Beijing outbreak a cause for concern – WHO
More than 100 cases of the novel coronavirus have been officially recorded in the fresh outbreak in Beijing, the World Health Organization said on Monday.
As lockdown restrictions ease and countries in Europe lifted their borders, the WHO warned countries to stay on alert for a possible resurgence of Covid-19 infections.
The UN health agency said it understood no new deaths have been reported thus far in the Chinese capital but added that given Beijing’s size and connectivity, the outbreak was a cause for concern.
“Even in countries that have demonstrated the ability to suppress transmission, countries must stay alert to the possibility of resurgence,” WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual press conference.
“Last week, China reported a new cluster of cases in Beijing, after more than 50 days without a case in that city. More than 100 cases have now been confirmed.
“The origin and extent of the outbreak are being investigated.”
US ends emergency authorisation of malaria drug
The United States withdrew emergency use authorisations for two coronavirus treatments favored by President Donald Trump, citing their lack of efficacy and safety concerns.
“It is no longer reasonable to believe that oral formulations of HCQ (hydroxychloroquine) and CQ (chloroquine) may be effective in treating Covid-19,” Denise Hinton, chief scientist of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wrote in a letter.
She added: “Nor is it reasonable to believe that the known and potential benefits of these products outweigh their known and potential risk.
“Accordingly, FDA revokes the EUA for emergency use of HCQ and CQ to treat Covid-19.”
Italy reports 26 new deaths
Italy reported 26 more virus-related fatalities, the lowest daily rise since March 2, bringing the country’s death toll to 34,371.
The slowing trend in deaths registered in May has continued until mid-June, showing that the worst of the pandemic has been left behind.
But health and political authorities continue to stress that Italian citizens should not let the guard down, as they fear a possible new wave of contagions.
The tally of active infections again fell on Monday, with a decline of 365 that brought the total to 25,909.
UK death toll rises by 38
The United Kingdom’s death toll from confirmed cases of the virus rose by 38 to 41,736 as of 1600 GMT on June 14, according to government data released.
Singapore to remove most coronavirus curbs
Singapore will allow small gatherings and the reopening of restaurants and shops from June 19, its health ministry said, in a major easing of the city-state’s coronavirus restrictions.
Social gatherings of up to five people will be permitted from Friday, when the majority of activities resume after more than two months of restrictions. Social distancing requirements will remain in place.
Tiny Singapore has one of the highest infection tallies in Asia, with more than 40,000 cases, because of mass outbreaks in dormitories for its migrant workers.
Singapore reopened schools and some businesses earlier this month.
Philippines reports 10 new deaths, 490 more infections
The Philippine health ministry confirmed 10 more virus-related deaths and 490 additional infections.
In a bulletin, the ministry said total deaths have increased to 1,098 while confirmed cases have reached 26,420.
President Rodrigo Duterte was set to decide later on Monday if quarantine measures in the capital should be relaxed or extended.
Indonesia reports 1,017 new infections, 64 deaths
Indonesia reports 1,017 new infections and 64 more deaths, the highest Covid-19 death toll in a single day in the Southeast Asian nation to date.
Health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said the total number of cases in Indonesia had now reached 39,294, while fatalities had increased to 2,198.
The total number of people who have recovered from the coronavirus is 15,123.
Global Covid-19 infections surpasses 8 million
The global coronavirus cases surpassed 8 million, according to a worldometer tally.
The data showed that the global number of deaths reached 435,855, while the number of people who recovered stands at 4,134,874.
A total of 8,007,804 cases are recorded worldwide and the US continues to be the worst-hit country, with the highest numbers of infections and deaths, more than 2,1 million and 117,858, respectively.
Russia’s coronavirus death toll passes 7,000
Russia reported 8,246 new cases, taking the nationwide tally of infections to 537,210, the country’s coronavirus crisis response centre said.
It said 143 people had died from the virus in the past 24 hours, taking Russia’s overall death toll to 7,091.
Greece reopens to tourists, with random testing
Greece is officially open to tourists as of Monday, with the first international flights expected into Athens and the northern city of Thessaloniki where passengers will not face compulsory coronavirus tests.
Seasonal hotels and museums are also opening, as are gyms in the latest step in Greece’s phased reopening of businesses. A ban on flights from Italy, Spain and the Netherlands has been lifted, although that on flights from Britain remains in place.
While some limited international flights had been allowed during Greece’s coronavirus lockdown, imposed in March, all arriving passengers were subject to compulsory coronavirus tests and quarantine.
Greece’s government imposed a strict lockdown early on in the country’s outbreak, a move credited with keeping deaths and serious illness from the virus low. The most recent official figures from Sunday show no daily coronavirus deaths in Greece for five days, with the total at 183 in this country of nearly 11 million people. Confirmed cases stand at 3,121.
India may use train carriages for virus beds
India’s home minister has offered 500 railway carriages for use as makeshift coronavirus hospital wards as the capital New Delhi struggles to contain a spike in cases.
Amit Shah, India’s second-most powerful politician after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was set to convene a meeting on Monday with all major political parties represented on the deteriorating situation in the capital.
Delhi has about 9,000 beds dedicated to Covid-19 patients among public and private hospitals, but a state government panel of experts has said that Delhi will need at least 15,000 beds by the end of June.
India’s health ministry reported a jump of more than 11,000 new coronavirus infections nationwide for a third consecutive day, taking the total caseload to more than 332,000, including 9,520 deaths.
Pakistan’s upward spiral continues
Pakistan’s upward spiral of new virus infections neared 145,000 Monday amid warnings from political leaders that the numbers could double by the end of June and were likely to hit a stunning 1.2 million by the end of July if Pakistan’s 220 million people continue to flout basic precautions like mask wearing.
Planning and Development Minister Asad Umer, who also heads the government’s Covid-19 command centre, warned that the virus will rampage through Pakistan unless there is “a change in our attitude toward the virus,” that ends the relentless refusal of most in Pakistan to social distance and wear masks in public.
Still he defended Pakistan’s easing on lockdown restrictions saying the country’s economy would collapse under the burden of a total shutdown. Pakistan has stepped back on some easing of restrictions, closing markets on the weekend and extending closures of large wedding halls, restaurants, gymnasiums and large gatherings.
Pakistan’s doctors have pleaded for stricter lock downs saying the struggling health care system is already straining under the escalating numbers of infections. On Monday. Pakistan reached 2,729 deaths since mid March.
Czech Republic’s number of cases rise to over 10,000
The number of cases rose to more than 10,000 in the Czech Republic, Health Ministry data showed.
The country of 10.7 million has 10,024 confirmed cases as ofthe end of Sunday, with 329 deaths and 7,226 recovered.
The daily rise in case numbers has been in the range of 31-74 over the past two weeks.
Czech authorities opened their borders to travel from most European Union countries earlier this month and it has raised the limit for public gatherings to 500 people.
Thailand reports no new cases, no new deaths
Thailand reported no new infections or deaths, maintaining the total of 3,135 confirmed cases and 58 fatalities.
It is the second time in five days that no cases were reported and marked 21 days without a local transmission. There are 2,987 patients who have recovered.
All recent cases have been found in quarantine among those returning from abroad, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for the government’s Covid-19 task force.
Hong Kong Disneyland will reopen June 18
Hong Kong Disneyland will re-open June 18, as the city looks to gradually restart its economy amid a dwindling of coronavirus infections.
Hong Kong Disneyland, which has been closed since January due to the coronavirus pandemic, will reopen with limited visitor capacity. It will also introduce social distancing measures in restaurants, rides and other facilities, while suspending activities that require close interaction such as photo sessions with Disney characters, the park said in a press release Monday.
Visitors to the park will also be asked to wear masks, as well as fill out health declaration forms and have their temperature taken upon arrival.
It is the second Disney-branded theme park to re-open globally, following Shanghai Disneyland which opened its doors to guests last month.
Hong Kong’s social distancing measures, which prohibits gatherings of more than eight individuals and limits the capacity of restaurants and eateries, are currently in place until June 18. The city has reported 1,110 cases of coronavirus infections so far, with four deaths.
Germany’s cases moves to 186,461 – RKI
The number of confirmed cases in Germany increased by 192 to 186,461, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed.
The reported death toll rose by four to 8,791, the tally showed.
China locks down 10 more Beijing neighbourhoods over virus cluster
China is locking now 10 more neighbourhoods in Beijing to try and contain the spread of a new coronavirus outbreak linked to a food market, authorities announced Monday.
City official Li Junjie said at a press conference that fresh cases had been found in a second wholesale market in northwestern Haidian district, and as a result, the market and nearby schools would be closed, and people living in ten communities around it placed under lockdown.
Brazil sees over 600 new deaths
Brazil has registered 867,624 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, with 17,110 new cases since yesterday, the Health Ministry said on Sunday.
The total Covid-19 death toll rose to 43,332, with 612 new deaths since yesterday.
Mexico’s deaths top 17,000
Mexico’s health ministry reported 4,147 new confirmed coronavirus infections along with 269 additional fatalities on Sunday, bringing the total in the country to 146,837 cases and 17,141 deaths.
The government has said the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the official count.
Colombia’s cases rise above 50,000
Reported coronavirus cases in Colombia have risen to over 50,000, the country’s health ministry said on Sunday, as neighboring Ecuador approaches the same milestone.
Colombia has reported 50,939 cases of coronavirus and 1,667 deaths. In Ecuador, cases have surpassed 46,700 and deaths stand at 3,896.
New York governor threatens reopening rollback
New York’s governor threatened to roll back phased reopening plans Sunday after large crowds gathered outside bars in New York City in violation of coronavirus lockdown guidelines.
Andrew Cuomo said his office had received 25,000 complaints of reopening violations by businesses as New Yorkers flocked to streets to enjoy a weekend of late spring sunshine.
“Lots of violations of social distancing, parties in the street, restaurants and bars ignoring laws,” he tweeted.
“Enforce the law or there will be state action,” Cuomo warned local authorities.
Discussion about this post