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.
Coronavirus live news: US delays easing of land border restrictions; Japan to rule on allowing fans at Olympics
Coronavirus live: 10,000 domestic fans to be allowed in Tokyo Olympics venues; US delays easing of land border restrictions
(32 minutes later)
Reports suggest Tokyo 2020 organisers will allow 10,000 fans; New Zealand approves Pfizer vaccine for 12-15 year olds; US borders with Canada and Mexico to remain closed to non-essential travel until 21 July
Tokyo 2020 organisers will allow 10,000 domestic fans in venues; New Zealand approves Pfizer vaccine for 12-15 year olds; US borders with Canada and Mexico to remain closed to non-essential travel until 21 July
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, has told Times Radio that hospital admissions are “slowly rising” but are nothing like the rates seen during previous waves. PA report him saying:
Olympic organizers have announced that they will allow domestic spectators at this summer’s Tokyo Games. However attendance is capped at 10,000 people or 50 percent of a venue’s capacity, whichever is smaller.
There is a warning though that this could change if the pandemic situation in Japan worsens before the Games start on 23 July.
Organizers say they have sold tickets for an average of 42 percent of venue capacity, but that will be distributed unevenly among the venues. It is unclear how access will now be allocated.
The Euro 2020 tournament had a similar issue, with ticket-holders for matches in limited capacity venues facing a second ticket ballot for access.
Shortages of Pfizer vaccines are expected to slow Australia’s rollout through June and July, as states and territories call on the commonwealth to sign up more GPs to dispense doses when supplies increase in August.
National cabinet met on Monday to discuss Australia’s vaccine rollout in the wake of updated health advice that AstraZeneca is not the preferred vaccine for those aged 50 and over due to the risk of rare blood clots.
At the meeting, the head of the rollout, lieutenant general John Frewen, gave states and territories projections of the maximum and minimum number of vaccines they will be allocated. The aged care minister Richard Colbeck is expected to table the figures at the Senate’s Covid-19 inquiry on Monday evening.
Read more of Paul Karp’s report: Australia’s vaccine rollout ‘constrained’ by Pfizer supply shortages until August
An Israeli health official has urged more 12- to 15-year-olds to be vaccinated against Covid, citing new outbreaks that he attributed to the more infectious Delta variant.
Reuters report the health ministry will probably issue a recommendation that 12- to 15-year-olds get vaccinated, having previously left the matter up to the parents’ preference, said Nachman Ash, the national pandemic response coordinator.
“I think that would certainly be correct at this stage, when we see an outbreak of the Delta variant in the country,” he told a Tel Aviv radio station. “We should not wait for higher numbers. We have seen there were quite a few children infected over the last week.”
Andrew Sparrow has launched our UK Covid and politics live blog for the day. I’ll be continuing here with global coronavirus news.
Reuters bring the latest numbers from Russia: 17,378 new Covid cases were reported for Monday, and the government coronavirus task force said 440 people had died of coronavirus-linked causes in the previous 24 hours
Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, has told Times Radio that hospital admissions are “slowly rising” but are nothing like the rates seen during previous waves. PA Media reports him saying:
Hong Kong has announced a dramatic shortening of hotel quarantine to seven days for arrivals, planned for the end of the month. Chief executive Carrie Lam said it was time to “appropriately reopen” borders to places which were similar in situation to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has announced a dramatic shortening of hotel quarantine to seven days for arrivals, planned for the end of the month. Chief executive Carrie Lam said it was time to “appropriately reopen” borders to places which were similar in situation to Hong Kong.
Currently Hong Kong has one of the longest quarantine periods in the world, of 21 days. Lam said the shortened quarantine requirements would be given to people who are fully vaccinated, who receive a negative test on departure and have a positive antibody test on arrival.
Hong Kong has one of the longest quarantine periods in the world, of 21 days. Lam said the shortened quarantine requirements would be given to people who are fully vaccinated, who receive a negative test on departure and have a positive antibody test on arrival.
She expected the new measures would be in place at the end of this month for Hong Kong residents leaving Hong Kong and then returning. This group can also obtain an antibody test before departure which would be valid for three months. The next stage - for international travellers, would hopefully begin a month after that, Lam said.
She expected the new measures would be in place at the end of this month for Hong Kong residents leaving Hong Kong and then returning. This group can also obtain an antibody test before departure which would be valid for three months. The next stage – for international travellers, would hopefully begin a month after that, Lam said.
From Thursday there will also be a new round of social distancing measures, reducing mask wearing in some situations for fully vaccinated people, and increasing capacity in venues if more people are vaccinated. Lam said the new measures “would still not please everyone” with some thinking they were still stringent.
From Thursday, there will also be a new round of social distancing measures, reducing mask wearing in some situations for fully vaccinated people, and increasing capacity in venues if more people are vaccinated. Lam said the new measures “would still not please everyone” with some thinking they were still stringent.
Four months since the start of Hong Kong’s vaccination program, fewer than 30% of people were vaccinated. This was not satisfactory, Lam said.
Four months since the start of Hong Kong’s vaccination programme, fewer than 30% of people were vaccinated. This was not satisfactory, Lam said.
UK health secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed the government is working on a booster jab programme and should have clinical data in the next few weeks.
UK health secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed the government is working on a booster jab programme and should have clinical data in the next few weeks.
He told BBC Breakfast that second jabs offer very strong protection “but there is more protection still that we think that you can get from a booster jab and we’re currently trialling which combinations of jabs are the most effective”.
He told BBC Breakfast that second jabs offer very strong protection “but there is more protection still that we think that you can get from a booster jab and we’re currently trialling which combinations of jabs are the most effective”.
“When we know the results of that, then we will set out the full plans for the booster programme over the autumn,” PA report him saying.
“When we know the results of that, then we will set out the full plans for the booster programme over the autumn,” PA Media reports him saying.
“We’ve got to make sure we get the logistics right; for instance, GPs have been so heavily involved in this vaccination effort, but GPs have also got to do their day job, so that’s something we’re working hard on now, and, in the next few weeks, when we get the clinical data through on what’s the most effective combinations to have... then we’ll set out all the details of the booster programme for the autumn.”
“We’ve got to make sure we get the logistics right; for instance, GPs have been so heavily involved in this vaccination effort, but GPs have also got to do their day job, so that’s something we’re working hard on now, and, in the next few weeks, when we get the clinical data through on what’s the most effective combinations to have … then we’ll set out all the details of the booster programme for the autumn.”
There’s just a quick quote here dropped on the wires from International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. He has told reporters, ahead of going into a meeting to discuss whether spectators will be allowed at the Tokyo Olympics, that well above 80% of the athletes and officials residing in the Olympic village will be vaccinated by the time the Games start on 23 July.
There’s a quick quote here dropped on the wires from the International Olympic Committee president, Thomas Bach. He has told reporters, ahead of going into a meeting to discuss whether spectators will be allowed at the Tokyo Olympics, that well above 80% of the athletes and officials residing in the Olympic village will be vaccinated by the time the Games start on 23 July.
Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, has been quizzed on the BBC this morning about what plans are being made for a booster shot regime in the UK. PA report these comments from him:
Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, has been quizzed on the BBC this morning about what plans are being made for a booster shot regime in the UK. PA report these comments from him:
The number of Zimbabweans in extreme poverty has reached 7.9 million as the pandemic has delivered another economic shock to the country.
The number of Zimbabweans in extreme poverty has reached 7.9 million as the pandemic has delivered another economic shock to the country.
According to the World Bank’s economic and social update report, almost half of Zimbabwe’s population fell into extreme poverty between 2011 and last year, with children bearing the brunt of the misery.
According to the World Bank’s economic and social update report, almost half of Zimbabwe’s population fell into extreme poverty between 2011 and last year, with children bearing the brunt of the misery.
“The number of extreme poor is expected to remain at 7.9 million in 2021 amid continued elevated prices, and a slow recovery of jobs and wages in the formal and informal sectors,” according to the report.
“The number of extreme poor is expected to remain at 7.9 million in 2021 amid continued elevated prices, and a slow recovery of jobs and wages in the formal and informal sectors,” according to the report.
The pandemic added 1.3 million Zimbabweans to the numbers of extreme poor as jobs and income were lost in urban areas. As Zimbabweans struggled with successive lockdowns, 1.4 million people went without staple foods.
The pandemic added 1.3 million Zimbabweans to the numbers of extreme poor as jobs and income were lost in urban areas. As Zimbabweans struggled with successive lockdowns, 1.4 million people went without staple foods.
Read more of Nyasha Chingono’s report from Harare: Half of Zimbabweans fell into extreme poverty during Covid
Read more of Nyasha Chingono’s report from Harare: Half of Zimbabweans fell into extreme poverty during Covid
There’s been a bit of to and fro in the UK over the last couple of days over the Scottish Government’s decision to implement a ban on people entering the nation from certain parts of England. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham had called for compensation for those affected.
There’s been a bit of to and fro in the UK over the last couple of days over the Scottish Government’s decision to implement a ban on people entering the nation from certain parts of England. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham had called for compensation for those affected.
Deputy First Minister for Scotland John Swinney has been on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme this morning, and PA quote him saying:
Deputy First Minister for Scotland John Swinney has been on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme this morning, and PA quote him saying:
Changes in India’s vaccination programme come into effect today, with every adult now eligible for a free vaccine paid for by the federal government. This ends a complex system of buying and distributing vaccines that overburdened states and created inequities in who got the shots.
Changes in India’s vaccination programme come into effect today, with every adult now eligible for a free vaccine paid for by the federal government. This ends a complex system of buying and distributing vaccines that overburdened states and created inequities in who got the shots.
The lagging vaccination drive, marred by delays and shortages, prompted the revised strategy.
The lagging vaccination drive, marred by delays and shortages, prompted the revised strategy.
Previously, states and the private sector had to procure jabs themselves and provide them to younger adults. Now, the federal government will procure 75% of all vaccines directly from manufacturers and provide them to the states for free. The remaining 25% will be purchased by the private sector.
Previously, states and the private sector had to procure jabs themselves and provide them to younger adults. Now, the federal government will procure 75% of all vaccines directly from manufacturers and provide them to the states for free. The remaining 25% will be purchased by the private sector.
Associated Press report that more cities and states are easing restrictions. Starting today, parks, restaurants and bars can open in New Delhi with some restrictions on capacity and timings. The southern state of Telangana has lifted its lockdown, while neighboring Karnataka state eased restrictions in 16 more districts.
Associated Press report that more cities and states are easing restrictions. Starting today, parks, restaurants and bars can open in New Delhi with some restrictions on capacity and timings. The southern state of Telangana has lifted its lockdown, while neighboring Karnataka state eased restrictions in 16 more districts.
In Australia, the premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian, has said Sydney’s mask mandate will likely be extended beyond Wednesday, after it recorded two new local cases of Covid-19.
In Australia, the premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian, has said Sydney’s mask mandate will likely be extended beyond Wednesday, after it recorded two new local cases of Covid-19.
The two new cases were recorded after 8pm on Sunday, meaning they will be recorded in Tuesday’s numbers. Two separate cases were also reported which had already been announced on Sunday.
The two new cases were recorded after 8pm on Sunday, meaning they will be recorded in Tuesday’s numbers. Two separate cases were also reported which had already been announced on Sunday.
“Whilst this isn’t a bad outcome, our level of concern is still there,” the NSW premier said.
“Whilst this isn’t a bad outcome, our level of concern is still there,” the NSW premier said.
She said people in Sydney and surrounding areas would likely need to continue wearing masks after Wednesday.
She said people in Sydney and surrounding areas would likely need to continue wearing masks after Wednesday.
“Given the situation we are in and given we don’t want to see further restrictions imposed more broadly across our city and our state, in all likelihood, the existing settings we have in place will continue beyond the five days,” Berejiklian said.
“Given the situation we are in and given we don’t want to see further restrictions imposed more broadly across our city and our state, in all likelihood, the existing settings we have in place will continue beyond the five days,” Berejiklian said.
Asked if she expected more restrictions would be needed, NSW’s chief health officer, Kerry Chant said authorities were “just watching every new case that comes in” and monitoring for unlinked cases and new exposure venues.
Asked if she expected more restrictions would be needed, NSW’s chief health officer, Kerry Chant said authorities were “just watching every new case that comes in” and monitoring for unlinked cases and new exposure venues.
Read more of Luke Henriques-Gomes’ report here: Sydney’s mask mandate ‘likely’ to be extended as NSW records two new Covid cases
Read more of Luke Henriques-Gomes’ report here: Sydney’s mask mandate ‘likely’ to be extended as NSW records two new Covid cases
It is business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng who is doing the morning media round for the government in the UK, and he has told Sky News it is “unlikely” that coronavirus restrictions in England will be lifted before 19 July.
Boris Johnson had promised there would be a review of restrictions after two weeks. PA Media reports Kwarteng told Sky News he did not expect that to lead to an earlier relaxation of the current measures.
“I would always err on the side of caution and I would look to 19 July. It could be before but I think that is unlikely. Generally we have stuck to the dates we have set,” he said.
Last week, the UK government delayed reopening from 21 June to 19 July.
The latest here from Reuters on the situation in China’s most populous province of Guangdong. The major manufacturing hub of Dongguan has launched mass testing today for Covid and cordoned off communities after detecting its first infections in the current outbreak.
The Delta variant has dominated infections in the provincial upsurge, the first time it has hit China. Dongguan launched the citywide testing programme on Monday, following two cases reported since last Friday. City authorities told residents not to leave, except for essential reasons. Even then, those leaving must show negative test results within 48 hours of departure.
The southern province of Guangdong, which is close to Hong Kong and Macau, has reported 168 confirmed infections since 21 May, with nearly 90% of them in its capital, Guangzhou.
Taiwan has reported its first day with fewer than 100 new cases for the first time since 14 May. After more than year of living relatively Covid-free, the island is battling its biggest outbreak of the pandemic, which began in late April.
The central epidemic command centre said today there were 38 new cases in New Taipei, 22 in Taipei, and 14 spread across other counties. There is the usual caveat that Mondays often produce lower numbers due to less testing over the weekend, but this is a good sign.
An additional 20 deaths were recorded, of whom 11 started showing symptoms in May, with an average of 17 days between onset of symptoms and death, local media reported.
1.56 million people have received at least one dose of a vaccine so far, including more than 21,000 over the weekend.
In a welcome surprise to Taiwanese people on Sunday, the US tripled its pledged donation of vaccines, and delivered 2.5m doses of Moderna. Taiwan has now received more than 5m doses for its population of 23.5 million.
The ministry of labour has also announced new regulations for companies which employ migrant workers, including temperature and health monitoring, and better organising and spacing of people who live in dorms.
This comes weeks after major concerns were raised about the treatment of migrant workers during this outbreak, with harsh restrictions – including confining people to dorms outside of work hours – which were not applied to their Taiwanese coworkers who were free to move around under the level 3 restrictions applied to the whole of Taiwan.
Myanmar has reported what is believed to be its highest daily increase in Covid cases since the February coup, as concerns grow over the country’s collapsed health system and the junta’s continued crackdown on medics.
Myanmar’s Covid response was plunged into chaos when the military seized power on 1 February, detaining the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
State hospitals are barely functioning, and a growing humanitarian crisis is unfolding across areas such as Kayah state, where the UN estimates a total of 100,000 people have been displaced by conflict.
Fears of a further wave of Covid cases have mounted over recent months, as new, more transmissible variants have spread in neighbouring countries such as India and Thailand. More than 3,000 people in Myanmar died during a previous outbreak in the country.
On Monday, state media announced that 546 new Covid infections and seven fatalities had been registered on 19 June, which is thought to be the highest increase since 1 February. It is not clear how many tests are being carried out, or how many people have been vaccinated.
Joy Singhal, Myanmar head of delegation at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, described the increase as deeply alarming. “It’s confirming our worries that the virus is spreading fast now that the more contagious and dangerous variants are being identified in various parts of the country,” Singhal said.
Read more of Rebecca Ratcliffe’s report here: Myanmar reports highest Covid numbers since coup as concerns over health system grow
The idea that the pandemic sent a vast new wave of UK young adult “boomerangers” moving back to live in the parental home is a myth, a study has found.
A spate of media articles in the last few months have suggested that the arrival of Covid-19, followed by lockdowns, persuaded many twentysomethings to return to the supposed comfort and space of the family home to regroup.
However, a survey by the Resolution Foundation suggests that if anything the proportion of 18- to 34-year-olds living with their parents is slightly lower than it was before the pandemic.
“At the start of the crisis, many people expected an army of ‘boomerang’ millennials to return to their ‘boomer’ parents’ homes. But in fact, a year on from the onset of the crisis, young people are no more likely to live with their parents than pre-Covid,” said Maja Gustafsson, an economist at the Resolution Foundation.
The study did confirm, however, previous research findings that the proportion of those living at home for at least some of their 20s and early-30s has increased significantly over the past two decades and now appears to be a permanent feature of UK society.
One of the main reasons why the proportion of boomerangers did not increase, said Gustafsson, was that many of those young adults most affected economically by the pandemic had already moved back in with their parents before Covid hit.
Read more here: No increase in young adults living with parents after Covid, UK study finds
Good morning, it is Martin Belam here in London. The NHS in England has said that more than 1m Covid-19 jabs were booked in just two days after the NHS opened its vaccination programme to all remaining adults.
NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: “It is fantastic to see so many young people coming forward to play their part, protecting themselves, their friends and their family – nearly 9 million people in their 20s and 30s have now had their first dose.”
The NHS has now administered about 62m doses of vaccine, with the UK government’s dashboard claiming that 81.6% of the adult population have received one dose, with 59.5% of adults having had two doses.
Data up to 20 June suggests that the number of positive cases in the UK has risen 31.1% in the last seven days, with hospitalisations rising by nearly 40%, with 1,413 patients being admitted in the last week.
New Zealand is approving the Pfizer vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds, prime minister Jacinda Ardern has announced.
The move follows Canada, the US, Europe, and Japan, all of whom have approved Pfizer for the 12-15 age cohort.
Ardern said while children were less likely to suffer serious illness from Covid-19, there were cases of children getting sick, and they could also transmit the virus. “Put simply – when our children are vaccinated, their teachers, friends, siblings, parents and grandparents are more protected from the virus too. So it’s in all of our interests for this group to get the vaccine,” Ardern said.
The country’s medical regulator, Medsafe, had completed its assessment and provided “provisional consent”, meaning Pfizer must meet conditions including supplying more data from clinical trials as they progress.
“Medsafe’s approval has been a very carefully considered and robust process, with safety the key priority,” Ardern said.
She said there were about 265,000 children in the age bracket, and New Zealand’s existing order contained enough doses to cover the group.
Medsafe approval is the first and most significant step toward vaccination for children, but the move will still need final sign-off from the ministry of health. A decision from the ministry is expected later this month, and 12- to 15-year-olds would not be vaccinated before then.
New Zealand is still in the early stages of its vaccine rollout, with about 7.7% of the adult population vaccinated. The rollout has so far focused on targeting specific vulnerable groups, including border workers and their families, high-risk frontline workers, older people, and those with pre-existing conditions.
The vaccine rollout for the general adult population is due to start in July, and will be staggered by age group, reaching under-35s in October.
US land borders with Canada and Mexico will remain closed to non-essential travel until at least 21 July, the US Homeland Security Department said on Sunday.The 30-day extension came after Canada announced its own extension on Friday of the requirements that were set to expire on Monday and have been in place since March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The US government held working-group meetings with Canada and Mexico last week.Homeland Security said in a statement it noted “positive developments in recent weeks and is participating with other US agencies in the White House’s expert working groups with Canada and Mexico to identify the conditions under which restrictions may be eased safely and sustainably.”
Tokyo Olympics organisers and Japanese officials meet Monday to decide whether fans will be allowed at the pandemic-postponed Games, just weeks before they open.
AFP: With the opening ceremony looming on 23 July, organisers are scrambling to finalise preparations, but the decision on spectators has been left as late as possible.
Overseas spectators have already been banned, in an Olympic first that reflects the difficulties of staging the Games during the pandemic.
A coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo was lifted only on Sunday, and restrictions in place until 11 July cap crowd capacity at 5,000 people or 50% capacity, whichever is smaller.
After 11 July, that will rise to 10,000 people or 50% capacity, whichever is smaller.
Senior medical experts, including top advisers to the government, have said holding the Games behind closed doors would be “ideal” from a health perspective.
They fear crowds of fans could fuel a new surge in infections in a country still racing to vaccinate its residents.
But reports suggest organisers are leaning towards allowing in up to 10,000 fans, a figure that could swell to 20,000 at the opening ceremony, with foreign dignitaries and sponsors allowed to attend.
The ruling is expected on Monday afternoon, after five-way talks between Tokyo 2020 organisers and officials from Japan’s government, the Tokyo government, the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee.
Hello and welcome to today’s live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic with me, Helen Sullivan.
US land borders with Canada and Mexico will remain closed to non-essential travel until at least 21 July, the US Homeland Security Department said on Sunday.
And Tokyo Olympics organisers and Japanese officials meet Monday to decide whether fans will be allowed at the pandemic-postponed Games, just weeks before they open.
More on these stories shortly. In the meantime, here are the other key recent developments:
Mandatory mask-wearing outdoors is being lifted and an eight-month nightly coronavirus curfew is ending in France today. The unpopular curfew has been scrapped just in time to coincide with elections in France in which the government faces pressure from a resurgent far right.
The UK is moving towards a situation where people who have been double-vaccinated could be exempt from quarantine, Public Health England’s chief Covid-19 adviser has said. Dr Susan Hopkins, one of the key government advisers on the response to the pandemic, said a decision would be made after the results of a study that uses daily lateral flow tests as an alternative to isolation for 10 days after coming into contact with a positive case.
More than half of the new Covid-19 cases being reported in the Lisbon region are of the more infectious Delta coronavirus variant, preliminary data showed on Sunday. Ricardo Jorge, from the national health institute, said the Delta variant represented more than 60% of cases in the Lisbon area though still less than 15% in the northern half of Portugal.
With Covid vaccination penetration in the US likely to fall short of Joe Biden’s 70% by Fourth of July target, pandemic analysts are warning that vaccine incentives are losing traction and that “two Americas” may emerge as the aggressive Delta variant becomes the dominant US strain.
A member of Uganda’s Olympic team has tested positive for coronavirus and was barred entry into Japan, in the first detected infection among athletes arriving for the Tokyo Games, due to open in five weeks. The athletes, who arrived on Saturday night at Tokyo’s Narita airport, were all fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca and had negative PCR tests before boarding, the Asahi newspaper reported.
Thousands of Brazilians returned to the streets on Saturday in protest against the response of Jair Bolsonaro’s administration to the pandemic, which has killed close on half a million people in the country – the most after the US. On the second day of demonstrations in less than a month, the anti-Bolsonaro mobilisation is gaining momentum amid an ascendant curve of Covid-19 infections, while only 11% of 212 million Brazilians have been fully vaccinated, according to local media.
