This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/oct/27/coronavirus-live-news-we-cannot-give-up-warns-who-chief-protests-flare-in-italy

The article has changed 41 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
Coronavirus live news: 'We cannot give up' warns WHO chief; protests flare in Italy Coronavirus live news: 'We cannot give up' warns WHO chief; protests flare in Italy
(32 minutes later)
Protests against Covid restrictions turn violent in Milan and Turin; US deaths up 10%; Pope to celebrate Christmas without congregation. Follow the latest updatesProtests against Covid restrictions turn violent in Milan and Turin; US deaths up 10%; Pope to celebrate Christmas without congregation. Follow the latest updates
Police in Italy have fired tear gas to disperse angry crowds in the northern cities of Turin and Milan after protests against the latest round of anti-coronavirus restrictions flared into violence.
As the head of the World Health Organization urged countries “not to give up” in their fight to contain the virus, luxury goods shops, including a Gucci fashion shop, were ransacked in the centre of Turin as crowds of youths took to the streets after nightfall, letting off firecrackers and lighting coloured flares.
Police responded with volleys of tear gas as they tried to disperse the crowds and there were also clashes in Milan, the capital of the neighbouring Lombardy region, an area that has borne the brunt of the Covid-19 epidemic in Italy.
“Freedom, freedom, freedom,” crowds chanted as they confronted police in the city centre:
Antibodies against the coronavirus declined rapidly in the British population in summer, a study found on Tuesday, suggesting protection after infection may not be long-lasting and raising the prospect of waning immunity in the community, Reuters reports. Although virus immunity is a complex and murky topic and may be assisted by T cells, as well as B cells that can stimulate swift production of antibodies following virus re-exposure, the researchers said the experience of other coronaviruses suggested immunity might not be enduring.Those confirmed by a gold standard PCR test to have Covid-19 had a less pronounced decline in antibodies, versus those who were asymptomatic and unaware of their original infection. The findings from scientists at Imperial College London, released as a pre-print paper, have not yet been peer-reviewed.
Hundreds of anti-restriction protestors gathered in Barcelona on Monday evening, Catalan News reports, to evoice their frustration with Covid-restrictions from the Spanish and Catalan governments, including a curfew from 10pm-6pm in Catalonia which started on Sunday:
Tumbling numbers of pregnancies and marriages in Japan during the coronavirus pandemic are likely to intensify a demographic crisis in the rapidly ageing nation, Reuters reports. Japan has the most aged society in the world, with more than 35% of its population expected to be 65 and over by 2050, a trend that poses risks for economic growth and straining government finances.“I reckon the spread of the coronavirus is having many people worried about getting pregnant, giving births and rearing babies,” Tetsushi Sakamoto, minister in charge of responses to Japan’s declining birthrates, told a news conference on Friday.Recently published official data showed the number of notified pregnancies in the three months to July fell 11.4% from a year earlier, while the number of marriages over the same period dropped 36.9%. The sharp decline in marriages matters because the majority of babies in Japan are born in wedlock.Tumbling numbers of pregnancies and marriages in Japan during the coronavirus pandemic are likely to intensify a demographic crisis in the rapidly ageing nation, Reuters reports. Japan has the most aged society in the world, with more than 35% of its population expected to be 65 and over by 2050, a trend that poses risks for economic growth and straining government finances.“I reckon the spread of the coronavirus is having many people worried about getting pregnant, giving births and rearing babies,” Tetsushi Sakamoto, minister in charge of responses to Japan’s declining birthrates, told a news conference on Friday.Recently published official data showed the number of notified pregnancies in the three months to July fell 11.4% from a year earlier, while the number of marriages over the same period dropped 36.9%. The sharp decline in marriages matters because the majority of babies in Japan are born in wedlock.
The US Trump administration will this week announce a plan to cover out-of-pocket costs of Covid-19 vaccines for millions of Americans who receive Medicare or Medicaid, Politico reported late on Monday, citing four people with knowledge of the plan.According to the plans, Medicare and Medicaid will now cover vaccines that receive emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. The changes are expected to be announced on Tuesday or Wednesday by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the report added.The planned rule will also address other Covid-19 related issues like expanding flexibility for Medicaid patients seeking care for the coronavirus, Politico reported.CMS did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular working hours.The US Trump administration will this week announce a plan to cover out-of-pocket costs of Covid-19 vaccines for millions of Americans who receive Medicare or Medicaid, Politico reported late on Monday, citing four people with knowledge of the plan.According to the plans, Medicare and Medicaid will now cover vaccines that receive emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. The changes are expected to be announced on Tuesday or Wednesday by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the report added.The planned rule will also address other Covid-19 related issues like expanding flexibility for Medicaid patients seeking care for the coronavirus, Politico reported.CMS did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular working hours.
Long-term exposure to air pollution may be linked to 15% of Covid-19 deaths globally, according to research published Tuesday that highlights the health risks posed by greenhouse gas emissions.Long-term exposure to air pollution may be linked to 15% of Covid-19 deaths globally, according to research published Tuesday that highlights the health risks posed by greenhouse gas emissions.
AFP: previous research has showed how air pollution from exhaust fumes and factories takes two years off the life expectancy of every man, woman and child on Earth.AFP: previous research has showed how air pollution from exhaust fumes and factories takes two years off the life expectancy of every man, woman and child on Earth.
Now experts in Germany and Cyprus say they have estimated the proportion of deaths from coronavirus that can be blamed of the exacerbating effects of air pollution.Now experts in Germany and Cyprus say they have estimated the proportion of deaths from coronavirus that can be blamed of the exacerbating effects of air pollution.
Their study, published in the journal Cardiovascular Research, drew on health and disease data from the US and China relating to air pollution, Covid-19 and SARS - a serious lung disease similar to Covid.Their study, published in the journal Cardiovascular Research, drew on health and disease data from the US and China relating to air pollution, Covid-19 and SARS - a serious lung disease similar to Covid.
They combined this with satellite data of global exposure to particulate matter - microscopic particles - as well as ground-based pollution monitoring networks, to calculate to what extent air pollution can be blamed for Covid-19 deaths.They combined this with satellite data of global exposure to particulate matter - microscopic particles - as well as ground-based pollution monitoring networks, to calculate to what extent air pollution can be blamed for Covid-19 deaths.
In East Asia, which has some of the highest levels of harmful pollution on the planet, the authors found that 27% of Covid-19 deaths could be attributed to the health effects of poor air quality.In East Asia, which has some of the highest levels of harmful pollution on the planet, the authors found that 27% of Covid-19 deaths could be attributed to the health effects of poor air quality.
In Europe the proportion was 19%, compared with 17% in North America.In Europe the proportion was 19%, compared with 17% in North America.
Wild vampire bats socially distance when they are sick, a new study suggests. Scientists had previously seen this behaviour in lab conditions, but wanted to find out if it occurred in the wild.PA media reports that the researchers captured 31 adult female vampire bats from a hollow tree in Lamanai, Belize. The team injected half the bats with lipopolysaccharide, an immune-challenging substance, to make them sick while the other half received saline injections.Wild vampire bats socially distance when they are sick, a new study suggests. Scientists had previously seen this behaviour in lab conditions, but wanted to find out if it occurred in the wild.PA media reports that the researchers captured 31 adult female vampire bats from a hollow tree in Lamanai, Belize. The team injected half the bats with lipopolysaccharide, an immune-challenging substance, to make them sick while the other half received saline injections.
The researchers then glued proximity sensors to the bats and released them back into their tree.The researchers then glued proximity sensors to the bats and released them back into their tree.
The team tracked changes over time in the associations among the 16 sick bats and 15 control bats.The researchers found that the animals that were ill spent less time near others, associated with fewer group mates and were less socially connected to those that were healthy.The study, published in Behavioural Ecology, found that in the six hours after injection, a sick bat associated on average with four fewer associates than a bat that had been injected with saline.The team tracked changes over time in the associations among the 16 sick bats and 15 control bats.The researchers found that the animals that were ill spent less time near others, associated with fewer group mates and were less socially connected to those that were healthy.The study, published in Behavioural Ecology, found that in the six hours after injection, a sick bat associated on average with four fewer associates than a bat that had been injected with saline.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 11,409 to 449,275, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Tuesday.The reported death toll rose by 42 to 10,098, the tally showed.The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 11,409 to 449,275, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Tuesday.The reported death toll rose by 42 to 10,098, the tally showed.
Angela Merkel has reportedly warned colleagues on Monday that Germany is on the verge of losing control of its fight against the coronavirus. In an indication of the growing concern, Merkel brought forward a meeting on additional coronavirus restrictions with the leaders of Germany’s 16 states from Friday to Wednesday.Angela Merkel has reportedly warned colleagues on Monday that Germany is on the verge of losing control of its fight against the coronavirus. In an indication of the growing concern, Merkel brought forward a meeting on additional coronavirus restrictions with the leaders of Germany’s 16 states from Friday to Wednesday.
New Zealand farmers are so desperate for workers that they are offering unlimited supplies of free meat, milk, honey and firewood to tempt employees onto remote properties.New Zealand farmers are so desperate for workers that they are offering unlimited supplies of free meat, milk, honey and firewood to tempt employees onto remote properties.
The prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, ordered the closure of her country’s borders in mid-March, sparing New Zealand the worst of Covid-19.The prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, ordered the closure of her country’s borders in mid-March, sparing New Zealand the worst of Covid-19.
Despite being hailed as a global success story for fighting and managing the disease, the hard border shutdown and multiple lockdowns have taken a toll on the economy, with the country now officially in recession after the economy contracted 12%.Despite being hailed as a global success story for fighting and managing the disease, the hard border shutdown and multiple lockdowns have taken a toll on the economy, with the country now officially in recession after the economy contracted 12%.
With a population of just 5 million, many New Zealand industries are heavily reliant on migrant labour, including in tourism, horticulture and farming:With a population of just 5 million, many New Zealand industries are heavily reliant on migrant labour, including in tourism, horticulture and farming:
A little more about Demon Slayer:A little more about Demon Slayer:
Fans of the franchise include the chief cabinet secretary, Katsunobu Kato, who mentioned the movie at a recent press briefing, according to Bloomberg. “In the midst of the pandemic, the record box-office has contributed greatly to the movie industry,” he told reporters, adding that he had watched some of the TV series.Based on a manga series by Koyoharu Gotoge that appeared in 2016, the film is set in Japan around 100 years ago and centres on an adolescent boy who fights human-eating demons after his family is slaughtered and his younger sister is turned into a demon.The manga, which was later turned into a TV series that aired last year, has sold over 100 million copies in Japan, has been translated into 14 languages and is available in 33 countries, according to publisher Shueisha.Anticipation is growing that the Haruo Sotozaki-directed film will overtake Miyazaki’s Spirited Away - which went on to amass ticket sales of ¥ 30.8bn - to become the highest-grossing Japanese movie ever.Aniplex said English-dubbed and subtitled versions are due for release in North America early next year.Fans of the franchise include the chief cabinet secretary, Katsunobu Kato, who mentioned the movie at a recent press briefing, according to Bloomberg. “In the midst of the pandemic, the record box-office has contributed greatly to the movie industry,” he told reporters, adding that he had watched some of the TV series.Based on a manga series by Koyoharu Gotoge that appeared in 2016, the film is set in Japan around 100 years ago and centres on an adolescent boy who fights human-eating demons after his family is slaughtered and his younger sister is turned into a demon.The manga, which was later turned into a TV series that aired last year, has sold over 100 million copies in Japan, has been translated into 14 languages and is available in 33 countries, according to publisher Shueisha.Anticipation is growing that the Haruo Sotozaki-directed film will overtake Miyazaki’s Spirited Away - which went on to amass ticket sales of ¥ 30.8bn - to become the highest-grossing Japanese movie ever.Aniplex said English-dubbed and subtitled versions are due for release in North America early next year.
Not even a global pandemic has been able to deter people in Japan from flocking to cinemas. Demon Slayer, an anime based on a popular manga and TV series, has set a new record after it generated ticket sales of ¥10.75bn ($102.48 million) in its first 10 days, according to the film’s distributor.No film in Japan has ever achieved ¥10bn in ticket sales in such a short space of time, with the previous record-holder, Hayao Miyazaki’s 2001 animated film Spirited Away, taking 25 days to reach the milestone. By Monday, 7.98m people had seen Demon Slayer at 403 cinemas, according to co-distributors Aniplex and Toho.Not even a global pandemic has been able to deter people in Japan from flocking to cinemas. Demon Slayer, an anime based on a popular manga and TV series, has set a new record after it generated ticket sales of ¥10.75bn ($102.48 million) in its first 10 days, according to the film’s distributor.No film in Japan has ever achieved ¥10bn in ticket sales in such a short space of time, with the previous record-holder, Hayao Miyazaki’s 2001 animated film Spirited Away, taking 25 days to reach the milestone. By Monday, 7.98m people had seen Demon Slayer at 403 cinemas, according to co-distributors Aniplex and Toho.
Cinemas were closed during Japan’s seven-week state of emergency, but audiences are rediscovering their appetite for big-screen entertainment after they were permitted to fill all their seats from 19 September.Japan continues to report several hundred coronavirus cases a day but has avoided an explosion in infectionsand the large number of deaths seen in the US, Britain, Brazil and other countries.As of Monday, Japan had recorded 98,331 cases and 1,741 deaths, according to a tally by public broadcaster NHK.Cinemas were closed during Japan’s seven-week state of emergency, but audiences are rediscovering their appetite for big-screen entertainment after they were permitted to fill all their seats from 19 September.Japan continues to report several hundred coronavirus cases a day but has avoided an explosion in infectionsand the large number of deaths seen in the US, Britain, Brazil and other countries.As of Monday, Japan had recorded 98,331 cases and 1,741 deaths, according to a tally by public broadcaster NHK.
US election 2020 podcast: are Democrats taking black voters for granted in Wisconsin?US election 2020 podcast: are Democrats taking black voters for granted in Wisconsin?
The Guardian US reporter Kenya Evelyn grew up in Milwaukee, in the swing state of Wisconsin. She recently returned to see how this year’s pandemic, recession and Black Lives Matter protests are shifting the city’s politics:The Guardian US reporter Kenya Evelyn grew up in Milwaukee, in the swing state of Wisconsin. She recently returned to see how this year’s pandemic, recession and Black Lives Matter protests are shifting the city’s politics:
In very nice news that stems at least partially from free time created by the coronavirus pandemic:In very nice news that stems at least partially from free time created by the coronavirus pandemic:
Kazakhstan, the home country of the fictional Borat Sagdiyev, has adopted the brash, moustachioed character’s catchphrase – “Very nice!” – for a new tourism campaign.Kazakhstan, the home country of the fictional Borat Sagdiyev, has adopted the brash, moustachioed character’s catchphrase – “Very nice!” – for a new tourism campaign.
The idea for the campaign came from American Dennis Keen, who travelled to the country on a high school exchange, then studied with a Kazakh professor at Stanford University. He now lives in Almaty, where he gives walking tours.The idea for the campaign came from American Dennis Keen, who travelled to the country on a high school exchange, then studied with a Kazakh professor at Stanford University. He now lives in Almaty, where he gives walking tours.
With a lot of time on his hands due to the coronavirus pandemic, he and a friend pitched the idea to the Kazakh tourism board and “immediately” got the go-ahead to make four 12-second ads:With a lot of time on his hands due to the coronavirus pandemic, he and a friend pitched the idea to the Kazakh tourism board and “immediately” got the go-ahead to make four 12-second ads:
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday he would favour a government-to-government deal for the purchase of coronavirus vaccines to prevent the risk of corruption, Reuters reports. “Let me tell everybody that we will not beg, we will pay,” Duterte said in a weekly televised address. “To the Chinese government, you need not look for partners, we can make it government-to-government.”The Philippines has the second-highest number of Covid-19 infections and deaths in Southeast Asia behind Indonesia.Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday he would favour a government-to-government deal for the purchase of coronavirus vaccines to prevent the risk of corruption, Reuters reports. “Let me tell everybody that we will not beg, we will pay,” Duterte said in a weekly televised address. “To the Chinese government, you need not look for partners, we can make it government-to-government.”The Philippines has the second-highest number of Covid-19 infections and deaths in Southeast Asia behind Indonesia.
The US supreme court has sided with Republicans to prevent Wisconsin from counting mail-in ballots that are received after election day.The US supreme court has sided with Republicans to prevent Wisconsin from counting mail-in ballots that are received after election day.
In a 5-3 ruling, the justices on Monday refused to reinstate a lower court order that called for mailed ballots to be counted if they are received up to six days after the 3 November election. A federal appeals court had already put that order on hold.In a 5-3 ruling, the justices on Monday refused to reinstate a lower court order that called for mailed ballots to be counted if they are received up to six days after the 3 November election. A federal appeals court had already put that order on hold.
The ruling awards a victory for Republicans in their crusade against expanding voting rights and access. It also came just moments before the Republican-controlled Senate voted to confirm Amy Coney Barrett, a victory for the right that locks in a conservative majority on the nation’s highest court for years to come.The ruling awards a victory for Republicans in their crusade against expanding voting rights and access. It also came just moments before the Republican-controlled Senate voted to confirm Amy Coney Barrett, a victory for the right that locks in a conservative majority on the nation’s highest court for years to come.
“As the Covid pandemic rages, the court has failed to adequately protect the nation’s voters,” Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent that noted the state allowed the six-day extension for primary voting in April and that roughly 80,000 ballots were received after the day of the primary election:“As the Covid pandemic rages, the court has failed to adequately protect the nation’s voters,” Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent that noted the state allowed the six-day extension for primary voting in April and that roughly 80,000 ballots were received after the day of the primary election:
Mainland China reported 16 new confirmed Covid-19 cases on Oct. 26, down from 20 a day earlier, the country’s health authorities said on Tuesday.The number of new asymptomatic cases also fell to 50, from 161 reported a day earlier amid a fresh wave of symptomless infections being reported in the northwestern Xinjiang region.Xinjiang’s authorities said separately that 26 new asymptomatic cases were reported on Oct. 26, down from 137 a day earlier.China does not classify asymptomatic infections as confirmed Covid-19 cases. The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in mainland China now stands at 85,826, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,634.Mainland China reported 16 new confirmed Covid-19 cases on Oct. 26, down from 20 a day earlier, the country’s health authorities said on Tuesday.The number of new asymptomatic cases also fell to 50, from 161 reported a day earlier amid a fresh wave of symptomless infections being reported in the northwestern Xinjiang region.Xinjiang’s authorities said separately that 26 new asymptomatic cases were reported on Oct. 26, down from 137 a day earlier.China does not classify asymptomatic infections as confirmed Covid-19 cases. The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in mainland China now stands at 85,826, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,634.