Coronavirus pandemic - World News

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Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who took his fourth coronavirus test on Monday after developing Covid-19 symptoms, has tested positive for the virus.

Mr Bolsonaro has repeatedly played down the risks posed by the virus, calling it "a little flu" and saying that he would not be seriously affected by it.

He has also urged regional governors to ease lockdowns, which he says hurt the economy, and on Monday he watered down regulations on wearing face masks.

As of Monday, the number of deaths in Brazil was over 65,000 and infections were over 1.6m, second only to the United States.

Brazil's Bolsonaro, sick with coronavirus, says he is 'doing very well'

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Wednesday he was “doing very well” after contracting the coronavirus, and credited an unproven drug for his mild symptoms.

Bolsonaro tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, joining a small list of world leaders who have caught the disease. But the diagnosis looks to have done little to alter the 65-year-old former army captain’s view of the illness, which he has dismissed in the past as just “a little flu.”

On Tuesday evening, Bolsonaro said he was already feeling much better as he took what he described as his third dose of hydroxychloroquine.

There is little scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of the anti-malarial to treat COVID-19 but Bolsonaro, like U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, has trumpeted it as a potential cure.

“To those who root against hydroxychloroquine but don’t present alternatives, I hate to say I’m doing very well using it and, thank God, I will still live much longer,” Bolsonaro wrote in a Twitter post on Wednesday.

The president’s public agenda showed four video conferences with senior government officials, including Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo.

With 1.6 million confirmed cases, Brazil has the worst coronavirus outbreak outside the United States. The virus has killed more than 66,000 people in Latin America’s largest country.

Bolsonaro’s handling of the crisis has drawn criticism from public health experts as he fought state and city efforts to impose social distancing, arguing that the economic damage would be worse than the disease itself.

He has fired two health ministers during the pandemic, both trained doctors, and replaced them with an active-duty army general on an interim basis.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...irus-says-he-is-doing-very-well-idUSKBN2492G7

 

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Philippines records 2,539 cases, biggest single-day increase

The Philippines' health ministry on Wednesday reported 2,539 new coronavirus cases, marking the biggest single-day increase in confirmed infections, and five additional deaths.

The ministry said total deaths have increased to 1,314 while infections have reached 50,359, a fifth of which were confirmed in the past five days.

The government has warned it might tighten anew the world's longest lockdown to contain the spread of the virus.

 

[The Viper]

France reports 32 more coronavirus deaths, total at 29,965

The number of deaths in France from the new coronavirus has risen by 32 from the previous day to stand at 29,965, Reuters quoted the country’s health department as saying on Wednesday.

That figure is almost twice as high as the daily average of 18 seen over the last seven days. In June, France counted 34 additional deaths every day on average, in May 143 and in April 695.

France has the sixth-largest death toll in the world.

 

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Canada handled the novel coronavirus outbreak better than many of its allies, including the United States, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday, in a rare public comment on the faltering US effort.

Canada - with a population one-tenth the size of the US - has so far recorded 8,711 deaths and 106,167 positive cases and Trudeau said the situation was stabilising, although some hot spots remained.

In contrast, the US has recorded more than three million cases and 131,336 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Authorities have reported alarming upswings of daily caseloads in roughly two dozen states over the past two weeks.

"We were able to control the virus better than many of our allies, particularly including our neighbour," Trudeau told a briefing, saying Canada's success would help efforts to restart the economy.

Canada and the US have blocked nonessential travel between the two nations since March and are discussing whether to extend the ban when it expires on July 21. Canadian health officials said the death toll could hit 8,900 by mid-month.

Deputy chief public health officer Howard Njoo said the outbreak was largely under control, while stressing measures such as contact tracing and quarantine would still be essential.

"If we relax too much or too soon, the epidemic will most likely rebound, with explosive growth as a distinct possibility," he told a separate news conference.

Although Trudeau's relations with US President Donald Trump have been good over the last 18 months, he skipped a Washington meeting on Wednesday to herald the start of a new continental trade agreement with the US and Mexico.

Trudeau, who would have had to enter a 14-day quarantine period on his return, repeated concerns about the possible imposition of US tariffs on Canadian exports of aluminum.

Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met at the White House on Wednesday for bilateral talks and a working dinner. In Washington, DC, Lopez Obrador laid a wreath at a statue of Benito Juarez, president of Mexico from 1858 to 1872, and visited the Lincoln Memorial - two symbols of long-standing relations between Mexico and the US.Canada handled the novel coronavirus outbreak better than many of its allies, including the United States, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday, in a rare public comment on the faltering US effort.

Canada - with a population one-tenth the size of the US - has so far recorded 8,711 deaths and 106,167 positive cases and Trudeau said the situation was stabilising, although some hot spots remained.

In contrast, the US has recorded more than three million cases and 131,336 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Authorities have reported alarming upswings of daily caseloads in roughly two dozen states over the past two weeks.

"We were able to control the virus better than many of our allies, particularly including our neighbour," Trudeau told a briefing, saying Canada's success would help efforts to restart the economy.

Canada and the US have blocked nonessential travel between the two nations since March and are discussing whether to extend the ban when it expires on July 21. Canadian health officials said the death toll could hit 8,900 by mid-month.

Deputy chief public health officer Howard Njoo said the outbreak was largely under control, while stressing measures such as contact tracing and quarantine would still be essential.

"If we relax too much or too soon, the epidemic will most likely rebound, with explosive growth as a distinct possibility," he told a separate news conference.

Although Trudeau's relations with US President Donald Trump have been good over the last 18 months, he skipped a Washington meeting on Wednesday to herald the start of a new continental trade agreement with the US and Mexico.

Trudeau, who would have had to enter a 14-day quarantine period on his return, repeated concerns about the possible imposition of US tariffs on Canadian exports of aluminum.

Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met at the White House on Wednesday for bilateral talks and a working dinner. In Washington, DC, Lopez Obrador laid a wreath at a statue of Benito Juarez, president of Mexico from 1858 to 1872, and visited the Lincoln Memorial - two symbols of long-standing relations between Mexico and the US.

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/...00708171936722.html?__twitter_impression=true

 

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Charity Oxfam says 12,000 people a day could die from hunger than from the disease itself

It identified 10 countries as potential hotspots, including Yemen, DR Congo and Afghanistan

Australia's second-largest city, Melbourne, has begun a second lockdown

In the UK, public spending to tackle the crisis has risen to nearly £190bn ($150bn)

But Leicester, the first city in the UK to be put in local lockdown will not receive special financial support

The Trump administration says US schools should reopen on schedule, despite a surge in several states

Globally there are now 12 million confirmed cases and almost 549,000 deaths

 

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The Australian state of Victoria has imposed broad restrictions on nearly 5 million people, including in Melbourne, in an attempt to halt the spread of the new coronavirus.

Humanitarian group Oxfam says as many as 122 million people could go hungry this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, warning that up to 12,000 people could die each day from hunger linked to the social and economic impacts of the disease.

More than 12 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus disease, known as COVID-19, and at least 548,896 have died, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. About 6.5 million patients have recovered.

 

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Serbia mulls anti-virus rules as clashes erupt over lockdown

Serbia’s authorities are deciding what measures to impose to halt a surging spread of the new coronavirus, in the wake of two nights of clashes between police and anti-lockdown demonstrators.

Serbia's crisis team is expected to ban gatherings in the capital, Belgrade, and limit the operations of cafes and nightclubs following a huge spike in infections that they say threatens the health system.

It is not clear if officials will reintroduce a weekend curfew, the initial announcement of which triggered the violent protests in Belgrade and three other cities.

 

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Five million begin lockdown in Australian city

Five million people in Australia's second-biggest city began a new lockdown, returning to tough restrictions just weeks after they ended as Melbourne grapples with a resurgence of coronavirus cases.

Residents have been told to stay at home for six weeks after other measures to contain a spike in COVID-19 failed to prevent the virus spreading.

The state of Victoria, which announced a further 165 new cases, has been effectively sealed off in an effort to preserve the rest of Australia's success in curbing the virus.

 

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Indonesia has reported its biggest single-day rise in coronavirus cases.

The country’s case total has risen by 2,657 to 70,736.

A health ministry official said there were 58 new coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the total to 3,417.

 

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It was discovered that more than 220 people were newly infected with the new coronavirus in Tokyo on the 9th.

The number of infected people per day in Tokyo is the highest ever.

The number of infected people in Tokyo has continued to be 100 or more since this month, but yesterday was 75.

 

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Where is the virus spreading fastest?

There have now been more than 12 million confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University in the US.

But where is the virus spreading the fastest? These graphics, showing how cases are increasing in different regions, might help make sense of the numbers.

 

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Hundreds of coronavirus patients in Romania have discharged themselves from hospital after a court ruling that mandatory admittance of those with no or mild symptoms was a breach of human rights. A total of 624 patients, who tested positive for the virus, had asked to leave hospital and now risked transmitting the disease in their communities, the health minister, Nelu Tataru, said on television on Wednesday evening.

Greek authorities say they are ready to re-impose public and travel restrictions next week, warning that safety guidance for the coronavirus is being frequently flouted. Stelios Petsas, the government spokesman, said authorities were “determined to protect the majority from the frivolous few,” adding that the government was likely to announce new restrictions if needed on Monday.

The health system in El Salvador is in the brink of collapse as a result of added pressure from the coronavirus pandemic, the NGO Médecins Sans Frontières has warned. In a press release on Thursday, the international health organisation said an increasing number of people in the country were dying from Covid-19 and other illnesses at home before they could receive medical care.

Another 1.3 million Americans have filed for unemployment. While the number of new unemployment filings has decreased significantly since it peaked in April at 6 million people filing in one week, it has remained above a million each week since forced shutdowns began.

Five million people in Melbourne, Australia, have begun a new lockdown, with residents told to stay at home for six weeks as the city grapples with a resurgence of cases. The state of Victoria announced a further 165 new cases and has been effectively sealed off in an effort to preserve the rest of Australia’s success in curbing the virus.

The World Health Organization director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has said a divided planet cannot conquer the pandemic. “Together is the solution unless we want to give the advantage to the enemy, to the virus that has taken the world hostage,” he said at the agency’s Geneva headquarters.

The Serbian president, Aleksandar Vucic, accused “criminal hooligans” of driving violence in protests that have erupted in Belgrade and other cities over his government’s handling of the pandemic. The interior minister, Nebojsa Stefanovic, said 10 officers were injured during a second night of clashes in the capital.

The pandemic has killed at least 549,701 people worldwide as of 11am GMT on Thursday, according to an AFP tally based on official sources. More than 12 million cases have been registered in 196 countries and territories. The US is the hardest-hit country with 132,309 deaths, followed by Brazil on 67,964, Britain on 44,517, Italy on 34,914 and Mexico on 32,796 fatalities.

The WHO says it has launched an independent pandemic response panel headed by the former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark and former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, to provide understanding on its handling of the crisis.

The UN chief, Antonio Guterres, has urged world leaders to favour clean energy solutions as they pour money into their virus-hit economies. Governments should exit coal, stop subsidising other fossil fuels, and pressure polluting industries to clean up their act in exchange for bailing them out, the UN secretary general told an International Energy Agency conference by video link.

Bulgaria has banned football fans from stadiums and shut clubs and bars just weeks after they had reopened, as the country reported a daily record of 240 new infections.

 

[The Viper]

Brazil registers 42,619 new cases of coronavirus, 1,220 deaths

Brazil recorded 42,619 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours as well as 1,220 deaths, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.

Brazil has registered more than 1.7 million cases since the pandemic began, while cumulative deaths total 69,184, according to the ministry.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-h...of-coronavirus-1220-deaths-idUKKBN24A3AT?il=0

 

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Hong Kong is to suspend all schools amid a spike in locally-transmitted cases of Covid-19, officials confirm

Top US diseases expert Dr Anthony Fauci has said some states in the country reopened too fast

"We're in a very difficult, challenging period right now," he said

It comes as the US posted another record rise in cases of more than 65,000 in 24 hours - according to Johns Hopkins University

Singapore is holding a national election with strict safety measures in place

New Zealand's ex-PM Helen Clark, appointed to a WHO panel, says the global response has been "flat-footed"

A second South American leader, this time in Bolivia, has tested positive for the virus, following Brazil's Bolsonaro

Globally there are now 12.2 million cases and more than 550,000 deaths

 

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Russia registers 18,375 more deaths in May 2020 than previous year

Russia registered 172,914 deaths in May, up by 18,375 or 11.9 percent from the same month the previous year, data from the state statistics service Rosstat showed.

This included 12,452 deaths of people suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, Rosstat data showed. Of these, COVID-19 was registered as the primary cause of death in 7,444 cases.

 

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Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration granted provisional approval for the use of the drug remdesivir in the treatment of Covid-19, making Australia one of the first countries to authorise its use for coronavirus, after regulators in Japan, Singapore and the EU.

The Australian state of Victoria recorded 216 new cases of Covid-19 and one death, a man in his 90s who died in hospital. Some 186 of those cases are under investigation.

Meanwhile the state of New South Wales recorded seven new cases, including one of the two confirmed cases linked to the Crossroads Hotel in Casula. Three close contacts of the man who attended the Sydney pub on 3 July have also tested positive, and their results will be reflected in Sunday’s figures for NSW.

The number of daily cases in the United States hit record levels again, increasing by nearly 69,000.

Serbia announced a record Covid-19 death toll for a single day on Friday, with the prime minister, Ana Brnabic, saying the Balkan state recorded 18 fatalities and 386 new cases over 24 hours in what she described as a “dramatic increase”.

India is now the world’s third-worst affected country, based on data from Johns Hopkins University. The country has tallied 793,802 infections and more than 21,600 deaths, with cases doubling every three weeks.

 

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Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said it was not possible to shut down the country's economy despite the surge in coronavirus cases.

India's coronavirus cases surged past 800,000 with the biggest spike of 27,114 cases in the past one-day, causing multiple states to impose a lockdowns in high-risk areas.

More than 12.5 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus disease, known as COVID-19, and more than 559,000 have died, according to a tally by the Johns Hopkins University. More than 6.8 million patients have recovered.

 

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President Hassan Rouhani says economic closure is impossible as outbreak worsens

Belgium has made the wearing of masks compulsory in shops, cinemas and other indoor settings

It is understood the UK government is looking at whether to make face coverings compulsory in shops in England

The US recorded 63,643 new cases on Friday and experts fear there will soon be a spike in deaths.

India has seen another big spike in infections, rising to over 820,000

Globally the number of cases has passed 12.5 million with more than 560,000 deaths

The head of the World Health Organization has called for an aggressive approach to fight the virus

 

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61 cases among US marines in Japan

Earlier, we mentioned an outbreak among US Marines in Okinawa, Japan.

The prefectural government says 61 cases have been confirmed and two US marine bases have been put on lockdown, Kyodo news reports. An earlier statement from the Marine Corps referred to "several" cases.

In a news conference, Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki said: “We now have strong doubts that the US military has taken adequate disease prevention measures.”

He said that some people had held parties for 4 July in downtown areas and on beaches.

The Marine Corps said all of those who tested positive for the virus were in isolation, adding that the cases were in "two localised clusters".

Okinawa is home to about half of the 50,0000 US troops based in Japan.

 

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[The Viper]

Wife of Brazil's Bolsonaro, and her two daughters, test negative for coronavirus

Michelle Bolsonaro, the wife of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro who is sick with the new coronavirus, said on Saturday that she and her two daughters had tested negative for the virus.

The president announced that he had tested positive on Tuesday, and said he was quarantining while also taking the unproven drug hydroxychloroquine.

More than 1.8 million people in Brazil have tested positive for coronavirus and over 70,000 have died. Only the United States has worse statistics.

Michelle Bolsonaro, whose grandmother was rushed to hospital and intubated last week, made the announcement on Instagram. She has two daughters, one of whom she had with the president.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-h...t-negative-for-coronavirus-idUKKCN24C0OO?il=0

 

[The Viper]

Brazil sees over 1,000 new coronavirus deaths, cases top 1.8 million

Brazil, the world’s No. 2 coronavirus hotspot after the United States, recorded 1,071 new deaths from the outbreak on Saturday, with a total of 1,839,850 confirmed cases, the Health Ministry said.

Brazil has now recorded a total of 71,469 deaths, the ministry said.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-h...us-deaths-cases-top-1-8-million-idUKKCN24C0V0

 

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Russia reports 6,615 new coronavirus cases
Russia on Sunday has reported 6,615 new coronavirus cases, taking its nationwide tally of infections to 727,162.

The country's coronavirus crisis response centre said 130 people had died from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 11,335. Russia said 501,061 people have recovered from the virus.

 

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More than 230,000 cases were recorded on Sunday, the WHO says

Most new cases were in the Americas, followed by South East Asia

Mexico now has the fourth-most virus deaths, passing Italy

In England, nail bars, beauty salons, spas, and tattoo parlours can reopen today

The Palestinian Authority imposes a curfew on the West Bank

Bolivia's economy minister tests positive, days after the interim president did

Globally there have been 12.9m confirmed cases since the outbreak began, with 568,000 deaths

 

[MenInG]

Record rise in global cases - WHO

Some 230,370 new cases were recorded in 24 hours - a record daily increase, said the World Health Organization on Sunday.

Most of the new cases were in the Americas, but here's a specific breakdown of where some of the other cases were from:

Americas - 142,992
South East Asia - 33,173
Europe - 18,804
Africa - 17,884
Eastern Mediterranean - 15,361
Western Pacific - 2,156

Around 5,285 new deaths were also reported - again, with the majority of them coming from the Americas.

 

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Latest from around the world

One of Latin America's worst-hit countries, Mexico, now has the fourth-highest death toll in the world, passing Italy's total

In Europe, several Spanish regions have tightened mask restrictions. Masks are set to be compulsory in public in Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias La Rioja, Murcia and Navarra

Turning to East Asia, the governor of Tokyo said the Olympics in Japan must go ahead next year as a "symbol of world unity" in the face of the pandemic

Elsewhere in Japan, there has been a spate of infections at US military bases on the southern island of Okinawa. Japanese and US authorities say they are sharing information

Infections are on the rise in the West Bank, prompting the Palestinian Authority to impose a night-time and weekend curfew in the territory

South Africa, meanwhile, has announced restrictions to stem the spread of coronavirus. A night-time curfew and another ban on alcohol sales has been imposed

Globally, at least 9.7 million children may never return to school because of the pandemic, aid charity Save the Children has warned

 

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Global coronavirus cases rise above 13 million

(Reuters) - Global coronavirus infections passed 13 million on Monday, according to a Reuters tally, marking another milestone in the spread of the disease which has killed more than half a million people in seven months.

The first case was reported in China in early January and it took three months to reach one million cases. It has taken just five days to climb to 13 million cases from 12 million recorded on July 8.

The number of cases is around triple that of severe influenza illnesses recorded annually, according to the World Health Organization.

There have been more than 568,500 deaths linked to the coronavirus so far, within the same range as the number of yearly influenza deaths reported worldwide. The first death was reported on Jan. 10 in Wuhan, China, before infections and fatalities surged in Europe and then later in the United States.

Many hard-hit countries are easing lockdowns put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. Other places, such as the Australian city of Melbourne, are implementing a second round of shutdowns.

The Reuters tally, which is based on government reports, shows the disease is accelerating the fastest in Latin America. The Americas account for more than half the world’s infections and half the deaths.

The United States reported a daily global record of 69,070 new infections on July 10. In Brazil, 1.86 million people have tested positive, including President Jair Bolsonaro, and more than 72,000 people have died.

India, the country with the third-highest number of infections, has been contending with an average of 23,000 new infections each day since the beginning of July.

In countries with limited testing capacity, case numbers reflect only a proportion of total infections. Experts say official data likely under-represents both infections and deaths.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...rus-cases-rise-above-13-million-idUSKCN24E1KB

 

[The Viper]

Brazil registers 20,286 confirmed cases of new coronavirus, 733 deaths

Brazil recorded 20,286 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours as well as 733 deaths, the Health Ministry said on Monday.

Brazil has registered nearly 1.9 million cases since the pandemic began, while cumulative deaths total 72,833, according to the ministry.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-h...new-coronavirus-733-deaths-idUKKCN24E2WQ?il=0

 

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France awards health workers pay rises worth €8bn (£7.2bn; $9bn) after a series of protests

The number of confirmed global infections since the outbreak began passes 13m

In England, face masks will be compulsory in shops from 24 July

The UK could see about 120,000 new coronavirus deaths in a second wave of infections this winter

California reimposes restrictions on indoor activities including bars and restaurants

Singapore's economy plunges by 41% compared to the previous quarter

Hong Kong Disneyland to close less than a month after reopening, as the city reimposes distancing rules

 

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Russia coronavirus deaths reach 11,614, total cases 739,947

Russia has reported 6,248 new cases of the novel coronavirus, pushing its confirmed national tally to 739,947, the fourth largest in the world.

Officials said 175 people had died in the last 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 11,614.

 

[The Viper]

More lockdowns reimposed in Spain and India

With coronavirus outbreaks still flaring up far and wide, communities that have endured so much already during the pandemic are coming to terms with the return of lockdowns.

The Spanish region of Catalonia and the Indian state of Bihar are the latest places to reimpose restrictions after a spike in cases.

Around 160,000 residents of Lleida, a city in north-eastern Catalonia, are to be quarantined for 14 days under an order issued by authorities in the region.

The Catalan government said the rules, which needed the approval of a judge, would ban people from leaving their homes for non-essential activities.

Meanwhile in Bihar, a 16-day state-wide lockdown will be imposed by the government from 16 July.

Lleida and Bihar join a growing number of places where localised lockdowns are being announced as infections rise. They include, but are not limited to:

The state of California in the US

Bangalore, a city in southern India

Tehran, the capital of Iran

Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China

Morocco's northern city of Tangiers

Colombian capital Bogotá

Melbourne, Australia’s second-biggest city

 

[The Viper]

World round-up:

The coronavirus continues to spread across the Americas, with the US and Brazil, the world's hardest-hit countries, still cause for concern.

In the US, southern states like Florida and Texas in particular have become the new epicentres of the outbreak there. California, the most populous state, has reimposed restrictions on businesses and public spaces amid a spike of coronavirus infections.

In Latin America, there are worries that ill-equipped hospitals will not be able to cope as more infections are reported.

The Colombian capital Bogotá has joined a growing list of places where lockdowns are being reintroduced because of a surge in cases. They also include the Indian city of Bangalore, Iranian capital Tehran and Hong Kong, as well as Melbourne, Australia’s second-biggest city.

Meanwhile, in France, President Emmanuel Macron said he was in favour of making face masks compulsory in public indoor spaces to curtail the virus, adding such a measure could come into force from 1 August.

Around the world, there have been more than 13 million confirmed coronavirus cases with around 570,000 deaths.

 

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From Wednesday, the maximum gathering in Hong Kong falls from 50 to four

Dine-in restaurants must close from 6pm until 5am, while bars are closed entirely

After barely any cases in much of May and June, infections in Hong Kong have risen sharply

NZ PM Jacinda Ardern says they must prepare for new outbreaks, as the virus "explodes" globally

A US firm says it will start the final stage of human vaccine trials later this month

Globally, there have been 13.3m confirmed cases since the outbreak began, and 578,000 deaths

 

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Which countries have the most cases?

There's almost nowhere in the world now that hasn't been impacted by the virus in one way or another. But here are the countries that have been hardest hit by the virus, when ranked solely by the number of cases:

United States - 3.42m cases
Brazil - 1.92m cases
India - 906,752
Russia - 738,787
Peru - 333,867

 

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Researchers in the United States say that the first vaccine tested in the country had worked to boost patients' immune systems and is set for final testing. This is as the number of cases nationwide rose by 65,682 for a total of 3.45 million with at least 919 new deaths added to the tally of around 136,000.

The blood from seriously ill coronavirus patients on ventilators was found by researchers to be highly inflammatory and harmful to the body, the South China Morning Post reported on Wednesday, citing a study by Dutch scientists.

South Africa has surpassed the United Kingdom in its number of confirmed coronavirus cases, according to its health ministry and data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. It now has the world's eighth-highest number of confirmed cases with 298,292 and over 4,300 deaths.

More than 13.29 million people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19, 7.37 million have recovered, and more than 577,900 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The US, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Italy have recorded the most deaths.

 

[The Viper]

Argentina halts China six meat plants' exports after COVID-19 found

Argentina has temporarily suspended exports to China from six meat packing plants after cases of the novel coronavirus were found among their employees, the president of Argentina’s food quality and safety body Senasa said on Wednesday.

China, the main destination for the South American country’s beef, has been clamping down on meat imports amid concerns about infections of COVID-19, which is gripping countries around the region, including key food producers Argentina and Brazil.

Senasa chief Carlos Alberto Paz said the suspension was decided after Beijing asked the Argentine government to offer commercial security guarantees amid the pandemic.

“They are temporarily not exporting,” Paz said on the sidelines of an event in Buenos Aires, referring to the six plants out of 88 authorized to export to China.

“As soon as factories are in a position to re-export, we will give them the go-ahead once again.”

According to Argentina’s agriculture ministry, 76% of the 328,170 tonnes of bovine meat shipped from the country between January and May were destined for China. In 2019 Argentina exported nearly 634,000 tonnes of beef to China.

“They (China) asked us what guarantees we could give them so that they would have security with the products they import and we gave them those guarantees,” Paz added.

Argentina has 106,910 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with almost 2,000 fatalities. The vast majority of cases have been in and around the capital city Buenos Aires, where many of the country’s meat packing plants are located.

Argentina’s urban centres have been under lockdown against the coronavirus since March 20. The economy is expected to shrink 12% this year, according to private analysts.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-h...ports-after-covid-19-found-idUKKCN24G3BN?il=0

 

[MenInG]

Another 317 cases were confirmed in Melbourne on Thursday

Despite the city's lockdown, local officials warn "we may not have hit our peak"

In the US, a new daily record number of cases are confirmed, according to Johns Hopkins data

China announces a year-on-year increase in GDP as its economy rebounds

Argentina suspends some exports to China after outbreak at meat plant

Tokyo announced 280 cases on Thursday - a daily record

Globally, there have been 13.5m cases since the outbreak began, with 583,000 deaths

 

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More than 13.5 million people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID:19, while more than 7.5 million have recovered and more than 582,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

 

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There have now been more than 1m confirmed cases in India, and 2m in Brazil

The total in both countries has doubled in less than a month

Despite an increase in daily infections, the death rate in Brazil is largely flat

But in India, the number of people dying with Covid-19 each day is increasing

In the US, the daily total of new cases hits another record

With infections rising, Japan is now recording more daily cases than Italy

The UK, US, and Canada accuse Russian spies of targeting vaccine researchers

Globally there have been 13.8 million cases since the outbreak began, with 589,000 deaths

 

[MenInG]

Another record day of cases in Melbourne...

with 428 new infections confirmed today (all except five of which are in the city). This follows the 317 reported Thursday, and around 200 per day for a week before that for the entire state of Victoria.

Officials described the number as "disappointing", and urged residents to abide by lockdown rules. Police have issued hundreds of fines to people visiting other households and lingering outside.

"We have not turned the corner here," said chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton. He added that the next few days would be crucial to see if lockdown is working.

The rest of Australia closed its borders to Victoria to stop the virus' spread. However, around 40 cases have emerged in Sydney, in the neighbouring state where concern is growing. Officials are urgently tracking a cluster of cases centred around a pub visited by a Melbourne man.

Three more people have also died - taking Australia's death toll to 116.

 

[MenInG]

Barcelona to ban gatherings of more than 10 people

Reuters is reporting Catalonia’s regional authorities announced today they will restrict some activities in Barcelona, including asking people not to gather in groups of more than 10, to fight an increase in coronavirus cases. They have stopped short of imposing a lockdown and said the measures were meant to avoid having to do so.

 

[MenInG]

 

[The Viper]

For first time, world records 1 million coronavirus cases in 100 hours - Reuters tally

Global coronavirus infections passed 14 million on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, marking the first time there has been a surge of 1 million cases in under 100 hours.

The first case was reported in China in early January and it took three months to reach 1 million cases. It has taken just four days to climb to 14 million cases from 13 million recorded on July 13.

The United States, with more than 3.6 million confirmed cases, is still seeing huge daily jumps in its first wave of COVID-19 infections. The United States reported a daily global record of more than 77,000 new infections on Thursday, while Sweden has reported 77,281 total cases since the pandemic began.

Despite the surging cases, a cultural divide is growing in the country over wearing masks to slow the spread of the virus, a precaution routinely taken in many other nations.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his followers have resisted a full-throated endorsement of masks and have been calling for a return to normal economic activity and reopening schools despite the surging cases.

Other hard-hit countries have “flattened the curve” and are easing lockdowns put in place to slow the spread of the novel virus while others, such as the cities of Barcelona and Melbourne, are implementing a second round of local shutdowns.

The number of cases globally is around triple that of severe influenza illnesses recorded annually, according to the World Health Organization.

The pandemic has now killed more than 590,000 people in almost seven months, edging towards the upper range of yearly influenza deaths reported worldwide. The first death was reported on Jan. 10 in Wuhan, China before infections and fatalities then surged in Europe and later in the United States.

The Reuters tally, which is based on government reports, shows the disease is accelerating the fastest in the Americas, which account for more than half the world’s infections and half its deaths.

In Brazil, more than 2 million people have tested positive including President Jair Bolsonaro, and more than 76,000 people have died.

India, the only other country with more than 1 million cases, has been grappling with an average of almost 30,000 new infections each day for the last week.

Those countries were the main drivers behind the World Health Organization on Friday reporting a record one-day increase in global coronavirus cases of 237,743.

In countries with limited testing capacity, case numbers reflect only a proportion of total infections. Experts say official data likely under-represents both infections and deaths.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-h...in-100-hours-reuters-tally-idUKKCN24I2WN?il=0

 

[The Viper]

Argentina confirms highest daily coronavirus case load after easing restrictions

Argentina’s government announced on Friday it will gradually loosen a lockdown that has lasted nearly four months in and around Buenos Aires to stem the spread of coroanvirus, though it later confirmed its highest daily infection count since the pandemic began.

President Alberto Fernandez said the gradual return to normal life will happen in several stages, with the first stage lasting until Aug. 2.

In capital Buenos Aires, which has been under the tightest restrictions in the country since March 20, shops, hair salons and some professional services will re-open.

Outdoor recreation activities will also be permitted. Schools will remain closed while officials analyze options for re-opening, said Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, who joined Fernandez for the announcement from the presidential palace.

The government had come under pressure to begin reopening after facing criticism from opposition lawmakers and growing protests in the streets of Buenos Aires against the lengthy lockdown.

Later on Friday, the government reported 4,518 new cases of coronavirus, the highest daily count yet. The country now has 119,301 confirmed cases, with 2,178 deaths, according to official data, numbers that are relatively low compared to many of Argentina’s South American neighbors.

“The effort we made was very important ... We are among the countries with the fewest deaths,” Fernandez said, adding that the government could choose to tighten restrictions if infections increase again.

“We are very far from overcoming the problem. What matters to us is that the health system does not collapse,” he said.

The country went into national lockdown on March 20, with restrictions later eased in many parts of the country outside Buenos Aires. Its borders remain closed, though a ban on commercial flights is due to expire on Sept. 1.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-h...-after-easing-restrictions-idUKKCN24I2DB?il=0

 

[The Viper]

Scott Morrison asks for Australian parliament to be postponed on advice of acting chief medical officer

The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, has written to the speaker of the House of Representatives to urge the postponement of the upcoming sitting of parliament.

Morrison says the government “cannot ignore the risk to parliamentarians, their staff, the staff within the parliament, and the broader community of the ACT that holding a parliamentary sitting would create”.

 

[MenInG]

President Trump rejects mandatory masks: "I want people to have a certain freedom"

Top US infectious diseases expert Dr Anthony Fauci says everyone should use them

PM Boris Johnson gives English councils new powers to manage local outbreaks

Indian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is taken to hospital after testing positive for Covid-19

2.6 million people in Barcelona in north-east Spain are urged to stay at home for 15 days

Globally there have been 14.1 million cases since the outbreak began, with 602,657 deaths

 

[Firebat]

 

[Firebat]

More than 14 million people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19, while more than 7.8 million have recovered and more than 600,000 have died, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University.

The World Health Organization reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases, with the total rising by 237,743 in 24 hours.

 

[The Viper]

WHO reports record daily increase in global coronavirus cases for second day in a row

The World Health Organization reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases for the second day in a row, with the total rising by 259,848 in 24 hours.

The biggest increases reported on Saturday were from the United States, Brazil, India and South Africa, according to a daily report. The previous WHO record for new cases was 237,743 on Friday. Deaths rose by 7,360, the biggest one-day increase since May 10. Deaths have been averaging 4,800 a day in July, up slightly from an average of 4,600 a day in June.

Total global coronavirus cases surpassed 14 million on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, marking another milestone in the spread of the disease that has killed nearly 600,000 people in seven months. The surge means that 1 million cases were reported in under 100 hours.

The WHO reported 71,484 new cases in the United States, 45,403 in Brazil, 34,884 in India and 13,373 in South Africa.

India on Friday became the third country in the world to record more than 1 million cases of the new coronavirus, behind only the United States and Brazil. Epidemiologists say India is still likely months from hitting its peak.

Cases in Brazil crossed the 2 million mark on Thursday, doubling in less than a month and adding nearly 40,000 new cases a day. A patchwork of state and city responses has held up poorly in Brazil in the absence of a tightly coordinated policy from the federal government.

The United States, which leads with world with over 3.7 million cases, has also tried to curb the outbreak at the state and local levels with only limited success.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-h...s-cases-for-second-day-in-a-row-idUKKCN24J0T6

 

[MenInG]

The World Health Organisation reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases for the second day in a row on Saturday as the total rose by 259,848 in 24 hours.

The biggest increases were in the US, Brazil, India and South Africa, according to a daily report.

The previous WHO record for new cases was 237,743 on Friday.

Deaths rose by 7,360 - the biggest one-day increase since 10 May.

Deaths have been averaging 4,800 a day in July, up slightly from an average of 4,600 a day in June.

Total global coronavirus cases surpassed 14 million on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, marking another milestone in the spread of the disease that has killed nearly 600,000 people in seven months.

The surge means that one million cases were reported in under 100 hours.

The WHO reported 71,484 new cases in the US, 45,403 in Brazil, 34,884 in India and 13,373 in South Africa.

India became the third country in the world to record more than one million cases of the new coronavirus on Friday, behind only the US and Brazil.

Epidemiologists say India is still likely months from hitting its peak.

Cases in Brazil crossed the two million mark on Thursday, doubling in less than a month and adding nearly 40,000 new cases a day.

A patchwork of state and city responses has held up poorly in Brazil in the absence of a tightly-coordinated policy from the federal government.

The US, which leads the world with over 3.7 million cases, has also tried to curb the outbreak at state and local levels with only limited success.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...global-cases-for-second-day-in-a-row-12031579

 

[MenInG]

Australia launches investigation into security breaches in Victoria's hotel quarantine programme

Outbreaks linked to errors in the programme have seen Melbourne put back under partial lockdown

The virus is spreading in Hong Kong as fears grow of another wave in the winter months

EU leaders are meeting for a fourth day to try and agree a huge virus rescue plan

Donald Trump has dismissed Johns Hopkins data showing the US has the seventh-highest mortality rate

Globally the number of confirmed infections has risen to more than 14.4 million and deaths to 605,000

 

[MenInG]

Australia launches investigation into security breaches in Victoria's hotel quarantine programme

Outbreaks linked to errors in the programme have seen Melbourne put back under partial lockdown

The virus is spreading in Hong Kong as fears grow of another wave in the winter months

EU leaders are meeting for a fourth day to try and agree a huge virus rescue plan

Donald Trump has dismissed Johns Hopkins data showing the US has the seventh-highest mortality rate

Globally the number of confirmed infections has risen to more than 14.4 million and deaths to 605,000

 

[MenInG]

EU leaders have agreed details of a huge economic recovery fund, after four days of talks

The agreement will provide €750bn (£677bn; $859bn) in loans and grants to member states

The WHO emergencies chief Michael Ryan says they are seeing "an acceleration of disease in Africa"

A surge in South Africa could be a "precursor" for outbreaks across the continent, he says

Africa has not been as badly affected as other regions but South Africa now has 350,000 cases

Promising early research shows an Oxford University-developed vaccine triggers an immune response

More countries are bringing in rules to require people to wear masks in public places

There have been 14.6 million infections worldwide and more than 600,000 deaths

 

[The Viper]

Coronavirus: EU leaders reach recovery deal after marathon summit

EU leaders have struck a deal on a huge post-coronavirus recovery package following a fourth night of talks.

It involves €750bn (£677bn; $859bn) in grants and loans to counter the impact of the pandemic in the 27-member bloc.

The talks saw a split between nations hardest hit by the virus and so-called "frugal" members concerned about costs.

It is the biggest joint borrowing ever agreed by the EU. Summit chairman Charles Michel said it was a "pivotal moment" for Europe.

The deal centres on a €390bn programme of grants to member states hardest hit by the pandemic. Italy and Spain are expected to be the main recipients.

A further €360bn in low-interest loans will be available to members of the bloc.

The package will allow members to maintain spending in the aftermath of lockdowns that badly affected public finances.

It includes checks that the funds will not be misused. Recipients will have to submit spending plans to the European Commission, and a majority of states will be able to block projects.

The package will now face technical negotiations by members, and needs ratification by the European Parliament.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53481542

 

[MenInG]

The head of the Pan American Health Organization says the virus shows "no signs of slowing down" in the Americas

Carissa Etienne says the virus is surging in Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru

More than 300m people risk developing complications from Covid-19 because of underlying conditions, she says

President Donald Trump says the pandemic is going to get worse, and urges Americans to wear face masks

Health experts in the UK have told politicians Sars-Cov-2 virus will be with us for "decades"

The Australia state of Victoria has reported another record high number of new cases

There have been nearly 15m cases of the new virus worldwide and more than 600,000 deaths

 

[The Viper]

Global COVID-19 cases could be 12 times higher than reported

The number of coronavirus cases continues to grow around the world. More than 14 million people have now been infected globally.

But researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) say the true death toll could be 12 times higher.

 

[MenInG]

The cost of the pandemic has pushed Australia into its biggest budget deficit since World War Two

Australia has recorded a deficit of $86bn for 2019-20, and is forecasting a $184bn deficit next year

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says there are "many challenges to confront" with the unprecedented crisis

A committee of UK MPs says it is "astonished" by the government's failure to plan an economic response to the pandemic

Brazil registers more than 67,000 new cases in 24 hours, another record amount

President Trump says he wants schools to reopen and would be "comfortable" sending his young son in

Globally there have been 15 million cases of Sars-Cov-2 and more than 622,000 deaths

 

[MenInG]

Brazil has registered a record number of new coronavirus cases - more than 67,000 over the course of the past day.

The health ministry also reported almost 13,000 deaths for that period.

With more than 2.2 million confirmed infections, Brazil has the second-worst outbreak after the United States.

The virus is now affecting smaller towns and remote areas with fewer medical facilities in Brazil's huge interior, and indigenous groups are among those increasingly affected.

One prominent leader - Aritana Yawalapiti of the Upper Xingu people - fell ill at the weekend and underwent a 24-hour journey to hospital.

 

[The Viper]

Australia reports highest coronavirus deaths in 3 months, infections climb

Australia reported its highest daily number of coronavirus-related deaths in three months as new infections continued to climb in its second-most populous state.

Victoria state said it had confirmed another 403 infections, while five people had died from the virus in the last 24 hours.

The fatalities, including a man in his 50s, mark the country's biggest one-day rise in COVID-19 deaths since late April.

 

[The Viper]

Tokyo announces 366 cases, breaking one day record

Tokyo confirmed a one-day record of 366 coronavirus cases on Thursday.

The city’s governor Yuriko Koike has advised people to stay at home during this week’s four day-long public holiday, which started on Thursday.

The current alert level in the capital is on level four, meaning “infections are spreading”.

There has been a surge in cases in recent weeks with infections reported in restaurants, nightclubs and workplaces.

According to news agency AP, Koike said the city is in the process of securing hotel rooms for less sick patients.

Japan recorded a total of 795 new cases on Wednesday

 

[The Viper]

Russia nears 800,000 coronavirus cases

Russia has reported 5,848 new coronavirus cases and 147 deaths in the past 24 hours.

The new figures are a slight decline from the previous day when 5,862 cases and 165 deaths were recorded.

Russia’s death toll now stands at 12,892 with the overall number of infections reaching 795,038.

 

[The Viper]

The latest from Latin America: Patients being treated in cars

Latin America continues to be one of the worst-affected regions with more than four million confirmed cases.

Brazil is not the only South American country which registered a record number of new cases on Wednesday. Argentina, too, reached a new daily high with 5,782 confirmed cases in 24 hours. The majority of them were in the capital, Buenos Aires, and surrounding areas

In the capital of Colombia, Bogotá, there is a rotating lockdown in force. Residents living in seven neighbourhoods which have been under lockdown for the past two weeks will be allowed to resume their lives as normal on Thursday while those of five different neighbourhoods will go into lockdown for the coming two weeks. The system is aimed at keeping the city's economy going while curbing the spread of the virus

In Peru, the contagion hotspot has moved from the capital, Lima, to the southern city of Arequipa. Health services there are struggling to cope and some patients set up tents outside hospitals in desperation. Others were being given oxygen while sitting in their cars

 

[The Viper]

<a href='https://postimg.cc/RJMS737g' target='_blank'><img src='https://i.postimg.cc/j2fDrPLY/0fc6d92f-a08a-4762-b340-0b08e82717b6.jpg' border='0' alt='0fc6d92f-a08a-4762-b340-0b08e82717b6'/></a>

 

[MenInG]

Former UK PM Tony Blair believes coronavirus will not be eliminated

Blair urges the UK government to focus on containment measures for a second wave

New rules begin in England making it compulsory to wear face coverings in shops

President Trump cancels the Republican convention in Florida, blaming the virus "flare-up"

Cases in the US pass four million with at least 144,000 deaths

All major international tennis tournaments have been cancelled in China

Globally there have been more than 15.4m cases and almost 632,000 deaths

 

[MenInG]

Russia's coronavirus case tally passes 800,000

The total number of cases in Russia passed 800,000, as the country reported 5,811 new infections in the past 24 hours.

The country's coronavirus crisis response centre said 154 people had died from the virus overnight, taking the official death toll to 13,046.

Total infections stand at 800,849. Russia says 588,774 people have recovered.

 

[The Viper]

Germany to test people returning from high-risk countries for coronavirus

Health ministers from Germany's states agreed to require people returning from high-risk countries to take a coronavirus test at the airport or face two weeks' quarantine as part of efforts to prevent a new wave of infections.

Anyone who cannot show a negative test result will be required to go into quarantine for 14 days, Berlin's Health Minister Dilek Kalyci told reporters following a meeting of the state ministers.

 

[The Viper]

Three-year-old dies as Belgian virus cases grow

A three-year-old girl was among the latest series of deaths from the coronavirus epidemic in Belgium, officials said, as the country confronts a worrying growth in new infections.

Health spokesman Boudewijn Catry said three people die each day in Belgium from COVID-19, including recently the toddler and an 18-year-old.

"It's true that it's rare that a young person dies of COVID-19, but it's clear that no-one is immune," he warned, after the number of new infections per week in Belgium jumped by 89 percent.

 

[The Viper]

Spain's total coronavirus cases rise by 2,255 to 272,421

Spain reported a cumulative total of 272,421 coronavirus cases on Friday, up 2,255 from the day before, health ministry data showed, with the figure including people who have recovered from the disease but whose antibody tests were taken now.

In the past 24 hours, some 922 new infections were diagnosed, the ministry said, compared with 971 the previous day.

Since lifting a nationwide lockdown a month ago Spain has struggled to contain a rise in new infections.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-h...ses-rise-by-2255-to-272421-idUKKCN24P20X?il=0

 

[MenInG]

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases, with the total rising by 284,196 in the past 24 hours.

Some 15.7 million people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19, while more than 638,000 have died, according to a tally by the Johns Hopkins University. More than 8.98 million people have recovered.

France advised its citizens not to travel to the Spanish region of Catalonia to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

India reported more than 49,000 fresh cases of the coronavirus with 740 new deaths, marking the biggest daily surge in infections.

 

[The Viper]

Malaysia says APEC leaders may still meet despite coronavirus

Malaysia said a November summit of leaders from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) nations might still go ahead in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

New Zealand, which is hosting next year's APEC summit, has said already that it will use virtual platforms to conduct the meeting due to travel restrictions and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

But Malaysian Trade Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali said the government has not cancelled the meeting of the 21 leaders of the APEC countries that it is due to host in November, even though meetings of other officials will be held virtually

 

[The Viper]

WHO reports highest daily number of cases globally

The number of new coronavirus cases in the world has risen by 284,196 on July 24, the highest tally since the pandemic started in December, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The number increased 36,972 compared to the day before, the WHO data showed.

 

[The Viper]

Russia reports 5,871 new coronavirus cases in past 24 hours

Russia reported 5,871 new coronavirus cases and 146 more deaths from the respiratory disease.

The nationwide tally of infections has risen to 806,720, Russia's coronavirus crisis response centre said. The death toll now stands at 13,192, and 597,140 people have recovered.

 

[The Viper]

Catalonia has ordered the closure of nightclubs across the region amid fears of a second wave in Spain.

Fresh restrictions are imposed for at least 15 days, with late-night bars shut and opening hours reduced for gambling halls, casinos and bingo halls.

Areas with the highest number of Covid-19 infections in recent days will also see opening hours cut for restaurants, bars and terraces.

Spain recorded 2,255 new cases of the virus on Friday compared to a daily average of just 132 in June.

 

[Saj]

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said that he has tested negative for the novel coronavirus after weeks quarantined in his residence due to the infection.

 

[The Viper]

North Korea holds emergency meeting after suspected Covid-19 case reported

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un convened an emergency politburo meeting after a person suspected of having Covid-19 returned from South Korea after illegally crossing the border this month, state media said on Sunday.

Kim declared a state of emergency and imposed a lockdown on the border city of Kaesong, calling it a “critical situation in which the vicious virus could be said to have entered the country,” state news agency KCNA reported.If confirmed, it would be the first case officially acknowledged by North Korean authorities, who have so far said the country has no confirmed cases of the new coronavirus.

According to KCNA, a person who defected to South Korea three years ago returned across the fortified border that divides the two Koreas with symptoms that suggested Covid-19.

“An emergency event happened in Kaesong City where a runaway who went to the south three years ago, a person who is suspected to have been infected with the vicious virus returned on 19 July after illegally crossing the demarcation line,” KCNA said.

KCNA did not specifically mention whether the individual had been tested, but said an “uncertain result was made from several medical check-ups of the secretion of that person’s upper respiratory organ and blood,” prompting officials to quarantine the person and investigate anyone he may have been in contact with.

North Korea has received thousands of coronavirus testing kits from Russia and other countries, and imposed strict border closures.

Thousands of people in North Korea were quarantined, but restrictions had recently eased.

 

[MenInG]

The number of coronavirus infections has hit 16 million worldwide, while more than 644,500 have died, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. More than 9.26 million people have recovered.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un placed the city of Kaesong near the border with South Korea under total lockdown over coronavirus concerns, and declared a state of emergency to contain a potential outbreak, North Korea's state media reported on Sunday.

Vietnam was back on high alert for the coronavirus after medical officials in the central city of Da Nang detected the country's first locally transmitted case in three months.

Thousands of protests hit the streets of Jerusalem to denounce Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as alleged corruption in his government.

 

[MenInG]

Australia recorded its highest ever daily tally of deaths from the novel coronavirus, all in Victoria as authorities in the state battled scores of clusters of infection.

The number of coronavirus infections has hit 16 million worldwide, while more than 644,500 have died, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. More than 9.26 million people have recovered.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un placed the city of Kaesong near the border with South Korea under total lockdown over coronavirus concerns, and declared a state of emergency to contain a potential outbreak, North Korea's state media reported on Sunday.

Vietnam is again on high alert for the coronavirus after medical officials in the central city of Da Nang detected the country's first locally transmitted case in three months.

 

[The Viper]

Australia suffers deadliest day yet

Australia has experienced its deadliest day of the pandemic so far, with 10 deaths reported on Sunday and a rising number of infections.

In the state of Victoria - the epicentre of the current outbreak - 459 new cases were reported on Sunday, up from 357 on Saturday. About a dozen more were recorded elsewhere in the country.

The national death toll now stands at 155 with about 14,000 cases.

In a bid to curb the latest spike in infections, a lockdown has been imposed on about five million people in greater Melbourne for the past two weeks. The wearing of face masks is mandatory in the city.

Police have also been guarding Victoria's state borders to stop all but essential travel and enforcing quarantine orders.