Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, announced live on television he has tested positive for coronavirus. ‘It came back positive,’ a mask-wearing Bolsonaro told a handpicked group of reporters on Tuesday lunchtime outside his official residence
Continue reading...Category Archives: Coronavirus outbreak
Fauci: US is ‘still knee-deep in first wave’ of pandemic as it passes 130,000 deaths
Top public health expert urges further action as new cases surge to record highs of around 50,000 a day across country
The United States is “still knee-deep in the first wave” of the coronavirus pandemic, one of the country’s top public health experts has warned, as the country surpassed 130,000 Covid-19 deaths and new polling indicates Donald Trump’s approval rating over his handling of the crisis has remained low.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on Monday that America’s grasp of the pandemic was “really not good” and urged further action as new cases of the virus continue to surge to record highs of about 50,000 a day across the country. More than 131,200 have died in the US as of Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins figures.
Continue reading...Who might the government seek to blame for the UK’s Covid-19 failings?
Ministers have been accused of trying to shift the narrative over response to pandemic
While ministers insist that it is too early to fully consider what lessons might be learned from the coronavirus outbreak, the UK’s death toll – the highest in Europe – is expected to prompt an inquiry into the handling of the pandemic.
In recent weeks, the government has been accused of seeking to pre-emptively shift the narrative on responsibility for the country’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak and blame others for what went wrong.
Continue reading...A charming secretary, a ‘gregarious’ mechanic: US healthcare workers who died of Covid-19 in April
We are documenting the lives of every US medical worker who has died helping patients during the pandemic. These are those who died from Covid-19 in April
- If you know of a healthcare worker who died fighting coronavirus that we should include, please contact us
America’s healthcare workers are dying. From doctors to hospital cleaners and from nursing home aides to paramedics, those most at risk of contracting the coronavirus have already helped save thousands of lives.
Continue reading...Coronavirus live news: Israel public health director quits amid spike in cases; Melbourne returns to lockdown
South Africa’s cases pass 200,000; Kenya emerges from lockdown; Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tested again for coronavirus
- Italy could ‘section’ people who refuse treatment for Covid-19
- Australia: Melbourne returns to six-week lockdown
- New Zealand rations places for citizens returning home during Covid-19
- UK coronavirus updates – live
- US coronavirus updates – live
Bolsonaro’s diagnosis comes just three days after he had lunch at the home of the US ambassador to Brazil, Todd Chapman, in the capital, Brasília.
Also present at that Independence Day celebration were several top cabinet members, including foreign minister Ernesto Araújo, defence minister Fernando Azevedo, and the president’s son, Eduardo, a politician who is Steve Bannon’s representative in South America. The men were photographed without face masks.
Reports of Bolsonaro’s possible infection first emerged on Monday evening, with local news outlets reporting that he had been tested after developing coronavirus symptoms, including a 38C temperature and a persistent cough.
An MRI of Bolsonaro’s lungs was also taken, with the president telling supporters it had shown them to be “clear”.
Related: Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus
Continue reading...US is ‘still knee deep in first wave’ of coronavirus, warns Fauci – live
- Fauci: US still has ‘record breaking’ numbers
- Trump book says president was ‘abused’ by bullying father
- New York imposes $150m penalty on Deutsche Bank over Epstein link
- Poll: Americans trust governors more than Trump
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The tell-all book due out shortly from Mary Trump, the niece of the president, tells of a family divided by trauma.
The Trump family failed to block the book after court efforts failed to stop publisher Simon & Schuster printing and distributing it, even though a restraining order was ongoing against Mary Trump herself, the daughter of Donald Trump’s late oldest brother.
In response to the news that New York state has sanctioned Deutsche Bank, the bank put out a statement by a spokesperson.
We acknowledge our error in onboarding Epstein in 2013 and the weakness in our processes, and have learnt from our mistakes and shortcomings. Immediately following Epstein’s arrest, we contacted law enforcement and offered our full assistance with their investigation.
The Department of Financial Services factual findings on Danske Estonia and FBME, like our own internal investigation, identified various deficiencies in our oversight and monitoring of the banks that used our clearing services. There was no intentional effort by anyone within the bank to facilitate unlawful activity...while the settlement reflects our upmost [sic] cooperation and transparent engagement with our regulator, it also shows how important it is to continue investing in our controls and enhancing our anti-financial crime capabilities.
Just got the following statement from @DeutscheBank spokesman Dan Hunter ––> pic.twitter.com/NpmzXuujcb
Continue reading...UK coronavirus live: No 10 fails to apologise for Boris Johnson’s care home remarks; death toll rises by 155
Charity boss says blaming care sector for repeated government mistakes is unacceptable
- Johnson condemned over ‘cowardly’ care home claims
- Several pubs in England close after positive coronavirus tests
- Nearly one in six Britons would refuse Covid-19 vaccine, says survey
- Global coronavirus updates – live
The Department of Health and Social Care has recorded a further 155 deaths in the UK in its latest daily update on coronavirus. That takes the official UK death total to 44,391.
As we try to point out every day, this official headline total used by the government is not the actual total. That is because these figures only include people who tested positive for coronavirus and died. Taking into account the deaths of people who did not have a test, but where coronavirus was cited on the death certificate, the real total is more than 55,000.
The Welsh health minister has expressed concern that workers at a food factory where there has been an outbreak of Covid-19 might be spreading the virus because they take it turns to use the same bed.
Speaking at the Welsh government’s daily briefing, Vaughan Gething said there had been a suggestion that workers were coming off shift and jumping into a bed just vacated by a housemate who then went off to work.
I’m genuinely concerned about the conditions that people live within, not just in houses of multiple occupation where people may share bathroom and toilet facilities or kitchens, and the opportunity for contact indoors and surfaces is an obvious concern. You’ve heard that from our scientists, and others.
But in particular, if there is reality to the suggestion that people are sharing beds, there’s an obvious risk if people finish one shift, then return from that shift to get into a bed that someone has just got out of. So there are real issues here about accommodation and how it may be an unhelpful factor in driving transmission within that workforce.
Continue reading...Coronavirus Brazil: president Jair Bolsonaro tests positive
- Bolsonaro, 65, announces: ‘It came back positive’
- Far-right president has repeatedly trivialized Covid-19 pandemic
- Coronavirus – latest updates
- See all our coronavirus coverage
The Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, has announced live on television he has tested positive for coronavirus.
“It came back positive,” a mask-wearing Bolsonaro told a hand-picked group of reporters on Tuesday lunchtime outside his official residence.
Continue reading...Melbourne to re-enter stage 3 coronavirus lockdown restrictions for six weeks – video
Metropolitan Melbourne will go into stage-three lockdown for six weeks from 11.59pm on Wednesday after the state of Victoria recorded 191 new cases of coronavirus since Monday, the highest daily increase since the pandemic began.
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, announced that people living in the Melbourne metropolitan area and Mitchell shire would again be subject to restrictions, meaning they can only leave their house for work, education, exercise, for necessary goods or services or for medical or compassionate reasons until 11.59pm on Wednesday 19 August.
- What you need to know about Melbourne’s stage 3 lockdown
- NSW-Victoria border closure: when does it start, and are there exemptions?
- What we know about Melbourne’s public housing tower ‘hard lockdowns’
- Full list of Victoria’s Covid-19 clusters
Coronavirus Victoria: what you need to know about Melbourne’s stage 3 lockdown
Premier Daniel Andrews reimposes stage three restrictions across metropolitan Melbourne to last for six weeks
- NSW-Victoria border closure: when does it start, and are there exemptions?
- What we know about Melbourne’s public housing tower ‘hard lockdowns’
- Full list of Victoria’s Covid-19 clusters
- Australia hotspots map, stats and active cases
- Sign up for Guardian Australia’s coronavirus email
A record high of 191 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday has prompted the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, to reintroduce stage three restrictions across all of metropolitan Melbourne.
“I think a sense of complacency has crept into us as we let our frustrations get the better of us,” Andrews said. “I think that each of us know someone who has not been following the rules as well as they should have.
Continue reading...Zimbabwe spends millions on officials’ luxury cars as country goes hungry
Diplomatic staff given Range Rovers while ordinary people struggle amid inflation of 785%
The government of Zimbabwe has spent millions of dollars on luxury cars for senior officials despite a deepening economic collapse that has plunged its people into profound hardship.
The new cars, including dozens of Range Rovers and Toyota pick-up trucks worth more than $40,000, were distributed to ambassadors and senior civil servants. Analysts say the move constitutes a new effort to shore up support for the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took power after the military coup that ousted Robert Mugabe in 2017.
Continue reading...White House aid backs Trump’s claim 99% of Covid-19 cases are ‘harmless’ – video
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows defended Donald Trump’s claim 99% of coronavirus cases are 'totally harmless'. Appearing on Fox News, Meadows said there were facts and statements to back up the claims. 'When you look at the deaths that we have, if you’re over 80 years of age or if you have three what they call comorbidities – diabetes, hypertension, heart issues – then you need to be very, very careful. Outside of that, the risks are extremely low.' Meadows' comments come as US death toll tops 130,000 following surge of coronavirus cases.
Continue reading...White House says US is ‘a leader’ in fighting coronavirus, despite rising infections – video
Kayleigh McEnany says the US has been a leader in the fight against Covid-19, despite rising infections across the country. Its infection tally is nearing 3m cases, while there have been 130,000 deaths. Speaking at a press briefing, the White House press secretary added: 'No one wants to see anyone in this country contract coronavirus, which is why the administration has fought hard to make sure that's not the case with our historic response effort'
Continue reading...White House claims US is ‘a leader’ in coronavirus fight despite rise in many states – live
- Kayleigh McEnany: ‘The world is looking at us as a leader’
- Trump criticizes sports teams for changing their names
- Trump launches baseless attack on Bubba Wallace over noose ‘hoax’
- Supreme court rules states can punish ‘faithless electors’
- Judge suspends Dakota Access pipeline
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Trump is still tweeting away, now insisting schools must reopen in the fall, despite concerns about the spread of coronavirus once in-person classes resume.
“SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL!!!” the president tweeted moments ago.
SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL!!!
Nascar driver Bubba Wallace has responded to Trump’s tweet suggesting he should apologize after a noose was found in his garage.
Wallace, the only top black driver in Nascar, addressed his response “to the next generation and little ones following my foot steps.”
To the next generation and little ones following my foot steps..#LoveWins pic.twitter.com/tVaV3pkdLe
Continue reading...Coronavirus: world treating symptoms, not cause of pandemics, says UN
Ongoing destruction of nature will result in stream of animal diseases jumping to humans, says report
The world is treating the health and economic symptoms of the coronavirus pandemic but not the environmental cause, according to the authors of a UN report. As a result, a steady stream of diseases can be expected to jump from animals to humans in coming years, they say.
The number of such “zoonotic” epidemics is rising, from Ebola to Sars to West Nile virus and Rift Valley fever, with the root cause being the destruction of nature by humans and the growing demand for meat, the report says.
Continue reading...NSW-Victoria border closure: when does it start, and are there exemptions?
Melbourne’s Covid-19 spike has prompted the ‘unprecedented’ move to stop people coming into NSW from Victoria. We look at the details
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- Coronavirus Australia maps and cases: live numbers and statistics
NSW will temporarily close its border with Victoria at 12.01am Wednesday 8 July in response to Melbourne’s coronavirus outbreak.
The closure, announced at a press conference by Victorian premier Daniel Andrews on Monday, will be enforced by NSW police.
Continue reading...NSW-Victoria border closure: do I need an entry permit and are there exemptions?
Melbourne’s Covid-19 spike has prompted the ‘unprecedented’ move to stop people coming into NSW from Victoria. We look at the details, from how to get a crossing permit to whether you need to self-isolate
- Follow live updates in Wednesday’s Australia coronavirus blog
- What you need to know about Melbourne’s stage 3 lockdown
- What we know about the public housing tower ‘hard lockdowns’
- Full list of Victoria’s Covid-19 clusters
- Australia hotspots map, stats and active cases
New South Wales temporarily closed its border with Victoria starting from 12.01am Wednesday 8 July in response to Melbourne’s coronavirus outbreak.
The closure, announced at a press conference by Victorian premier Daniel Andrews on Monday, is being enforced by NSW police.
Continue reading...Coronavirus live news: US death toll surpasses 130,000; India’s cases third-highest in world
Donald Trump’s handling of US crisis under microscope; Israel reimposes restrictions after infections spike
- Trump official defends misleading claim 99% of cases are ‘harmless’
- World treating symptoms, not cause of pandemics, says UN
- India sees record daily rise as capital opens giant hospital
- Border closes between Australian states of NSW and Victoria
- World map: which countries have the most cases and deaths?
Air travellers arriving in Scotland from Tuesday will be subject to quarantine spot checks for the first time, after the country reported four days without deaths from Covid-19.
Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, said her officials and advisers were still deciding which countries would not be subject to quarantine checks, four days after the Home Office released its list of 74 “air bridge” countries and territories.
Related: Air travellers to Scotland to face quarantine spot checks and fines
The US has suffered 235 more deaths and registered 44,361 new cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has said. That takes the respective totals to 129,811 and 2,886,267.
Continue reading...Mariachi Mecca: Mexico’s national heritage under threat from Covid-19
The mariachi musicians of Mexico City are struggling to eke out a living during the pandemic. Photojournalist Rubén Salgado has been documenting the community
The Mariachi musician is one of Mexico’s most best-known symbols and Plaza Garibaldi their home in Mexico City’s historic downtown, known as the Mariachi Mecca. Normally the plaza will have hundreds of tourists and locals present to see them perform. With the new government restrictions in place due to Covid-19, there are hundreds of jobless musicians vying for the work that may allow them to feed themselves and their families that day. Dozens of men wait on the main avenue stepping in front of traffic looking for clients.
Continue reading...Britain beyond lockdown: what we learned from two weeks on the road
People do not want to go back to the way things were, but the good intentions could fade without the right leadership
Britain is crying out for a better normal. Communities across the country are emerging from lockdown with a new sense of what is possible and what is necessary – and the answers to both go a lot further than Westminster’s efforts to drive the country back to business as usual.
That was the overriding impression from a two-week reporting trip around Britain, asking people in different regions how they view recovery and whether there is an appetite for more fundamental change.
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