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Covid live: Brazil health minister who shook hands with maskless Boris Johnson at UN tests positive Covid live: Brazil health minister who shook hands with maskless Boris Johnson at UN tests positive
(32 minutes later)
Marcelo Quiroga tests positive at UN general assembly in New York; Australia tourism minister says on track to reopen borders ‘by Christmas’Marcelo Quiroga tests positive at UN general assembly in New York; Australia tourism minister says on track to reopen borders ‘by Christmas’
The UK has announced plans for a “vaccine swap” with South Korea. The UK will send over 1m doses of its Pfizer/BioNTech stockpile to South Korea in the coming weeks as the country attempts to fully vaccinate 70% of its population by the end of October.
Brazil’s health minister Marcelo Queiroga shook hands with maskless British prime minister Boris Johnson at the UN before testing positive for Covid. Marcelo Queiroga, who sat close to Johnson and the UK foreign secretary Liz Truss on Monday during their meeting with Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro, confirmed his positive test on Twitter alongside a picture of himself wearing a mask. He was also filmed shaking hands with Johnson.
A no-fly zone has been declared over Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city, amid a third day of anti-lockdown protests. Police asked the aviation authority to declare the no-fly zone for operational and safety reasons.
Australia’s tourism minister said the country is on track to reopen its borders “by Christmas at the latest”. Dan Tehan said on Wednesday during a National Press Club of Australia talk: “I do empathise with the Australians who have been denied the opportunity to travel overseas this year.”
The UK environment secretary George Eustice says the UK will pay “tens of millions” to support a CO2 producer as the country struggles with the ongoing energy crisis. He said it is going to cost the UK “many millions, possibly tens of millions” over the next three weeks.
That’s it from me for today. Handing over now to my colleague Tom Ambrose. Thanks for reading!
With little work for taxi drivers in Thailand amid the pandemic, a Bangkok cab company has transformed its cars into mini vegetable gardens to provide food for workers.
The Ratchapruek Taxi Cooperative has been forced to take hundreds of cars off the road in the last year as a result of Covid, reports Reuters, leaving many drivers without enough money to pay for the lease on their vehicles.
The cooperative has been trying to help drivers by growing vegetables on the roofs and bonnets of 300 of its unused cabs to help feed drivers and their families.
“We discussed among each other and decided to grow vegetables to eat because there is no use for these taxis,” said Thapakorn Asawalertkul, a business consultant for the company. “They have become just metal as they’ve been parking for over a year now.”
Thailand has recorded over 1.5m Covid cases and 15,600 deaths, 99% of which have been since April 2021. Only 21% of people are vaccinated.
The UK government has said it is working as “quickly as possible” to remove the requirement for PCR testing for international travellers.The UK government has said it is working as “quickly as possible” to remove the requirement for PCR testing for international travellers.
The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, told a transport committee hearing today that while he did not have a precise date for when it would be lifted he said his colleagues at the department of health are “aware of half term” when families might want to go on holiday.The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, told a transport committee hearing today that while he did not have a precise date for when it would be lifted he said his colleagues at the department of health are “aware of half term” when families might want to go on holiday.
He said:He said:
He added:He added:
For UK politics news, please follow Andrew Sparrow’s live blog which is now up and running:For UK politics news, please follow Andrew Sparrow’s live blog which is now up and running:
The UK government has announced plans for a “vaccine swap” with South Korea.The UK government has announced plans for a “vaccine swap” with South Korea.
The UK will send over 1m doses of its Pfizer/BioNTech stockpile to South Korea in the coming weeks as the country attempts to fully vaccinate 70% of its population by the end of October.The UK will send over 1m doses of its Pfizer/BioNTech stockpile to South Korea in the coming weeks as the country attempts to fully vaccinate 70% of its population by the end of October.
South Korea will then return the same volume of doses back to the UK by the end of this year.South Korea will then return the same volume of doses back to the UK by the end of this year.
The UK has previously announced a similar deal with Australia.The UK has previously announced a similar deal with Australia.
The health secretary, Sajid Javid, said:The health secretary, Sajid Javid, said:
Marcelo Queiroga was reportedly staying at the same New York hotel as Joe Biden. And after shaking hands with the Brazilian health minister maskless on Monday, the British prime minister Boris Johnson went to the White House on Tuesday to meet the US president.Marcelo Queiroga was reportedly staying at the same New York hotel as Joe Biden. And after shaking hands with the Brazilian health minister maskless on Monday, the British prime minister Boris Johnson went to the White House on Tuesday to meet the US president.
More pictures from the meeting including Brazil’s health minister Marcelo Queiroga, who has tested positive for coronavirus, and the maskless UK prime minister Boris Johnson:More pictures from the meeting including Brazil’s health minister Marcelo Queiroga, who has tested positive for coronavirus, and the maskless UK prime minister Boris Johnson:
Russia has recorded 817 deaths and 19,706 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, reports Reuters.Russia has recorded 817 deaths and 19,706 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, reports Reuters.
The UK’s refusal to recognise Covishield, the Indian-made version of the AstraZeneca vaccine (see 06:47), has prompted outrage in India, reports the BBC.The UK’s refusal to recognise Covishield, the Indian-made version of the AstraZeneca vaccine (see 06:47), has prompted outrage in India, reports the BBC.
More than 721m doses of the vaccine have been administered so far, making it India’s most used vaccine.More than 721m doses of the vaccine have been administered so far, making it India’s most used vaccine.
The UK recently announced new rules - to come into force on 4 October - that allow fully vaccinated travellers from some countries not to self-isolate. But it did not include India.The UK recently announced new rules - to come into force on 4 October - that allow fully vaccinated travellers from some countries not to self-isolate. But it did not include India.
India has branded the move “discriminatory” and called on the UK to drop the requirement for fully-vaccinated Indians to self-isolate for 10 days.India has branded the move “discriminatory” and called on the UK to drop the requirement for fully-vaccinated Indians to self-isolate for 10 days.
India’s foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla reportedly said the issue has been taken up with UK foreign secretary Liz Truss and warned India might take “reciprocal measures”.India’s foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla reportedly said the issue has been taken up with UK foreign secretary Liz Truss and warned India might take “reciprocal measures”.
Shringla said it is “a discriminatory policy and does impact our citizens travelling to the UK.Shringla said it is “a discriminatory policy and does impact our citizens travelling to the UK.
More on Brazil’s health minister Marcelo Queiroga testing positive for coronavirus in New York (see 06:25) from Tom Phillips, the Guardian’s Latin America correspondent:More on Brazil’s health minister Marcelo Queiroga testing positive for coronavirus in New York (see 06:25) from Tom Phillips, the Guardian’s Latin America correspondent:
Twenty four hours after meeting with a mask-less Boris Johnson in New York, Brazil’s health minister has announced he has tested positive for Covid and gone into isolation.Twenty four hours after meeting with a mask-less Boris Johnson in New York, Brazil’s health minister has announced he has tested positive for Covid and gone into isolation.
Marcelo Queiroga, who sat close to Johnson and the foreign secretary Liz Truss on Monday during their meeting with Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro, confirmed his positive test on Twitter alongside a picture of himself wearing a mask. Queiroga, 55, was filmed shaking hands with Johnson and patting the prime minister on the arm during Monday’s meeting at the consulate general’s house in New York.Marcelo Queiroga, who sat close to Johnson and the foreign secretary Liz Truss on Monday during their meeting with Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro, confirmed his positive test on Twitter alongside a picture of himself wearing a mask. Queiroga, 55, was filmed shaking hands with Johnson and patting the prime minister on the arm during Monday’s meeting at the consulate general’s house in New York.
Despite Bolsonaro publicly claiming not to have been vaccinated against Covid, Johnson and other members of the British delegation were not wearing masks, although Queiroga was.Despite Bolsonaro publicly claiming not to have been vaccinated against Covid, Johnson and other members of the British delegation were not wearing masks, although Queiroga was.
Hours later Queiroga was caught on camera making obscene hand gestures to Brazilian protesters who had taken to the streets to denounce Bolsonaro’s anti-scientific handling of a Covid outbreak that has killed nearly 600,000 Brazilians.Brazil has reportedly cancelled its participation in the UN general assembly after Queiroga’s positive test - the second Covid case detected in the South American country’s delegation in recent days.Hours later Queiroga was caught on camera making obscene hand gestures to Brazilian protesters who had taken to the streets to denounce Bolsonaro’s anti-scientific handling of a Covid outbreak that has killed nearly 600,000 Brazilians.Brazil has reportedly cancelled its participation in the UN general assembly after Queiroga’s positive test - the second Covid case detected in the South American country’s delegation in recent days.
A no-fly zone has been declared over Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city, amid a third day of anti-lockdown protests.A no-fly zone has been declared over Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city, amid a third day of anti-lockdown protests.
Police asked the aviation authority to declare the no-fly zone for operational and safety reasons, reports Reuters.Police asked the aviation authority to declare the no-fly zone for operational and safety reasons, reports Reuters.
Groups of protesters roamed the streets and gathered at a city landmark, the Shrine of Remembrance, on Wednesday, despite being urged to remain at home.Groups of protesters roamed the streets and gathered at a city landmark, the Shrine of Remembrance, on Wednesday, despite being urged to remain at home.
“This is a very dynamic situation,” police media official Belinda Batty told the news agency, but did not say how many people had been arrested.“This is a very dynamic situation,” police media official Belinda Batty told the news agency, but did not say how many people had been arrested.
It comes as the city appeared to have escaped widespread damage and with no injuries after being shaken by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake.It comes as the city appeared to have escaped widespread damage and with no injuries after being shaken by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake.
Close to 40 million people in Russia have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus, reports Reuters.
Authorities in the country, which has a population of 146 million, have said they are aiming to reach 80% immunity by November.
Australian tourism minister Dan Tehan also said “there is light at the end of the tunnel” for the industry. When 80% of the country is vaccinated, he said outbound travel will resume and people will be able to travel freely.
He said he hopes home quarantine will also be introduced in the lead-up to Christmas – rather than requiring people to quarantine in hotels.
Australia’s tourism minister said the country is on track to reopen its borders “by Christmas at the latest”, reports CNN.
Dan Tehan said on Wednesday during a National Press Club of Australia talk: “I do empathise with the Australians who have been denied the opportunity to travel overseas this year.”
He added: “It’s another reason why everyone should get vaccinated and we have to stick to the national plan that will see our international border open up – at this rate by Christmas at the latest.”
In-person fashion shows have returned to Milan for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
At Milan fashion week, 43 of the 65 shows will have a physical audience and many of the parties are back, reports AFP.
However, audiences will be required to show either proof of vaccination or a negative test and to wear face masks. Many of the buyers and journalists were not able to attend as a result of travel restrictions and capacity has been restricted.
Carlo Capasa, chairman of the CNMI, Italy’s national Fashion chamber, said the shows “mark a moment of rebirth”.
Turkey, Egypt and the Maldives are among eight countries to be removed from the UK’s travel “red list” today.
From 4am on Wednesday, Kenya, Oman, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were also removed.
The UK environment secretary George Eustice says the UK will pay “tens of millions” to support a CO2 producer as the country struggles with the ongoing energy crisis.
He told Sky News it is going to cost the UK “many millions, possibly tens of millions” over the next three weeks.
He said there is a “lot of turbulence” in the market following the pandemic as countries come out of lockdown.
If we the government did not act, he said some of the poultry processing plants would have to close.
He said:
He added:
He claimed there had been a “perfect storm” created by two plants in the UK and Norway shutting for maintenance as CF Industries, which supplies much of the CO2 used in food production, suspended operations in two factories as a result of high energy costs.
New births in the US are rebounding after a decline during the pandemic, a report suggests.
In December 2020, births in the US were down by 7.7% on the previous year and by 9/4% in January 2021 compared with the January before, reports the Associated Press.
But according to a report released on Tuesday by the US Census Bureau, births hardly declined in March – down by only 0.15% compared with the previous year.
“This trend suggests that some people who postponed having babies last year had them this year,” said Anne Morse, a Census Bureau demographer on the report.
“The winter decrease in births may have been prompted by couples who consciously chose to delay having children amid the uncertainty of the pandemic. It may also have been influenced by stress or limited physical interaction with a sexual partner.”
It comes after the US centres for disease control and prevention (CDC) reported in May that the US birth rate dropped 4% last year – the most sizeable single-year drop in nearly half a century.
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India’s foreign minister on Tuesday urged Britain to remove a rule requiring Indians visiting there to quarantine even if they are fully vaccinated, Reuters reports. India’s Covishield vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and manufactured in India by Pune-based Serum Institute, is not recognised by Britain under new rules despite being identical to the doses given to millions of Britons.The rules, that come into effect next month, have caused anger, with many Indians branding the decision as discriminatory. Britons vaccinated in the UK with the same Indian-made doses are not required to quarantine.They could also lead to a retaliation from New Delhi, with Indian government sources saying it was likely to take reciprocal steps if the issue is not quickly resolved.“Urged early resolution of quarantine issue in mutual interest,” foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in a tweet after a meeting with his British counterpart Liz Truss in New York, where both are attending the United Nations general assembly.The British high commission (embassy) in New Delhi said the UK was working with India to resolve the issue.“We are engaging with the government of India to explore how we could expand UK recognition of vaccine certification to people vaccinated by a relevant public health body in India,” a spokesperson said.
Brazil’s health minister tested positive for Covid in New York after president Jair Bolsonaro spoke at the UN general assembly on Tuesday.Brazil’s government said in a statement that Marcelo Quiroga was in good health and would remain in isolation in the US. He got his first shot of coronavirus vaccine in January.Other members of Brazil’s government in New York tested negative for the virus, the statement said.Earlier on Tuesday, Bolsonaro spoke at the general assembly, flouting the requirement for all attendees to be vaccinated against the virus.
Bolsonaro has said several times over the last week that he remains unvaccinated. He said getting a shot is a personal, medical decision. He contracted Covid last year. Queiroga was photographed side by side with Bolsonaro on several occasions this week. Tuesday morning he tweeted a picture with first lady Michele Bolsonaro.Queiroga had breakfast Monday with several employees of investment funds in New York.
Hello and welcome to today’s live coronavirus coverage.
Brazil’s health minister tested positive for Covid in New York after president Jair Bolsonaro spoke at the UN general assembly on Tuesday. Brazil’s government said in a statement that Marcelo Quiroga was in good health and would remain in isolation in the US. He got his first shot of coronavirus vaccine in January.
India’s foreign minister on Tuesday urged Britain to remove a rule requiring Indians visiting there to quarantine even if they are fully vaccinated.
Here are the other key recent developments:
Cambridge University in England has reported that 96% of 12,000 students said that they had received a Covid-19 vaccination, or intended to get one, before arriving in the city for the new academic year.
About 20% of workers in Nigeria have lost their jobs as a result of Covid-19.
US president Joe Biden is betting on millions more rapid, at-home tests to help curb the latest deadly wave of the Covid-19 pandemic
The United Nations secretary general, António Guterres, described the world as getting an “F in ethics” over global vaccine distribution as he spoke at the UN general assembly on Tuesday. He said the inequitable distribution of Covid-19 vaccines is an “obscenity”.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has warned that uneven vaccine distribution globally is affecting economic recovery from the pandemic.
The mass take-up of the UK’s NHS app in order to use the Covid Pass feature has led to a surge in people registering their organ donation preference.
Long Covid patients told a UK parliamentary committee that they are “struggling’” to get help on the NHS.
The EU is expected to accept the NHS Covid pass as proof of vaccination across the union within days.