators on the panel tested positive for Covid-19.The committee released a letter from the Architect of the Capitol on Sunday that says the hearing room has been set up in consultation with the Office of Attending Physician with appropriate distance between seats and air ventilation systems that meet or exceed industry standards.Still, California Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee who is also a committee member, plans to participate remotely from her Senate office due to coronavirus concerns, her spokesman said Sunday.Two members who have tested positive for the virus, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., have not said if they will attend in person. Lee’s spokesman said the senator is symptom-free but would be making a decision on whether to attend Monday morning, per his doctor’s orders. A spokesman for Tillis did not respond to multiple requests for comment.Harris and others said the hearings should not move forward without plans to test those attending for Covid. One Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, said “it would be smart to do that,” according to the Des Moines Register. Aside from media, few, if any, members of the public will be allowed to attend.Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York told the AP that the committee’s chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has “an obligation to be tested” for Covid-19 beforehand because he has been exposed to those with the disease.Graham told Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” that he took a test last week and is “negative.” He said, “We’re going to work safely.”
The majority of Britons plan to return to pre-lockdown levels of restaurant visits as soon as they can, ahead of looming new restrictions that could further cripple the ailing hospitality sector, a survey reveals.
Diners are also ready to turn their raised concern for the environment into action and ditch their favourite menu choices for sustainable dishes, according to research carried out by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA).
About three-quarters said they were ready to pay for food otherwise destined for the bin, with a similar proportion keen to try British versions of exotic dishes using local ingredients.
Crucially, consumers plan to return to dining out as often as they did before lockdown, once guidelines allow, the national survey reveals. More than three-quarters (76%) said they would revert to their previous habits of dining out up to four times a month:
French Polynesia’s president Edouard Fritch has tested positive for Covid-19 on returning to Tahiti from France, where he met with French prime minister Jean Castex and president Emmanuel Macron.
France is in the middle of a massive second wave of Covid-19 infections: the number of new infections jumped by a record figure in a single day - more than 26,000 - health ministry data showed on Saturday. The total number of infections is approaching three-quarters of a million, and more than 32,000 French have died.
A statement from the French Polynesian government said Fritch undertook the trip to Europe, understanding the risks, because of a number of significant issues that required negotiation with Paris, including healthcare and development initiatives, and survival shelters on Polynesia’s islands.
Fritch followed the travel protocol for Tahiti and tested negative three days before flying back.
The government said the president’s health was “not of concern”. Fritch will be isolated for the seven days recommended by health authorities while continuing to manage the country.
French Polynesia has reported 2754 confirmed cases of Covid-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic: 633 remain active.
There have been only 10 deaths, but the rate of infection is increasing exponentially in French Polynesia. There were fewer than 70 cases in mid-August but that has increased exponentially, the territory added more than 300 cases last Friday alone.
In July, French Polynesia re-opened its borders and mandatory quarantine requirements were abolished in order to revitalise tourism and revive the economy.
But a significant number of cases have been imported into the country from France, particularly by soldiers and police on rotation through the French territory.
No 10 has warned that the UK is at a “critical juncture” for controlling the spread of Covid as Boris Johnson prepares to lay out new rules that will see pubs and bars in areas with the highest infection rate forced to close.
The prime minister is expected to address the nation on Monday after a frantic weekend of discussion with local leaders from across the country.
Johnson will tell the House of Commons that areas in England will be graded in three tiers as medium, high and very high risk as the government struggles to suppress the virus in the north-west England and parts of the Midlands and north-east England and central Scotland.
In a move that is meant to underline the gravity of the situation that the UK faces, Johnson will on Monday evening front a televised Downing Street press conference with the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, and England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty. A public data briefing will also be held by health officials including the country’s deputy chief medical officer, Jonathan Van Tam, who on Sunday said the UK is at a ‘tipping point”:
Australian scientists have found that the virus that causes Covid-19 can survive for up to 28 days on surfaces such as the glass on mobile phones, stainless steel, vinyl and paper banknotes.
The national science agency, the CSIRO, said the research undertaken at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) in Geelong also found that Sars-CoV-2 survived longer at lower temperatures.
It said in a statement the virus survived longer on paper banknotes than on plastic banknotes and lasted longer on smooth surfaces rather than porous surfaces such as cotton:
Here is the full story on Dr Fauci saying his words were used out of context in the Trump campaign ad:
Trump tweeted late on Sunday that “They are indeed Dr. Fauci’s own words. We have done a “phenomenal job”. He did not say that Fauci had agreed to be featured.
Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh also defended the ad in a statement on Sunday, saying the words from Fauci “are accurate, and directly from Dr. Fauci’s mouth.“As Dr. Fauci recently testified in the Senate, President Trump took the virus seriously from the beginning, acted quickly, and saved lives,” Murtaugh’s statement added.
Top US infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Sunday he had not agreed to be featured in an ad by President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign and that his comments were taken out of context.The ad, released last week, discusses Trump’s effort to recover from the coronavirus personally, as well as his administration’s work to address the pandemic. The 30-second spot uses older remarks from Fauci in a way that suggests he was praising the president.“I can’t imagine that anybody could be doing more,” the ad shows Fauci saying.But those remarks are from a March interview, where Fauci, who has been director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) since 1984, was discussing the broader effort, including by the White House coronavirus task force.“In my nearly five decades of public service, I have never publicly endorsed any political candidate,” Fauci said in a statement.“The comments attributed to me without my permission in the GOP campaign ad were taken out of context from a broad statement I made months ago about the efforts of federal public health officials,” his statement added.
Hello and welcome to today’s live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
My name is Helen Sullivan and this is where you want to be for global Covid news as well as White House outbreak news. For Australia updates, see our dedicated blog here.
The best way tp get in touch with me is on Twitter @helenrsullivan – send tips, questions, feedback or just say Hi.
Top US infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Sunday he had not agreed to be featured in an ad by President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign and that his comments were taken out of context. More on that in a moment.
Meanwhile Italy is preparing new restrictions as daily infections surpassed 5,000 in recent days for the first time since March. Deaths linked to the virus, however, are far lower than at the peak of the pandemic in spring. Health minister Roberto Speranza said he had proposed a nationwide ban on private parties, while Rome would also target opening hours for bars and restaurants.
The UK has reported an additional 12,872 infections and 65 deaths – down from 15,166 and 81, respectively, on Saturday. However, figures are usually lower on Sundays due to weekend reporting delays.
Israel has opened a new coronavirus treatment centre co-run by the army’s medical corps, as the country deals with one of the world’s highest daily infection rates per capita.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sunday reported 53,363 cases from its previous count, and said that the number of deaths had risen by 577 to 213,614. The US case total stands at 7,694,865 coronavirus cases.
Twitter has flagged a tweet by Donald Trump suggesting he has coronavirus immunity as misleading.
Greece announced 280 new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday, along with 13 deaths – the highest number of daily fatalities recorded in the country since the pandemic began.
Iran registered 251 deaths in 24 hours – its highest daily toll. The health ministry said the total number of identified cases had risen above 500,000.
Russia suffered its worst day yet for new infections. Moscow reported 13,634 new cases in 24 hours; the worst such figure since the pandemic began.
India’s confirmed coronavirus toll crossed 7 million on Sunday with a number of new cases dipping in recent weeks.