Coronavirus latest: Spain’s daily deaths rise again

Spain’s daily death toll from the coronavirus rose to 619 on Sunday, after falling for three straight days, the government said. The country, one of the worst hit by the pandemic, has now recorded 16,972 deaths from Covid-19. The daily toll was up from 510 on Saturday, compared with a record 950 deaths as recently as April 2. The number of confirmed cases rose by 4,167 to 166,019, a smaller increase than was recorded on Saturday, the health ministry said. Although health chiefs say the pandemic has peaked, they have urged the population to strictly follow a national lockdown which was put in place on March 14 in order to slow the spread of the virus. The restrictions – which prevent people from going outside except to go to work if they can not do so from home, buy food, seek medicine and briefly walk their dog – will remain in place until April 25 although the government has made clear it expects to announce another two-week extension. Masks will be handed out at metro and train stations from Monday as some companies reopen after a two-week “hibernation” period, the health minister said on Friday. Earlier, the United States passed the grim milestone of 20,000 coronavirus deaths as huge swathes of the globe celebrated the Easter holiday weekend under lockdown at home. The outbreak has now claimed the lives of at least 20,608 people in the US, which leads the world in deaths and in the number of declared infections – at least 529,951, according to a tally maintained by Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University. The United States recorded 1,920 deaths related to the novel coronavirus over the past 24 hours. Italy, the hardest-hit country in Europe with a population a fifth the size of the US, was also approaching the bleak marker, with 19,468 confirmed virus fatalities. The United States has seen its highest death tolls to date in the epidemic with roughly 2,000 deaths a day reported for the last four days in a row. The global death toll now stands at more than 108,000. Here are the latest developments: China’s imported infections jump China reported 99 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus on Sunday, of which 97 were imported into the country from abroad. Among those, 51 were Chinese nationals on a flight from Russia who tested positive after landing in Shanghai, the city’s Municipal Health Commission said. The number represents the highest daily increase in imported cases yet recorded, surpassing the previous high of 67 new imported cases recorded on March 25. That number prompted Beijing to ban all foreign arrivals into the country, including those with valid visas and residency permits, from March 28. These measures currently remain in place. Forty-nine new suspected cases, all imported, were also reported on the Chinese mainland on Sunday. Two domestically transmitted cases were recorded, both in north-eastern Heilongjiang province along the Russian border where an outbreak in Suifenhe has put parts of the border city on lockdown. Boris Johnson leaves hospital British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been discharged from hospital after being treated for Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, a government spokesman said. Johnson left St. Thomas’ Hospital in central London on Sunday but will not immediately take up his duties as prime minister, the spokesman added. The 55-year-old conservative politician was hospitalised a week ago running a high fever and spent three days in the intensive care unit. In a statement late on Saturday, Johnson said of the health workers who took care of him: “I owe them my life.” Indonesia reports biggest daily jump in cases Indonesia on Sunday reported 399 new cases of the coronavirus, its biggest daily jump so far, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 4,241, according to data provided by a health ministry official, Achmad Yurianto. Yurianto said there were also 46 new deaths, taking the total to 373. The country has imposed curbs on public transport ahead of the annual exodus to home villages that marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus. About 75 million Indonesians usually stream home from bigger cities at the end of Ramadan, due this year at the end of May, but health experts have warned against a surge in cases after a slow government response masked the scale of the outbreak. Public buses, trains, planes and ships will be allowed to fill only half their passenger seats, under a new regulation that also limits occupation of a private car to just half the seats, while a motorcycle may be ridden only by one person. “The essence of this new regulation is to carry out public transport control...while still meeting the needs of the people,” transport ministry spokeswoman Adita Irawati said in a statement posted on the cabinet secretariat website. Singapore locks down two more dorms Singapore on Saturday night placed two more dormitories under lockdown after a surge in infections among migrant workers. Workers at the Cochrane Lodge I and Acacia Lodge will be quarantined in their rooms for two weeks. Earlier, five other dormitories – Tampines Dormitory, Sungei Tengah Lodge, S11 Dormitory at Punggol, Westlite Toh Guan and Toh Guan dormitory – were declared as isolation areas. Foreign worker dormitories have emerged as one of the city-state’s biggest challenges in its fight against the coronavirus. On Saturday, about 80 per cent of its 191 new infections were from this group. Singapore currently has 2,299 cases, of which 528 have recovered, and eight have died. Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said in a Facebook post on Sunday that the well-being of these workers is a priority, stressing that food is delivered to them on time and hygiene measures have been stepped up. Meanwhile, tightened social distancing measures also kicked in, after authorities noted crowds gathering despite a partial lockdown in place, with more than 3,000 warnings issued on Saturday alone. Beaches are now closed and those visiting supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies and shopping malls will have to wear masks. Under the “circuit breaker” measures, residents are only allowed to leave their homes if necessary, such as to buy food and groceries or see a doctor. First-time offenders will no longer receive a warning as previously stated, but will be fined S$300 (US$212). Japan PM slammed for lounge-at-home video Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday drew an angry response from some Twitter users after sharing a video of himself lounging on a sofa with his dog, drinking tea and reading, with a message telling people to stay at home. “Who do you think you are?” became a top trend on Twitter, with users saying Abe’s message ignored the plight of those struggling to make a living during the coronavirus outbreak. Abe’s video, which featured his pet dog, was a response to popular musician Gen Hoshino, who uploaded a video of himself singing about dancing indoors and invited people to collaborate. “At a time when people are fighting for survival, to show a video of such luxury ... one can’t help but wonder, ‘who do you think you are?’,” one Twitter user said. Other Twitter users defended Abe, saying that even the prime minister should be allowed down time. The number of novel coronavirus infections in Japan has exceeded 7,000, public broadcaster NHK reported. It was the first weekend since Japan declared a state of emergency in major population centres to fight the spread of the coronavirus. The state of emergency will include the city of Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido from Tuesday, NHK reported, with local authorities ordering the closure of schools in Sapporo and some neighbouring areas. 友達と会えない。飲み会もできない。 ただ、皆さんのこうした行動によって、多くの命が確実に救われています。そして、今この瞬間も、過酷を極める現場で奮闘して下さっている、医療従事者の皆さんの負担の軽減につながります。お一人お一人のご協力に、心より感謝申し上げます。 pic.twitter.com/VEq1P7EvnL — 安倍晋三 (@AbeShinzo) April 12, 2020 Pope urges easing of sanctions for pandemic Pope Francis called for an easing of international sanctions and generous debt relief for the developing world to help all countries face the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. “May international sanctions be relaxed, since these make it difficult for the countries on which they have been imposed to provide adequate support to their citizens,” he said in an Easter message. “And may all nations be put in a position to meet the greatest needs of the moment through the reduction, if not the forgiveness, of the debt burdening the balance sheets of the poorest nations,” he added. Francis also spoke of an “epochal challenge” for the European Union, urging it to “not lose the opportunity to give further proof of solidarity, also by turning to innovative solutions,” and appealed for an end to all wars, terrorist attacks and global suffering. South Korea continues down trend in new cases South Korea reported 32 additional cases of the coronavirus over the past 24 hours, a continued downward trend in new infections in the country. The Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement Sunday the additional cases increased the country’s total to 10,512. It says 7,368 of them have been recovered and released from quarantine and that 13,788 are under tests to determine whether they’ve contracted the virus. The centre said that South Korea’s death toll from the coronavirus increased by three to 214. South Korea’s caseload has been slowing recently, compared with early March when it recorded hundreds of new cases every day. But there are worries about a steady rise in infections linked to those arriving from overseas and recent transmissions at bars and other leisure facilities. 550 sailors aboard US aircraft carrier tested positive Another 103 sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for coronavirus. In total, 550 people on the aircraft carrier docked near Guam have been infected with Covid-19, according to a post on the US Navy’s website. As of Saturday, 92 per cent of the ship’s nearly 4,600-person crew had been tested. The Theodore Roosevelt was thrust into the spotlight March 31 after US Navy Captain Brett Crozier sent a letter to his superiors asking for help with the outbreak on his ship. The US Navy then removed Crozier after the letter leaked to the media. Crozier, of course, was correct about the outbreak and later tested positive for Covid-19 himself. No one aboard the Theodore Roosevelt has died, though one sailor was admitted to the ICU on Thursday. Some African nations decry racism against blacks in China Nigeria is the latest African nation to publicly confront China over the mistreatment of Africans in the Chinese city of Guangzhou. Some African traders have reported being evicted or discriminated against amid coronavirus fears. In an unusually open critique, the speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives tweeted a video of him pressing the Chinese ambassador on the issue. “It’s almost undiplomatic the way I’m talking, but it’s because I’m upset about what’s going on,” Femi Gbajabiamila says. “We take it very seriously,” Ambassador Zhou Pingjian replies. Today I met with the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria on the disturbing allegation of ill treatment of Nigerian citizens in China. I showed him the video clip that had made the rounds. He promised to look into it and get back to my office on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/9SUxH0rI7X — Femi Gbajabiamila (@femigbaja) April 10, 2020 Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama also summoned the ambassador to express “extreme concern” and call for an immediate government response. Kenya also has spoken out about the mistreatment. Sierra Leone says African diplomats in Beijing have met with Chinese officials and “stated in very strong terms their concern and condemnation of the disturbing and humiliating experiences our citizens have been subjected to.” Think home-schooling is stressful? Spare a thought for South Koreans Infected Antarctic cruise passengers return to Australia More than 100 Australian and New Zealand passengers of the Antarctic cruise ship the Greg Mortimer, most of whom infected by the coronavirus, arrived in Melbourne early Sunday on a flight from Uruguay. The plane with 112 passengers, including 96 Australians, was boarded immediately after arrival by medical staff in hazmat suits. Thirteen of 16 New Zealanders were transferred to a charter flight home. The operator of the Greg Mortimer, Aurora Expeditions, confirmed last week that 128 of 217 passengers have tested positive for the coronavirus. Two Australian passengers remain in intensive care in a Montevideo hospital. The ship was stranded in Uruguay for more than two weeks after leaving Argentina on March 15 for a 16-day return trip to Antarctica. Meanwhile, South Australia state reported the death in Adelaide Hospital on Sunday of a 74-year-old man who contracted the coronavirus aboard the cruise ship Ruby Princess. More than a dozen Ruby Princess passengers have died from the virus and more than 500 people have been infected. Australia’s national death toll stands at 57. Agence France-Press, Associated Press, Bloomberg, Reuters

Coronavirus latest: Spain’s daily deaths rise again

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Boris Johnson discharged from hospital; Indonesia orders transport curbs as deaths jump 20,608 dead in the US, the worst hit country in the world; Singapore locks down two foreign worker dorms

Boris Johnson discharged from hospital; Indonesia orders transport curbs as deaths jump

20,608 dead in the US, the worst hit country in the world; Singapore locks down two foreign worker dorms